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Social Status Divisions in Parishes, Small Christian Communities Cause for Concern: Catholic Archbishop in Kenya

Credit: Radio Maria Kisumu
Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Kisumu, 08 September, 2025 / 3:35 pm (ACI Africa).

Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu has cautioned against social status divisions in Parishes and Small Christian Communities (SCCs), noting that such stratification contradicts the Christian call to fraternity.

In his homily during Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ahero Parish of his Metropolitan See on September 7, Archbishop Muhatia denounced division and warned that “it is overwhelming our Christian union, our fellowship, and our togetherness with Christ.”

He said, “There are parts of our society here today, in some parishes people can't even meet in the same small Christian community. In some towns, the small Christian communities are based on social status.”

“That means they exclude anybody else who does not measure up to their social status. Is it Christian?” the Kenyan Catholic Church leader asked, noting that while there may be “some challenges of interaction,” the boundaries of social status must be broken to make way for a united community of the people of God.

He reiterated the need for fraternity, and appealed, “High and low to come together to refer to each other brother and sister. This is the cost of discipleship.”

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The Kenyan Catholic Archbishop, who began his Episcopal Ministry as Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru in Kenya February 2010 challenged the faithful in his Metropolitan See to emulate the wisdom of God, who, despite being so great, chose to become small by taking human form in Jesus Christ for the sake of His people's salvation.

“He is inviting us to follow suit, to break down barriers that divide us and to truly be transformed into one family of the people of God, under His guidance, where all forms of social status have been broken,” said the Local Ordinary of Kisumu who doubles as the Chairperson of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).

In his September 7 homily, Archbishop Muhatia also cautioned against the violation of employees’ rights, noting that those who do so not only break national laws but also violate the social teachings of the Church.

“Are you an employer? How are you treating your cook? How much are you paying him or her?” he posed, and urged those not in a position to sustain employees accordingly to let them go.

He said, “Don’t keep him/her because you’re not only breaking the law; you are breaking the law of love of Jesus Christ. So, you are a lawbreaker in Kenya; you are a lawbreaker in heaven as well.”

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The 57-year-old Catholic Church leader emphasized that even within parish institutions, justice and fairness must prevail. “Small things, but Christ will ask us, ‘When you were Chairman of the Parish Council, why were workers of the parish being underpaid?’ You can’t say, ‘Oh, it was the Parish Priest.’ No, you and the Parish Priest.”

He underscored the need for love and discipline to underpin all relationships.

“Treat people with respect and with love. Even when you discipline them, they will understand it as charity to make sure that they grow with responsibility and love. Be firm when you have to be firm, firm many times it’s a sign of love, it’s an expression of love,” Archbishop Muhatia said on September 7.

Nicholas Waigwa

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.

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