Karonga Cathedral Consecrated as Catholic Bishops condemn abortion bill
BY PRINCE HENDERSON
Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre Archdiocese has condemned the Termination of Pregnancy Bill being advocated and campaigned by different quarters of the society 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 which was officially consecrated by His Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni, Prefect for the Congregation of the Evangelisation of people at the Holy See.
He said the Patron of the Cathedral, St Joseph the Worker bravely accepted the responsibility to take care of, to defend and protect the baby Jesus from all harm hence this should serve as a reminder on the stand of the Catholic Church on abortion.
“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 therefore challenged Catholic faithful to stand against those that are advocating for the abortion bill.
Earlier 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 that he should visit this country.
Í will tell the Pope to go to Africa and Malawi in particular if he wants to see how much people love him,” he said.
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 this function saying it is through such unity that the country can develop.
Present at the function among others were former Vice President Khumbo Kachali, Leader of Opposition, Lazarous Chakwera, Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe and Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly, Richard Msowoya.
Karonga Diocese is divided into two deaneries which are subdivided into six parishes. The diocese covers the geographical districts of Karonga and Chitipa including the northern part of Rumphi. It has an area of 12 000 Square Kilometers with a population of 467 000 of whom about 65 000 are Catholics.
The area under the diocese is the remotest and poorest part of Malawi. It is territory that is mostly hilly and mountainous making the movement of both goods and people difficult. The region has been prone to a series of disasters such as earth tremors, floods and droughts.
Vice President Saulosi Chilima will represent President Arthur Peter Mutharika at the consecration ceremony.