Delegates Commit to Uphold “highest” Safeguarding Standards in Seminaries at AMECEA Conference

The delegates for the conference were drawn from AMECEA member countries, which include Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as affiliate members Djibouti and Somalia.

Expressing regret over the existence of cases of abuse within their respective ecclesial jurisdictions, they said, “In the course of our pastoral work, we have witnessed cases of abuse within our communities, regrettably, even within the Church. We acknowledge the existence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and exploitation.”

The delegates, who included a representation of Local Ordinaries from the member conferences of AMECEA, Priests, formators, and safeguarding experts, noted that abuse “negatively impact the physical, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children at times with long-term consequences.”

They emphasized that the safeguarding is both “an individual and collective responsibility” that should not “be viewed as an administrative mandate for a few officers and persons.”

“Collectively, as families, communities, and particularly as churches, we are called to a prophetic mission to exemplify God's love and care in an increasingly difficult world characterized by human suffering,” the delegates said.

More in Africa

South African Catholic Bishop Known for Liturgical Reform at Conference Dies at 76

Read the article

In their October 23 statement, the delegates pointed out existing gaps in the Church’s efforts across the East African region to fully implement safeguarding commitments and underscored the need to harmonize policies aimed at protecting the vulnerable.

“Following our deliberations, we recognize and admit that although we have made such strides towards actualizing commitments to safeguarding, there are gaps that still exist,” they said, noting that some institutions, including seminaries, still “do not have policies of safeguarding, nor dedicated offices for safeguarding.”

They observed that the lack of clarity on where the “overall responsibility” for safeguarding lies remains a major gap that national conferences need to address, while also encouraging Seminaries to fully integrate safeguarding principles into their formation programs.

The delegates urged national Conferences and Dioceses in AMECEA, “especially at this critical time” when the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis is under review, “to integrate safeguarding into the formal, non-formal, and informal dimensions of the seminary curriculum.”

They added, “Seminarians who are well-grounded and committed to issues of safeguarding will play a key role in shaping how the church lives a prophetic missionary call of responding to the plight of children and vulnerable adults.”

“There is also a need for ongoing formation of formators on safeguarding, particularly for those entrusted with the responsibility of guiding others,” the delegates noted in their statement issued at the end of the three-day event that AMECEA organized under the theme, “To the Pulpit with Love and Care: Towards a Deeper Safeguarding Commitment through Seminary Formation.”

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.