Malawi Churches Say No To Abortion, Same Sex Marriage: Petition Parliament

Thousands of Christians, Muslims, Rastafarians and others from various denominations have held national wide peaceful march this Thursday asking the Malawi National Assembly to throw off proposed abortion bill and same sex marriage legalisation once they happen to find their way in the House for deliberation.

Pope Appoints New Bishop Of Mzuzu Diocese

Rev. Fr. John Alphonsus Ryan 

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Father John Alphonsus Ryan of the Missionary Society of St. Patrick as Bishop of Mzuzu-the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has announced.

A statement signed by Rev. Fr. Henry Saindi Secretary General of  ECM dated April 26, 2016 has indicated that His Excellency Archbishop Julio Murat, Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia relayed the news to Malawi this Tuesday after the news of the appointment was published in the Vatican on same day at Noon time in the Vatican City.

"The Reverend Mons. Michael A. Muwowo, Diocesan Administrator of Mzuzu, remains in charge of the Diocese until the new Bishop will take possession of the Episcopal See of Mzuzu" reads part of the statement

The office of the bishop for Mzuzu Diocese fell vacant on January 15, 2015 following the sudden passing of His Lordship Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza who was involved in an accident.

His tragic death was great loss to Church and faithful in Malawi as apart from being bishop of Mzuzu Diocese, late Zuza was also the Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

ECM Secretariat Cheer Up Patients At Mlare Hospital With Items Close To Million Kwacha

Mlare Hospital 

Fr. Henry Saindi speaking to patients 

Malawi Catholic Secretariat team had on Thursday evening cheer up patients at a rural hospital in Lilongwe, Mlare Hospital and gave them assorted items valued close to a Million Kwacha.

The donation includes sanitation and hygiene products like soaps and various food items to every patient admitted at the Hospital.

Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Henry Saindi said through the donation, Catholic Church wanted to demonstrate church commitment to continue caring mission of Jesus Christ.

But he also mentioned that the ECM Secretariat chose Mlare Hospital because it is in the outskirt of Lilongwe City where organizations and many people of goodwill rarely visits patients during Christmas and New Year festive season. 

“They are so many organizations in town during this festive season who go to town hospitals for example Kamuzu Central Hospital to cheer the sick and give them their support unlike to the people who are admitted in the outskirt hospitals like Mlare.” Said Saindi

Doctor in Martenity ward briefing ECM delegation 

When presenting gifts to patients in every ward at the hospital, Fr. Saindi offered word of encouragement and hope to patients that even in their sickness God is with them always and he is there to care for them. He further told patients that through the donation the Catholic Church and as Christians, they also wanted to share and celebrate with them during this festive season.

“We wanted to cheer the sick because we are in the festive season of Christmas and New Year. While we are celebrating we should also acknowledge that there are so many people who are disadvantaged because they are meeting so many challenges in life either because they don’t have what they ought to have or they are meeting challenges like sickness. So as we are celebrating as Christians we are encouraged to celebrate while cheering those people who are not in the possibility of celebrating.” Explained Saindi

Sister Mini Thomas

Mlare Hospital administrator Sister Mini Thomas thanked the Catholic secretariat for the donation.

“We are very happy for coming forward and give support to our patients. And we are glad that they have come to cheer them and make this donation during this Christmas season because we know that these gifts gifts will help our patients because most of them are very poor. Surely our patients are very happy with this donation.” She said

Mlare Hospital is located about 30 kilometers South East of Malawi’s capital Lilongwe near Mitundu. The hospital has a capacity to admit more than 60 patients and see up to 200 patients a day.

Access to Information Bill Ready for Parliament

Much anticipated ‘Access to Information Bill’ ready for the upcoming Meeting of Parliament.

Justin Saidi

Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, Justin Saidi revealed this during the Catholic Church’s commemorations for the Communication Day at Mtima Woyera Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe.

“Well, we have gone through all the process that are supposed to be followed and what remain is simply taking it to the upcoming Meeting of Parliament” said Saidi

Saidi who attended this year’s Communication Day as a guest of honor at Mtima Woyera Parish was responding to the call made by General Secretary for Episcopal Conference of Malawi Fr. Henry Saindi who asked government to speed the process for the enactment of bill into law to help Journalists easily access to Government information.

Fr. Henry Saindi

“In any country that this has been approved as a law, it is a useful tool for those who are working as Journalists because then, they have possibility of accessing important information that can also help in the development of the country; but without sweating for this information or without having to do as if they are begging for this information.” Said Fr. Saindi

Currently in Malawi he said “those who have the information which has to be disseminated to people at times they don’t serve Journalists.”

“Access to Information Bill if it is turned into a Law, will help the Journalists to access information which they require in order to disseminate to the entire nation. So it is an important tool"

There Is No Justifiable Grounds for Abortion Maintains Catholic Church in Malawi

Catholic Bishop Arch Bishop Ziyaye and Priests 

The Catholic Church teachings on abortion are not shaken even with the recent announced proposed grounds for legal abortion,  are unacceptable in the Church.

The Church has publicly announced its stance on the issue few weeks after pronouncement of findings and recommendations by the Special Law Commission on the Review on Abortion Law.

Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Fr. Henry Saindi in his speech during commemorations for the Communication Day at Mtima Woyera Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe, said the Catholic Church stance on abortion will never change adding that Malawi Catholic Bishops will continue to uphold the church teaching on abortion.

The Special Law Commission on review on Abortion Law, findings and recommendations states that, termination of pregnancy be performed only for certain justifiable instances through an operation.

Recommendations propose that termination of pregnancy be done ‘only’ to save the life of pregnant woman, or if there is malformation of the foetus which will affect its viability or compatibility with life as well as where the pregnancy is as a result of rape, incest or defilement.

Fr. Saindi delivering speech

“Catholic Church already addressed this issue.” Said Fr. Saindi to the congregation “The position of the church has never changed and it will never change”

Fr. Saindi stated that issue of legalizing abortion has come in different way now as recommendations by the Special Commission allows termination of pregnancy for ‘only’ justifiable instances. However, he said nothing is “new” because the same issue was addressed in 2013 Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter in which they tackled issues concerning Homosexuality and legalizing Abortion.

Fr. Henry Saindi

“Abortion in these instances cannot be tolerated or permitted by the Catholic Church.” He said and emphasized that “The position of the church is that Abortion is the killing the unborn child because we know that the life of a person begins when a child is conceived.”

“The unborn child has a right to live and must always be protected by the society.” Continued Fr. Saindi

He then explained that the Catholic Church on abortion advocates and always emphasize the role counseling of women and girls found in a situation of terminating pregnancy.

“For example those who have been raped and found to be pregnant, they have to be counseled, they have to be helped to accept their situation and the gift that God has given to them.”

Proper Use of Communication Platforms Vital for Development, Family Life

Arch Bishop Ziyaye 

Proper utilization of modern and traditional communication tools and platforms couple with sharing truthful information to the public is central in accelerating development and deepening of love among people and the life of the family.

During his homily at Mtima Woyera Parish, commemorating the 49th World Communication, His Grace Tarcisius Ziyaye of Lilongwe Arch Diocese noted number of vital roles media houses, journalists and those working as communicators play in spreading of various messages to the people.

Part of the congregation 

However, the Arch Bishop Ziyaye emphasized the need for the appropriate use of information and mediums of communication stating that Communicators must share with public the truthful information.

Bishop Ziyaye who underlined the importance of true love in people’s daily lives, said communicators must have love of God in their heart to help them share information which foster development but not information which influence immoral behavior and strange cultural practices. 

Touching on this year’s Communication Day theme, ‘Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love’ Ziyaye urged every person to use all communication devices and mediums in a Christian manner and properly exploit them to defend dignity of the family.

Ziyaye said communication platforms should be used to share Godly information and helping people to live a happy family life and move closer to God.

Arch Bishop Ziyaye also praised Government of Malawi for allowing the Catholic Church including other religious denominations as well as individuals to establish their own media houses.

Guest of honor at the ceremony, Justin Saidi, Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, also noted the importance of sharing the right information.

Justin Saidi

He also commended the Catholic Church for having Communication Day saying it recognizes importance of communication and communicators in development.

He among others hailed the Catholic Church for establishing number of radio stations and printing houses which he said “helps” to disseminate information about the development of the country and Christianity

“Government alone cannot reach out to everybody, so we are happy that the Catholic Church is doing part of what government is supposed to do and us as government we are committed to work together with the church so that we should build our nation” he added

Earlier, Secretary General for Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Henry Saindi, speaking on behalf of Communications Secretary, also emphasized the importance of responsibility and factual when sharing information. 

Saindi said communicators must always share useful and helpful information for the development of human beings, the church and the entire nation.

Communication Day is an opportunity where the Catholic church reflects the importance of communication in the Church as well as in development of human beings and the nation.