Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah, President of CABICOL Liberia
NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Liberia (CABICOL) has publicly distanced itself from the position of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia regarding the proposed New Public Health Bill, reiterating its firm opposition to provisions in the legislation that it says would permit abortion under certain circumstances.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
In a statement issued Sunday and signed by the leadership of the Catholic Church in Liberia, CABICOL said it was compelled to clarify its position after the Inter-Religious Council endorsed and called for the passage of the Public Health Bill in its entirety.
While acknowledging the longstanding cooperation between faith communities on issues such as justice, peace, reconciliation, and human dignity, the bishops emphasized that they do not support the bill as currently drafted.
“The Catholic Church shared some important values like justice, peace, reconciliation, and human dignity with our brothers and sisters of other faiths,” the statement noted. “However, we want to categorically state that we are not in agreement with the Inter-Religious Council in endorsing and requesting the passage of the New Public Health Bill of Liberia in its entirety.”
The bishops recalled that they had previously raised concerns about the legislation in a statement issued on August 29, 2023, specifically calling on lawmakers to reconsider provisions contained in Part X of the bill, which addresses health and related rights, including sexual and reproductive health.
According to CABICOL, those concerns remain unresolved and continue to form the basis of the Church’s opposition to aspects of the proposed law.
Central to the Church’s objection is what it described as the concept of “justified abortion” contained in the legislation. Citing biblical teachings and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the bishops argued that human life is sacred from conception until natural death and therefore cannot be intentionally terminated.
They referenced the commandment “Thou shall not kill” and reiterated the Catholic doctrine that every human life possesses inherent dignity and value.
The statement further called on Catholic health institutions across Liberia, as well as “all men and women of goodwill,” to uphold and protect life at every stage of development.
The bishops urged healthcare providers and citizens to continue respecting life from conception through natural death, in keeping with the Church’s moral teachings.
The declaration was signed by CABICOL President and Bishop of Gbarnga, Most Rev. Anthony Borwah; Bishop of Cape Palmas, Most Rev. Andrew Jagaye Karnley; and Metropolitan Archbishop of Monrovia, Most Rev. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe.
The statement was issued on June 7, 2026, during the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at the National Catholic Secretariat in Gaye Town, Monrovia.
The latest intervention by Liberia’s Catholic bishops adds a significant voice to the ongoing national debate surrounding the Public Health Bill, particularly its reproductive health provisions.
As discussions continue among lawmakers, religious leaders, health professionals, and civil society groups, the legislation remains one of the most closely watched policy issues before the Liberian Legislature.
