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Bishop denies gay lobby links
22 May 2006- Kenyan- A visiting British clergyman alleged to
be a patron of a gay lobby group yesterday denied links with
homosexuality. Anglican bishop John Gladwin also denied that he was in
the country to lobby for the sexual deviance.
Speaking at St Thomas Cathedral in
Kerugoya, Kirinyaga District, accompanied by his wife, Ladia, and three
other clerics, Gladwin was categorical that the Anglican Church in
England did not condone homosexuality.
"We did not come here to talk about
homosexuality. Those issues will be dealt with elsewhere, but we are all
united in the Lord," he said. Gladwin said just as Christians in any
other parts of the world faced enormous challenges, Britain was no
exception.
And Canon Roger Mathews, who was
part of the group, seethed with anger at the pulpit as he waved a copy
of a local daily containing a story on Gladwin. The story claimed that
the bishop was the patron of a gay and lesbian lobby group in the UK and
was in the country to preach at the Mbeere ACK diocese.
"If the story were true, we would
not have dared to step in any church in this country," Mathews told the
congregation.There was quiet in the fully packed cathedral as he
bitterly exonerated his team from the homosexuality allegations.
There was tension earlier when word
went round that the "much awaited guests from England" were indeed
coming on a mission to persuade faithful to back homosexuality and
lesbianism. One of the church elders, Komu Gikunju, is said to have
alerted the diocese bishop, Daniel Munene Ngoru, on seeing the story.
Ngoru, who was scheduled to host
the team, is said to have rushed to the church a few moments before the
arrival of the guests to hold held consultations with other clergy. The
church leaders reportedly agreed to receive the guests but to also alert
them about the prevailing tension owing to their alleged links, so they
could clear their name.
Later when the tension eased,
Gladwin confirmed 29 followers who were admitted as the church members.
The provost of the cathedral, Rt. Rev. Winfred Munene, said she had
stayed in Chesmford Diocese, where Bishop Gladwin ministers, and had not
heard reports linking him to homosexuality.
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