“Reject politicization of the pulpit”: Theologians to Africa’s Catholic Bishops

Nairobi, 14 November, 2025 / 10:34 PM

Theologians at the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) have issued a pastoral advisory to members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), reminding them to be careful about how they engage with politics while carrying out the Church’s prophetic mission.

In the advisory that PACTPAN shared with ACI Africa on Thursday, November 13, the theologians reminded Africa’s Catholic Bishops and other pastoral agents on the continent of the 12-point roadmap that was unveiled in August to guide the ministry of the Church in Africa to the next Jubilee Year (2025-2050).

On the list of the pillars that were voted for during SECAM’s 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, the Catholic Bishops pointed out “Church and Politics”, and called for the Church’s careful engagement in political matters.

In their November 13 pastoral advisory, theologians at PACTPAN highlighted the crises affecting many African countries owing to poor governance and reminded SECAM members of their vision in Kigali to promote justice and human dignity, while avoiding “partisan entanglements” with politics.

“As November 2025 opens the twelfth pillar of SECAM’s Vision 2025–2050, the Church is invited to reflect and act on one of the most decisive issues of our time, the relationship between the Church and politics,” the network that also brings on board Clergy, women and men Religious, pastoral workers, social justice advocates and other intellectuals said.

“In keeping with SECAM’s vision 2025-2050, we encourage bishops and pastoral leaders to… refuse partisan patronage disguised as partnership,” PACTPAN said, and further urged Catholic Church leaders in Africa to “reject the politicization of the pulpit and altar.”

Expressing concern about political instability in many African countries, the theologians said, “Across Africa, anger about corruption, unemployment, high cost of living, widening poverty, and failure of basic services is driving disillusionment with democratic leadership in Africa and fueling much unrest in many African countries.”

They said that political unrest and protests following post-election crises in many African countries had made governance “more like crisis management” in those countries.

According to the theologians, Africa now stands at “a  crossroads of history.”

“Democracy is in retreat, civic freedoms are shrinking, and governance is increasingly captured and dominated by political and economic elites who have not shown a serious commitment to promoting the common good, embracing an inclusive state, opposition, and political diversity,” the PACTPAN members said.

Highlighting examples where crises persist, they said, “From Nigeria to Kenya, Uganda to Tanzania, Madagascar to Cameroon, citizens are crying out for justice, accountability, and leadership that serves the common good rather than oppressive, insensitive, and self-serving governments who are only interested in perpetuating themselves in power.”

They said that the restlessness of Africa’s young people from Morocco to Madagascar, from Tanzania to Ivory Coast reflects their “unquenchable thirst” for a better Africa that guarantees their future and fulfills their hopes and dreams in a peaceful and prosperous continent. 

The PACTPAN members also pointed out the dangers of what they described as “state patronage”, warning of complicity where the Church does not balance its relationship with politics.

According to the theologians, the Church’s engagement with politics must always be guided by independence of conscience and the wisdom that has developed from the Church’s checkered history on church–state relations.

They however regretted that in many African contexts, a culture of state patronage threatens to compromise the Church’s freedom. 

The theologians gave the case of Nigeria where they said that political leaders seek legitimacy by donating to Church projects and appearing at liturgical events, blurring the prophetic line between altar and office.

“In Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, political regimes often court Church leaders for moral endorsement while silencing critical voices,” they said, adding that in Zambia and parts of Central Africa, Clergy and Religious “have been drawn into patronage networks through government contracts, privileges, or protection.” 

“Such entanglements undermine the Church’s witness,” the PACTPAN members said, and added, “The prophetic mission of the Gospel cannot be financed by the same powers it must convert.  Cooperation with the state must never become subservient.”

“Patronage weakens credibility, fractures ecclesial unity, and silences the prophetic word that should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” they said. 

In their advisory, the theologians proposed that Bishops and other pastoral agents in Africa to always audit and publicly disclose Church–state collaborations to ensure transparency and independence.

They also proposed that Bishops in Africa train clergy and laity in non-partisan civic engagement rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.

They proposed a November pastoral strategy for November 2025 that moves “from vision to action”, one that is pegged on civic education and evangelization; as well as the strengthening of Justice, Peace, and Development Commissions of the Church.

They further provided a guide for the Church’s political engagements, cautioning against the use of Church platforms for campaigning or partisan fundraising.

The theologians also proposed youth and media formation for political engagement, noting that young Africans are “not merely the Church’s future.”

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They said that young people are the African Church’s conscience, adding, “Their cries for justice, inclusion, and dignity echo the same Gospel that calls us to prophetic witness.”

“The Church must listen not only to their (young people’s) protests but also to their dreams and advocate for them and walk side by side with them to bring a better society that honors their future,” the theologians said.