Sexual Abuse and Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in sub-Saharan Africa1

Abstract

For years, disturbing news about abuse and mistreatment of minors and persons under the protection of priests and other responsible persons in the Church, and the cover-up of these crimes, has surfaced. The issue has since the 1990s produced a growing body of research focused on the nature and extent of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church focused mainly on Europe, the US, and Australia. Relatively little has been said, however, regarding the reality of abuse in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper discusses the reality of the problem of the sexual abuse of children in sub-Saharan Africa in general, and in South Africa in particular. While the Catholic Church in Africa is making steps to put in place safeguarding procedures against the abuse of children, the challenge remains a complex one due to several cultural and institutional factors.