Malawian Church’s Call for Protection of Life and Family Values

Lilongwe, Malawi – November 12, 2025

Malawi’s major religious mother bodies have issued a strong joint statement expressing concern over a recent High Court judgment on abortion, warning that the ruling poses a serious threat to the protection of both mothers and unborn children.

The statement, released on Wednesday, was signed by leaders of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), and the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) — representing the country’s largest Christian and Muslim communities.

Deep Concern Over Court Ruling

In their statement, the faith leaders reaffirmed their “strong and unwavering commitment to the promotion, protection, and sanctity of life, and to the natural family as ordained by God.”

They expressed deep concern over the High Court’s decision, which they believe sets a “worrying precedent” for the nation’s legal and moral framework.

The mother bodies disclosed that they are consulting their legal teams to determine the appropriate course of action, including engaging the Office of the Attorney General — one of the defendants in the case — to consider an appeal against the judgment.

“We remain hopeful that the Government, known for its respect for the cultural, moral, and religious values cherished by the majority of Malawians, will act accordingly to safeguard our laws from alterations that undermine the will and values of the people,” the statement reads.

Appeal to Parliament

The leaders further called on Members of Parliament to stand firm in defense of life and to resist any attempts to legalize abortion under broader circumstances.

“We call upon our Members of Parliament to once again, as did their predecessors in rejecting the proposed Termination of Pregnancy Bill, stand united in defending life and resisting any attempt to manipulate our laws to justify the taking of innocent unborn lives,” they stated.

While acknowledging the hardships faced by women and girls experiencing unplanned or difficult pregnancies, the faith leaders maintained that abortion is not a moral solution. Instead, they called for honest, compassionate, and constructive dialogue to develop ways of supporting vulnerable women and girls while upholding the sanctity of life.

A Call for National Prayer

The statement emphasizes that Malawi’s current laws already provide adequate protection for both mothers and unborn children. Any effort to expand the legal grounds for abortion, they warned, could pave the way for “abortion on demand” — a direction they say aligns with “the long-term objectives of global pro-abortion movements.”

The faith leaders described the issue as a moral and spiritual battle between light and darkness, urging Malawians to pray for wisdom and divine guidance for the nation’s leadership.

“We urge all Malawians to cover our nation and our leaders in the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature in earnest prayer that they may be guided by the fear of God, uphold divine principles, and act with wisdom and justice.”

United in Faith

The statement was jointly signed by representatives of all four mother bodies:

• Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) – Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka (President) and Very Rev. Fr. Valeriano Mtseka (Secretary General)
• Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) – Rev. Prof. Billy Gama (Chairperson) and Rev. Alemekezeke Phiri (General Secretary)
• Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) – Archbishop Dr. Mark Kambalazaza (Chairperson) and Rev. Francis Mkandawire (General Secretary)
• Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) – Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad (Chairperson) and Alhaj Dr. Twaibu Lawe (Secretary General)

The leaders concluded by reaffirming their collective commitment to defend life, family, and moral integrity, declaring, “May the Lord bless Malawi and keep it a land of peace.”