John Njue
| His Eminence John Njue |
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|---|---|
| Cardinal-Archbishop of Nairobi | |
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| See | Nairobi |
| Appointed | 6 October 2007 |
| Enthroned |
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| Predecessor | Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesů Cristo |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 6 January 1973 by Pope Paul VI |
| Consecration | 20 September 1986 by Jozef Tomko |
| Created Cardinal | 24 November 2007 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | John Njue |
| Born | 1944 (age 67–68) Embu, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post |
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John Njue (born 1944) is a Kenyan Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current Archbishop of Nairobi, having previously served as Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri (2002–2007) and Bishop of Embu (1986–2002). He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007.
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[edit] Biography
Njue was born in Embu, Kenya, to Joseph Nyanga Kibariki and Monica Ngina Nyaga. He was baptized in 1948, and entered the minor seminary in Nkubu in 1962. From 1967 to 1974, he furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Urbaniana University (where he obtained a licentiate in philosophy) and Pontifical Lateran University (licentiate in pastoral theology).
On January 6, 1973, Njue was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Basilica. Returning to Kenya in October 1974, he did pastoral work in Kariakomu in the southern district of Meru. He also taught philosophy at the National Seminary of Bungoma, of which he later served as rector from 1978 to 1982. In 1982, he completed a course in spirituality in the United States. He then served as a parish priest in Chuka and rector of the Philosophical Seminary of Meru.
On June 9, 1986, Njue was appointed Bishop of Embu by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 20 from Jozef Cardinal Tomko, the co-consecrators being Bishops Silas Silvius Njiru and Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki. He served as President of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference from 1997 to 2003, and was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on January 23, 2002. Following the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati, he served as Apostolic Administrator of Isolo from 2005 to 2006.
Njue was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi on October 6, 2007, and was installed on the following November 1. Shortly afterwards, he was created Cardinal Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of November 24, 2007. On 29 December 2011 he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications for a five year renewable term.[1]
[edit] Views
[edit] Abortion
Njue has issued a pastoral letter calling abortion a "foreign concept" and blasting the government for attempting to legalise it in Kenya.[2]
[edit] Contraception
Cardinal Njue has stated that the rampant use of condoms is to blame for the spread of HIV/AIDS. Despite condom use, the number of Kenyans infected with the disease continues to rise, calling it an indication that condoms are not effective as a prevention method.[3]
| Styles of John Cardinal Njue |
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|---|---|
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Nairobi |
[edit] References
- ^ NOMINA DI MEMBRI DEL PONTIFICIO CONSIGLIO DELLE COMUNICAZIONI SOCIALI
- ^ Kenyan Cardinal Blasts Government Attempt to Legalise Abortion
- ^ Kenyan Bishop Blames Condoms For Epidemic
[edit] External links
- 1944 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Roman Catholics
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops
- 21st-century Roman Catholics
- 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops
- Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI
- Kenyan cardinals
- People from Eastern Province (Kenya)
- Pontifical Lateran University alumni
- Members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
