Seattle-area Catholics with ties to Kenya worry about turmoil

Published: 2008-03-04

SEATTLE (CNS) -- The turmoil in Kenya is being felt half a world away in the Archdiocese of Seattle in parishes and organizations that have been forging ties with the east African nation. For Father Jim Dalton, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Arlington, the news reports of tribal violence have hit him personally, given the friendships he established with villagers following a visit to Kenya two summers ago. "You read about these things in the paper or hear about them on the news, and generally you're saddened by it, but it doesn't affect you much," he said. "But having been there ... especially knowing the areas ... and the people, it's just horribly painful. It's like losing a brother." More than 1,000 people have been killed and 300,000 people have been displaced in the violence since Dec. 27, when election officials announced Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki had been re-elected. In late February, the rival political parties agreed to a power-sharing arrangement in which opposition candidate Raila Odinga will become prime minister. On March 4, the parties agreed to a road map for constitutional reform. Kenya's Catholic bishops have called for such reform for several years.

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