His Excellency Bishop Bernardin of the Diocese of Kendoa in Tanzania brought his perspective of ethnic harmony to AMECEA’s 19th Plenary Assembly. His Grace Bishop Bernardin Francis Mfumbusa appreciated the theme chosen for the 19th Plenary Assembly for the Association for Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa: Vibrant Diversity, Equal Dignity, Peaceful Unity in God in the AMECEA Region.
As reported by Vatican news, The Bishop considers language differences to be the greatest source of diversity that the Church faces in Eastern Africa. Then “there are very big differences between different ethnic groups. That’s why sometimes harmony is not possible”, he said, adding that the Bishops and other organizations are trying to “overcome” this problem. Echoing the message under discussion at the Plenary Assembly, His Excellency Bishop Mfumbusa said, “unity is possible if we have the will”, regarding politicians who foment diversity. “If we sent out the message that we as Catholics can work together with other ecumenical groups, with our Muslim brothers, I think the politicians will get the message”, he said.
90% of the population in His Grace Bishop Mfumbusa’s diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania are Muslims who were there before Christianity came. His Grace Bishop Mfumbusa said the first Christian missionaries were given land by the Muslim inhabitants. Although tensions began growing after Tanzania gained its independence in 1961, His Grace Bishop Mfumbusa says “people are living together in harmony”.
