Church in Malawi against Abortion Bill

Church in Malawi against Abortion Bill

CANAA || By Prince Henderson, Episcopal Conference of Malawi || 07 November 2016

The Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre, Saturday, November 5, condemned the Termination of Pregnancy Bill being proposed in Malawi, saying the Catholic Church is not in support of the idea.

Archbishop Msusa was speaking in Karonga on the occasion of the consecration and inauguration of St. Joseph the worker Cathedral.

The Papal envoy to the event of the consecration, Fernando Cardinal Filoni, who is the Prefect for the Congregation of the Evangelization of the Peoples, presided over the ceremony.

Archbishop Msusa linked his message of condemnation to the event of the day saying the Patron of the Cathedral, St Joseph the Worker, bravely accepted the responsibility to take care of, defend and protect the baby Jesus from all harm and called on all Malawians to understand the stand of the Catholic Church on the matter.

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2258 says, human life is sacred because from its beginning until end, no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy a innocent human being,” he said adding that the same Catechism, number 2270 says, human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception and from the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having rights of a person.

He particularly called on the Catholic faithful to stand against those advocating for the abortion bill in the country.

At the same occasion, Cardinal Filoni congratulated Bishop Martin Mtumbuka and the faithful of Karonga diocese for successfully coming up with a Cathedral.

He said he will invite Pope Francis on behalf of the people of Malawi to visit the country saying, “Í will tell the Pope to go to Africa and Malawi in particular if he wants to see how much people love him.”

Vice President Saulosi Chilima commended the Catholic Church in Malawi for complementing government’s efforts in supporting its citizenry.

He also commended politicians who despite their political differences united at the function saying it is through such unity that the country can develop.