In a recent press release, the Archdiocese of Freetown, through Most Rev. Edward Tamba Charles, Archbishop of Freetown and Chairman of the Catholic Bishops in Sierra Leone (CBSL), has issued a strong disclaimer refuting claims made by the Ministry of Information.
The Ministry had posted a statement on its website suggesting that the Archbishop had publicly acknowledged that the proposed modifications to the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill accommodate religious sensibilities.
Archbishop Charles categorically dismissed the statement as false, clarifying that he has not made any public comments on the modifications of the Bill.
The Archbishop recounted the events leading to the misunderstanding, noting that he participated in a meeting held on January 2, 2025, with representatives of religious leaders, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, and the Deputy Minister II of Health and Sanitation.
The meeting, chaired by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Legislative Text Committee, involved discussions about the Bill’s proposed modifications.
Following the meeting, the Archbishop received the document containing the proposed modifications on January 3, 2025. He promptly shared it with the executive members of the Interreligious Council Sierra Leone and other religious leaders for review and discussion.
He emphasized that the Council is still in the process of studying the modifications and has not yet formulated a response.Archbishop Charles stressed that any claims suggesting he has made a definitive statement on the Government’s accommodation of religious sensibilities are unfounded.
He urged the public and all parties involved in the ongoing dialogue between religious leaders and Government representatives to disregard the statement posted by the Ministry of Information, as it does not represent his stance or that of the Catholic Bishops in Sierra Leone or the Interreligious Council Sierra Leone.
This disclaimer comes at a crucial time when the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill is under scrutiny, with religious and civic groups actively engaging in discussions to ensure the Bill reflects broader societal and ethical considerations.
Most Rev. Edward Tamba Charles reiterated his commitment to a collaborative review process and called for accurate representation of the ongoing dialogue to foster constructive engagement between all stakeholders.
