Sierra Leone prelate speaks out against abortion

February 05, 2016

Lawmakers in Sierra Leone, sometimes ranked as the world’s poorest nation, have passed a law legalizing abortion, and the bill awaits the president’s signature.

Joining other Christian and Muslim leaders, the nation’s leading prelate, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of Freetown, spoke out against the legislation.

“Our lawmakers passed a bill that, in my view, amounts to a clear choice of the culture of death, contrary to our much treasured culture of life,” he said recently, adding:

It is against this background that we the religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims, in accordance with our mandate to provide a the prophetic voice for our people, are taking this initiative to register our opposition to the Safe Abortion Bill because it is represents a philosophy, a worldview and an ideology that is alien to the cultures of the people of this country and it proposes actions that are contrary to our religious beliefs and cultural values.

 

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Further information:

• The Archbishop of Freetown calls for the protection human life and for more investment in health care for women (Vatican Radio)
• Sierra Leone's president urged to sign safe abortion bill (The Guardian)