Catholic women say no to homosexuality, abortion

The Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO) has branded homosexuality and abortion as sins before God and ought not to be practiced or encouraged in Malawi. The grouping, which comprises Catholic women from all the eight dioceses in the country, made the resolution at their meeting in Karonga which they held from 16 to 20 December 2015. The outcome of the meeting has been communicated through a statement issued on
Monday.

Their communiqué comes days after the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court freed politician Ken Msonda who was being accused of inciting people to ‘kill homosexuals’. Reads the CWO communiqué co-signed by chairperson Bernadette Chiwaya and secretary Ellen Maliano: “Guided by the scriptures (Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:18-25, Romans 1:18-19 and Mathews 19:4), and the teachings of the Catholic Church, we want to stress that homosexuality ought not to be encouraged or followed in Malawi. This practice acts against the will of God, human nature and Malawian culture.” The grouping has also discouraged abortion, saying it is equivalent of murder. However, CWO has encouraged the use of contraceptives which the church prescribes, as means of controlling child birth.
The homosexual issue also stirred controversy over the festive season when one of Malawi’s leading musicians Lucius Banda stopped a performance in Mangochi when he noticed two men in the crowd kissing.
Banda, a legislator, apologised to his fans through his Facebook page the following day that he stopped the show because he could not stand the act and openly said he is against homosexuality. Banda’s statement also attracted the wrath of the minority rights activists, who condemned him and described his remarks as homophobic