BISHOP MTUMBUKA CONDEMNS PARISH PRIESTS WHO SHOW NO LOVE FOR CHILDREN
By Esther Banda: TFM Lilongwe
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese and President of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) has expressed deep concern and disappointment over the conduct of some parish priests across the country who do not show love or welcome children around parish premises.
Speaking during the closing Eucharistic celebration of the 2025 National Children’s Congress at Don Bosco Parish in Area 23, Archdiocese of Lilongwe, on Sunday, 3rd August 2025, Bishop Mtumbuka said, “It is both shameful and sad that, as church leaders, they are supposed to be at the forefront in caring for children because they are the future of the Church and of this great nation.”
The Congress, which ran from 31st July to 3rd August under the theme “Ana ndi Atumiki a Chiyembekezo” – “Wana ni Wateweti a Chigomezgo” (Children are Servants of Hope), brought together Catholic children about 1,600 from across Malawi.
Bishop Mtumbuka took the opportunity to sincerely apologize to the children and their parents, saying that bishops carry the overall responsibility to ensure that all Christians especially the young, youth, and children are properly looked after.
“It’s one thing to complain about a shortage of priests. But when people begin to complain that a priest doesn’t care about children, that’s unacceptable. The days of covering up failures in the Catholic Church are over,” he declared.
He further warned all parish priests in the eight dioceses of Malawi who display such neglectful behavior, emphasizing that this must come to an end.
“This behavior is harmful to the future of the Church. We will deal with it comprehensively and decisively. By the next children’s congress, we do not want to hear about this issue again,” he warned.
Bishop Mtumbuka promised both children and parents that the bishops will not fail or abandon them, but will work hard to ensure that children are nurtured in morals, faith, and academics.
“This Congress has been a great success. I listened to the children and observed how they participated. It’s exactly what we aimed for. We have united children from across the country, given them a sense of belonging to the Catholic Church in Malawi, and showed them what it means to be one Church,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.