Let’s Maintain “Catholic identity in all our communications”: Kenyan Bishop at Start of Annual Consultative Meeting

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“As a network of twenty radio stations, one television channel, and written publications across the country, we must remain deeply rooted in our Catholic identity,” he reiterated at the event that KCCB’s Commission for Social Communication organized under the theme, “Deepening collaboration and building capacity for effective evangelization and ethical media management.”

Bishop Wallace highlighted some of the guiding principles for programming the Catholic media need to implement in their different networks to ensure the Catholic identify is maintained.

He said that to maintain the Catholic identity, media reports for print and broadcast “should echo the Gospel and moral teachings of the Church.”

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The Kenyan Catholic Church leader also talked about Doctrine soundness, emphasizing that all Catholic media air programs and publications that educate their audience on faith.

Bishop Wallace urged Catholic media networks to prioritize airing sacred and uplifting Catholic music in their programmes “to evangelize the heart” and to draw people to prayer and holiness.

He went on to highlight the importance of authentic storytelling, calling upon all Catholic media practitioners to share stories that demonstrate God's presence in the lives of the people in Kenya and the mission of the church.

Bishop Wallace urged the Catholic communicators to share information that brings hope to audiences, saying, “We must ensure that our content does not imitate the spirit of the world but rather transforms it in fidelity to Christ.”

In his remarks after presiding over Holy Mass, the Chairman of KCCB’s Commission for Social Communication also addressed the current dynamics in technology, such as safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults, gaming in media, and engaging artificial intelligence (AI).

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Commending the invention of AI, Bishop Wallace said that despite its positive impact in society, it should be used to serve humanity with dignity and challenged Catholic media practitioners to “urgently” integrate faith and technology responsibly and ethically.

“Technology without ethics becomes manipulation. Catholic media’s response must always uphold life, freedom, and moral conscience,” he said on the first day of the annual consultative meeting set to conclude on Thursday, November 20.

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 2024 as one of the three Auxiliary Bishops of ADN encouraged Catholic Media entities in Kenya to foster networking to grow stronger, cautioning against competition.

“Sharing information, resources, and training opportunities will strengthen our collective voice and witness,” he said. 

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Quoting Pope Leo XIV in his address to representatives of the media at Pope Paul VI Audience Hall on May 12, Bishop Wallace Bishop reminded Catholic communicators of the church’s mission in society.

“The Church must face the challenges of the times. Communication and journalism do not exist outside of history. As St. Augustine reminds us: ‘Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times,’” he said.

Bishop Wallace called upon participants in the annual consultative meeting “to shape the world with truth and faith”, adding, “Through communication, we can renew culture, restore trust, and bear witness to the beauty of the Gospel in today’s world.” 

Sabrine Amboka is a Kenyan journalist with a passion for Catholic church communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from St. Paul's University in Kenya.