Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jul 2003 Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya) Copyright: 2003 The East African Standard Contact: http://www.eastandard.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743 Author: Ben Agina ANGLICAN CHURCH BACKS WAR ON DRUGS The Anglican Church will support the Government war on drug abuse and trafficking. The church has subsequently asked the National Constitutional Conference to ensure the activities are banned by law. The church said abuse of drugs, which has caused unrest in countries such as Somalia, should not be allowed to destroy foundations such as health, education and good governance. "We should not allow addicts to replace such values with foundations of different kinds," ACK Chairman of Justice, Peace, Reconciliation and Advocacy Commission, Bishop Gedion Ireri, said. He was addressing a one-day seminar organised for ACK by the National Campaign Against Drugs (Nacada). The theme of the seminar was The Role of the Church in Preventing Drug Abuse. The workshop was attended by ACK Archbishop, Benjamin Nzimbi, Nacada Co-ordinator, Mr Joseph Kaguthi, and all of the church's bishops. Ireri said the church will launch a preventive programme in every diocese and asked the youth to promote its goals and objectives. They will also organise spiritual campaigns to fight substance abuse in schools and colleges during weekends. The clergy were also asked to ensure church halls and vestries become rehabilitation centres and clinics for counselling, treatment and healing. Ireri said the present generation poses a different culture that is foreign to religious values. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake