Former minister, Musikari Kombo, recently revealed why he does not take Holy Communion, despite being a front-pew Roman Catholic.
Kombo said he could not partake of the religious ritual after marrying a second wife.
According to Catholic doctrines — the cannon law — only a man or woman who has officially been married in a church wedding and whose life is deeply rooted in the church’s theological tenets, is allowed to receive the sacrament.
Kombo told the faithful at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Loreto Limuru that he hoped to meet John Cardinal Njue to make confessions and ask for guidance.
“It pains me very much to attend mass every Sunday and not receive the Holy Communion, just because I married a second wife, yet this is not a sin. I know I am not the only one, there are many like me, but because they are not as bold as I am, they shy away,” said the former Webuye MP.
READ MORE
Why the church should focus on the bigger picture, not sideshows
Youngest widow defends will in battle for Kibor's vast property
Judge rejects maintenance plea from woman in divorce case
God, worsening Israel-Hamas conflict and the growing crisis of faith
Father Peter Mburu of St Peter and St Paul Catholic churches in Kiambu explained that it is a sin to receive the Eucharist if you’re married to more than one wife.
“As soon as you start living with another woman besides your wife, that is adultery. You automatically become a sinner and should immediately cease from receiving the holy Eucharist.” Fr Mburu said he was not aware of plans by the Vatican to review the doctrine.
There is no specific punishment, but not receiving the Holy Communion is enough punishment. Fr Mburu said that he has on several occasions warned those who secretly take Holy Communion, despite having more than one wife.
Other Catholic faithful barred from receiving the Holy Communion are couples who cohabit without being officially married in church, those who have had children outside wedlock, excommunicated, interdicted, divorced or remarried couples, among others.
Joseph Nyaga, a Catholic represented views of other faithful when he said that canonical laws that have existed for decades should be reviewed, considering that there are many men and women having children outside wedlock, while divorce cases have been on the rise, besides the fact that not everyone can afford a wedding.
“If you look carefully during mass, most of the people receiving communion are the older generation; the Church, through the Vatican, should consider amending the laws as times have changed,” said Nyaga, whose sentiments were shared by Joyce Kawira, another faithful who said that most African men are polygamous and canon laws affect many Catholics in that regard.
