Tanzanian Catholic Bishop Encourages Continued Dialogue on Safeguarding in Africa

Nairobi, 23 October, 2025 / 4:10 PM

There is a need for the Church in Africa to continue fostering open dialogue on safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults under its pastoral care, the Chairman of the Pastoral Department of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has said.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the ongoing regional conference on safeguarding in seminaries, Bishop Rogath Kimaryo emphasized the importance of holding open discussions on safeguarding and exploring effective ways to protect minors and vulnerable adults.

“We must talk about safeguarding openly, not just within the Church but in society as a whole,” the Local Ordinary of Tanzania's Catholic Diocese of Same said during the Wednesday October 22 interview at Donum Dei, Roussel House in Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN).

The member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp), noted that both minors and vulnerable adults should feel recognized and valued within the Church community.

He said, “In AMECEA, our focus is primarily preventive. We want children to feel loved, cared for, and secure within the Church. This also applies to adults who, due to various challenges, may find themselves in vulnerable situations.”

“We are committed to their safety and well-being,” he said, and went on to urge other regional bodies of Episcopal conferences across Africa to remain engaged in conversations on safeguarding.

He added, “My appeal is that discussions like the one we are having here in Nairobi continue across all regions—West, South, and East Africa.” 

The Spiritan Bishop said that safeguarding efforts should go beyond “creating rules and regulations,” and called instead for greater awareness and education.

“It is about dialogue and awareness,” he said, and explained, “In Tanzania, for instance, there are laws protecting minors, but what we need more is continuous education and open discussion.”

For him, vigilance and proactive preventive measures are particularly vital in Africa, where “record-keeping is often weak.”

“We must act proactively and remain vigilant,” he said, urging the Church in Africa to be open to learning from the experiences of other regions, including America and Europe.

During the October 22 interview, the Tanzanian Catholic Church leader  shared that the AMECEA region has adopted a “listening approach” in its efforts to foster a stronger safeguarding culture and ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

“Our strategy is that whenever anyone comes forward claiming to have been abused, we, as Bishops, must listen attentively and compassionately. Every person deserves to be heard,” he said.

Bishop Kimaryo, who has been at the helm of the Same Catholic Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in June 2010, commended the diverse composition of delegates attending the three-day event, noting that the involvement of Seminarians is particularly important.

“If you look at our gathering here, you will notice that we have Bishops, formators, and Seminarians present. We wanted the seminarians to hear directly from us, the Bishops, how seriously we take this issue,” he said.

He added, “While safeguarding is taught in class, hearing about it firsthand from Church leaders makes a deeper impact. We want our seminarians to understand our commitment to transparency—nothing should be hidden.”

The October 21-23 event brings together representatives from AMECEA member countries, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, with Djibouti and Somalia participating as affiliate members.