How a Malawi bishop argues against abortion

Last updated on: November 11, 2016 at 7:08 am by CNA Daily News

How a Malawi bishop argues against abortion 2016-11-11T07:08:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Karonga, Malawi, Nov 11, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- St. Joseph the Worker’s care for the infant Jesus is the model for opponents of an abortion bill in Malawi.

Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre praised St. Joseph’s bravery in accepting responsibility to care for, defend, and protect the infant Christ from all harm.

The chairman of the Malawi bishops' conference spoke in Karonga Nov. 5 at the consecration of a cathedral named for St. Joseph the Worker, the Catholic News Agency for Africa reports.

Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the archbishop said, “human life is sacred because from its beginning until end, no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”

He called on the Catholic faithful to oppose the Termination of Pregnancy Bill. Abortion is currently criminalized in the country except in cases of saving the mother's life.

The bill would allow abortions in circumstances like rape, incest or “defilement,” when a pregnancy poses a threat to the mother’s health, or when there is evidence the unborn baby is severely deformed, the German news site Deutsche Welle reports.

Archbishop Msusa said the Catholic faithful should stand against the abortion bill’s advocates.

Those present for the consecration of the included Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga and Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect for the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples. Malawi’s vice president Saulosi Chilima also attended.

The abortion bill has support from the Malawi Council of Churches, an umbrella group for 25 Christian organizations.

However, several ecclesial communities under the MCC have distanced themselves from the group's claims, and the Evangelical Association of Malawi has called on members of parliament to reject the bill.

Backers claim legal abortion will reduce maternal deaths. The Malawi Ministry of Health said that more than 70,000 women seek illegal abortions each year. It said about 31,000 of these women suffer complications, sometimes including death. It blamed botched abortions for 17 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

Middle East - Africa

Previous Post

November 10, 2016

Can South Korean Catholics evangelize Asia?

Next Post

November 11, 2016 No one's talking about the trauma of abortion by pill

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the name of the sea that Moses parted?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Dead Sea Red Sea Jordan River Sea of Galilee