Karonga Diocese Trains Priests and Religious on Protection for Minors and Vulnerable Adults

Karonga Diocese Trains Priests and Religious on Protection for Minors and Vulnerable Adults

By Benjamin Msowoya

On 14^th and 15^th May 2019, all priests and religious resident in the Diocese of Karonga went through a training on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.  The aim was to ensure that all priests, religious brothers and sisters are aware of the contents of the “Diocesan Policy on the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults for Clergy”.

List of participants included the Bishop, 18 priests, 14 religious sisters and 12 lay Christians some of whom are part of the Review Board on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults in the Diocese of Karonga.

The participants were taken through presentations that included: Historical Context on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (by Monsignor Denis Chitete – the Vicar General); Understanding Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (by Grace T. Malera – a Lawyer); Understanding the National Laws and Policies on Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (by Grace T. Malera – a Lawyer);

The Diocesan Policy on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults for Clergy (by Fr Steven Bulambo –the Judicial Vicar);   The Role of the Church in Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults – Based On The Catholic Social Teaching (by Fr Cyprian Ngoma – Diocesan Focal Point Person among clergy on issues of Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults).

At the end of the first day of the training, the Bishop swore in eight of the nine members of the Review Board on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults in the Diocese of Karonga.  The members who were present and sworn in are Monsignor Denis Chitete, Fr Bernard Silungwe, Sr Ruth Ghambi, Mr Zachariah Kilembe, Mrs Martha Nyondo, Mrs Jane Mkumbwa, Mr John I. Mtambo, Mr Benjamin Msowoya.

At the end of the training, all the diocesan priests signed a form of declaration that they had read, understood and will abide by the Diocesan Policy on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults for Clergy.

In his remarks to participants, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga said that the Diocese has taken several bold steps by (i) having the two Diocesan Policies on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (one for lay personnel and the other for Clergy), (ii) establishing the Review Board on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, (iii) signing of declaration forms by both clergy and lay personnel that they had read, understood and will abide by the Diocesan Policy on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.

The Bishop indicated that, in order to fully implement the policies, the Diocese will move on to train all the other relevant people and popularize the policies among the people it seeks to protect.   The Bishop asked all priests and religious present to do their best on the quality of witnessing and care through their ministry.

The Bishop further declared that as Bishop of the Diocese, who has an overwhelming responsibility on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, he will act decisively on such issues as per policy guidelines.

Pictorial Focus