“False”: Catholic Archbishop in Sierra Leone Dismisses Mention of His Name in Abortion Bill Saga

In his disclaimer, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown says, “My attention has been drawn to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Information, claiming I said that, with the proposed modifications to the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill, the Government has accommodated religious sensibilities.”

“I dismiss the statement as false because I have not yet made any public statement on the proposed modifications of the Bill,” Archbishop Tamba Charles says.

The Catholic Archbishop, who also serves as the President of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) explains that he had only supported a proposal to make the proposed amendments available to the council members.

He says that he made the proposal during a January 2 meeting between IRCSL and officials of Sierra Leone’s information and health ministries.

Archbishop Tamba Charles adds that following the meeting, he received the document bearing the proposed amendments, and that the religious leaders were still studying it.

“We shall meet soon to prepare our response to the proposed modifications. Until that is done, it would be improper for me to declare, as claimed by the statement on the website of the Ministry of Information, that the Government has accommodated religious sensibilities,” he says.

In his disclaimer, the Sierra Leonean Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2008 as Archbishop of Freetown and Bo Archdiocese calls upon participants in the dialogue between the religious leaders and government representatives on the abortion Bill to “dismiss as false” the statement, saying, “It does not represent my position as Chairman of the Catholic Bishops in Sierra Leone or as President of the Interreligious Council Sierra Leone.”

Religious leaders in Sierra Leone have opposed the abortion Bill, noting that it “gravely” contradicts religious teachings in the country.

According to IRCSL members, the Bill is a violation of the sanctity of life as protected by existing Sierra Leonean laws.

Members of IRCSL issued their statement following the 15 December 2024 engagement between Sierra Leonean female parliamentarians and the country’s ministry of health in a meeting that sought support for the Bill. 

Also in attendance was an official of Marie Stopes, a pro-abortion international organization, who urged the lawmakers to work towards passing the Bill.

Proponents claim that the Bill will, among other opportunities, “provide for safe motherhood and reproductive health care throughout Sierra Leone”, and that it will also “set the standards of sexual and reproductive health care” in the West African nation.

The owners of the Bill also say that the Bill will “provide for the right to make decisions regarding safe motherhood and reproductive health and to provide for other related matters.” 

Sierra Leone’s Catholic Bishops have appealed to lawmakers in the country to approach the abortion Bill with prudence and “a proper use” of their consciences.

In their statement dated 18 December 2024, Catholic Bishops in Sierra Leone warned that the Bill's promotion of unrestricted reproductive choices could lead to a normalization of abortion.

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“By suggesting that women have complete freedom over their reproductive health, the bill may inadvertently increase the rate of abortions. The reliance on contraceptives often creates a false sense of security, leading to riskier sexual behaviour and a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancies,” they said. 

Appealing for a re-evaluation of the Bill, the Catholic Church leaders said, “Instead of advancing this legislation, the Church advocates for comprehensive strategies that prioritize human dignity, healthcare access, and education.”

“A rights-based approach that genuinely addresses the needs of Sierra Leonean women is essential for fostering safe motherhood and reproductive health,” they said.

On the list of the government’s proposed changes to the contested Bill, is the permission for what the Sierra Leonean government is now describing as “safe termination” only in “exceptional cases.”

Before the proposed Bill, the government of Sierra Leone allowed for abortion up to 14 weeks of pregnancy “at the choice of the woman”, when the pregnancy endangered the life of the woman, to prevent injury to the physical or mental health, or social wellbeing of the woman, among other "exceptional cases”.

The government’s proposed changes to Bill following public outcry include allowing for “safe termination” when the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life, in cases of foetal malformations “incompatible with life”, as well as in cases of rape and incest.