The Catholic Church will campaign against leaders who support abortion.

Archbishop Raphael Ndingi Mwana a' Nzeki said his church will speak publicly against leaders in favour of abortion when elections are called in 2007.

He said "The church will speak publicly against leaders who support abortion during the elections."

The debate was recently rekindled by the chairman of Kenya Medical Association, Dr Stephen Ochiel, following his appeal to medics to support gynaecologist John Nyamu, who has been charged with murder, by contributing money for his defence and attending hearings of the case in their professional attire.

Dr Nyamu has been charged with the murder of two of 15 unborn babies found dumped in refuse bags, in Nairobi, mid this year.

When the case came up for mention, pro and anti-abortion groups clashed at the High Court, Nairobi. The pro-abortion medics, who had come to show solidarity with their colleague, were shouted down by a anti-abortion group comprising members of the mainstream churches, led by Father Emmanuel Ngugi of the Nairobi's Holy Family Basilica.

The Minister for Health, Mrs Charity Ngilu, has ruled out legalising abortion, while President Kibaki has declared that the Government would continue to be guided by religious moral values on the issue.

Yesterday, the archbishop said the church was open to dialogue with any individual or organisation ready to pursue the truth as contained in the Bible.

On accusations that MPs are being bribed to vote in a particular way, the archbishop said the MPs should realise they are servants and not masters of the people.

Mwana 'a Nzeki called for a ban on public smoking, saying, the dangers of the practice was known to all.

MPs were in Mombasa at the weekend attending a workshop organised by players in the tobacco industry who are opposed to the Bill to regulate it.

Elsewhere at St Andrews Church, Nairobi, Rev Dr Patrick Mungiriria said, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa did not support termination of any life, whether young or old "since life does not belong to us but to God."

That was why, he said, those who attempted, but survived suicide, were charged in court.

Dr Mungiriria said that the life of the unborn child was entrusted to the mother, who had no authority to take it.

He said that Kenya "cannot pass a law to kill", and that legalising abortion amounted to "sacrificing our children to Lucifer".

The Nation (Nairobi)