Catholic 'rebels' ordain bishop

Another splinter group of the Roman Catholic Church has consecrated its ninth bishop in Kenya.

Independent Catholic Charismatic Church of Kenya ordained Bishop George Odhiaambo Jamba at a ceremony in Ugenya District, on Saturday.

Bishop Jamba would lead the church’s mission in Western Kenya.

High-ranking officials of the church including Bishop Tom Kiiza of Uganda and its Vicar-General Cyprian Kinzi Musyimi attended the open-air ceremony at Rangala trading centre.

Archbishop Anthony MacKillop, the head of the Independent Catholic Church of Australia Inc, led the ceremony.

"Our Church is growing fast in Kenya. We have so far attained more than 10,000 faithful and nine bishops," said Mackiilop.

The archbishop added: "The presence of a high number of faithful during the ordination of the new bishop is a sign that the church is taking root in the country."

The church, which is among emerging splinter groups opposed to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, did not show any difference in style of worship during the occasion.

Its rituals of worship, dressing and style are identical to those of their mother church.

The church, however, allows its clergy to marry and hold regular jobs as opposed to the mainstream Roman Catholic Church.

The Reformed Catholic Church of Kenya, led by Bishop Godfrey Shiundu, is another breakaway Church from the mainstream Catholic Church.

Mackiilop said their church allowed any Christians to receive the Holy Communion unlike in the Roman Catholic where only authorised Catholics are allowed to take sacrament during mass.

Bishop Jamba, a teacher by profession, was accompanied by his wife Monica.

SIC: TSKE