MALAWI: Minister of Civic education, Culture and Community Development says No to abortion
By Prince Henderson
Minister of Civic education, Culture and Community Development Patricia Kaliati has been the first Cabinet Minister to openly say No to abortion.
Her sentiment comes barely a week following a Citizens march which was organized by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) in all the districts across the country.
The petition was delivered before Parliament through the Chair of Health Affairs Committee of Parliament, Juliana Lunguzi.
According to Kaliati, her sentiments are out of her cautious as a Catholic such that this drives her to say no to abortion even if its tabled in Parliament.
She was speaking at Chikwawa Cathedral on Thursday when she officially opened the 38th Annual General Meeting for Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) which has attracted Catholic Women from all the eight Dioceses of the Catholic Church.
“As women, we are the salt and light of the nation and the Church. Against this background, we must make sure that we bring light to the nation and that our doings should be of goodwill as the salt does. Let us say no to abortion as advised by our Bishops,” said Kaliati.
She said Catholic Women should strive to be role models and always be exemplary in all their undertakings hence should strive to care for children including the unborn ones and their families as well.
“Let’s not be in the fore-front in advocating for abortion. Let’s say no to abortion. As Catholic Members of Parliament, we will respect the Social Teachings,” she said.
Asked whether she meant it what she said during her speech, Kaliati in an interview said she was born a Catholic before she become a Politician and before she got married therefore she would respect the values of the Catholic Church as a Christian.
“Yes, I mean it as a Catholic. Its Catholicism first and the rest comes second,” she said.
She also took an opportunity during the function to call upon Catholic Women to remain united and refrain from harmful cultural practices hence fight against early marriages.
Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese said women are very crucial in every society because its where everybody comes from.
“We all come from a woman. Be it a Politician, Bishop or Priests, therefore we must take into consideration that women are so blessed before God and as such we must value them,” he said.
He encouraged the women who have gathered in Chikwawa for the Annual General Meeting to utilize their meeting by encouraging on another to lead a spiritual life and strive to develop their country.
National Chairlady for Catholic Women Organisation, Bernadette Chiwaya said during their five-day stay in Chikwawa, they will among others discuss on the harmful cultural practices and role of women in empowerment of gifts, Climate Change and Care for the Environment, role of a Catholic woman in the early child development and ongoing Catholic formation.
The theme for this year’s AGM is ‘Catholic Women: Proclaimers of God’s Mercy’ as taken from John 2:29.
∽End∽
