Don’t Legalize Same-sex Unions: Malawi’s Christian Leaders to Judges ahead of Ruling

“We are of the view that this is a fundamental part of our law, which if indeed has to be changed, can only be changed by the will of the majority of the citizens of this nation through either a referendum or through the people's representatives in parliament,” they say. 

The Christian leaders add that having three judges changing the Malawian law that criminalizes homosexuality “would (be) tantamount to an infringement of people’s rights, values, and interests.”

They say legalizing same-sex relationships in the country would infringe religious liberties as faith leaders would be obliged to officiate marriage of homosexual couples in churches.

The Christian leaders in Malawi add that legalizing same-sex unions “would promote moral decay in our society as our children and young people in schools and colleges, including mission Schools, will openly be taught homosexuality as being normal. This is unacceptable behavior.”  

They further say that homosexuality is a sin, and normalizing it would threaten the natural family unit, which is the core of a strong society.

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The leaders drawn from the main Christian bodies in the country call upon Malawians to unite against homosexuality. 

Faith leaders need to sensitize Malawians on the dangers of same-sex unions and “earnestly pray” against the legalization of homosexuality by the country’s judiciary, they say.

The church leaders also ask human rights groups that are advocating for homosexuality “to seriously reflect on their actions and not be used to cause the nation to sin against God.” 

The international community “should respect our sovereignty as a nation and not dictate values which are conflicting with our religious and cultural beliefs as a people,” the leaders drawn from ECM, MCC, and EAM say in their statement.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.