By ACNS staff

The primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya today issued a statement on the issue of marriage. 

In it Archbishop Eliud Wabukala claimed marriage was "under attack" from outside the nation and within the nation. In particular he blames the "homosexual movement" and the Kenyan government decision on 21 March to legalise polygamy.

He said, "This morning I feel it is necessary to state very clearly where the Anglican Church of Kenya stands on marriage. Our position is very clear. As a Church we have no other position than the teaching  of the Bible, that marriage is the lifelong union of one man with one woman for the raising of children, joyful companionship and the blessing of society and the nation.

"In his teaching about marriage, Jesus reaffirms that marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman in accordance with the pattern of creation itself when he says ‘from the beginning of creation God made them male and female’ (Mark 10:6). For the health and well being of both church and society we must promote this great God given gift of marriage without compromise and ambiguity."

The primate went on to criticise the British Government's decision to make same sex marriages legal and he branded the Kenyan Government's decision to permit men to have multiple wives as "cowardly" and "a backward step" for the country. 

Read the full statement on the Anglican Church of Kenya website: http://www.ackenya.org/news/index.html