By Bill W. Cooper
The Catholic Bishop Conference of Liberia (CABICOL) has addressed several pressing governance and societal issues facing the nation as Catholics around the world commemorate its Holy Season of Lent.
The CABICOL also emphasized the importance of integrity and transparency in governance, urging President Joseph Boakai and his public officials to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal gain.
The church also addressed the issues of corruption, poverty, and social injustice, calling for a united effort to promote peace and reconciliation in Liberia, a country still healing from the past of its 14 years of civil war.
The message was contained in its CABICOL 2025 Lenten pastoral message signed by the President of CABICOL, Rev. Anthony Fallah Borwah, Metropolitan Archbishop of Monrovia, Rev. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, and the Bishop of Cape Palmas, Rev. Andrew. Jagaye Karnley.
On Governance, the church said, “Since the end of our senseless civil crisis, which saw the destruction of the lives of a quarter of a million of our people, we have made tremendous strides in consolidating our democratic process.”
“In fact, we are greatly admired in the sub-region for our peaceful transfer of power. However, the recent happenings on Capitol Hill, specifically in the House of Representatives, are concerning and have the propensity of not only undermining our democratic gains but even derailing all that we have achieved thus far, if care is not taken, we fervently call on the Representatives to adhere to the Rule of Law and subscribe to the Principle of Accountability in the discharge of their duties.
For the budget, the church furthered, “Our attention is drawn to concerns which have arisen over the years and even now about the national budget. One of such concerns, based on budget analysis, is the high allocation of funds for recurring expenditure in government about development and social welfare expenditure.”
“Another concern is the manipulation of the budget in its crafting to serve particular and even individual interests rather than the common good. The disproportionate allocation of funds in the budget, as well as the manipulation of the budget, cannot put Liberia on the path of growth and development.
“Still on the budget, there should be accountability and transparency within the three branches of government. We remind the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government to work together in mutual respect for the common good of our people. Take the words of our Lord seriously, who came to serve, and not be served (cf Mark 10, 45),” it added.
The church, on the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, recalls the Church’s stances through the voice of our predecessors of blessed memory, especially Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis, the Conscience of the Nation, stating in his Pastoral Letter of January 12, 2003 entitled “Justice-Peace-Reconciliation” that “if we do not have justice in this country we will not have peace and consequently reconciliation.”
The statement maintained, “Looking therefore into the “signs of the times” and hearing from deep down in the recesses of our hearts, the voices and “blood’ of many of our brothers and sisters, victims of our senseless civil crisis, we would like to reiterate our unchanging position on reconciliation, accountability and justice.”
“Accordingly, we welcome President Joseph N. Boakai’s pronouncement to respect the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that calls for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
“We believe that the establishment of the Court will initiate the process of accountability, justice, healing and reconciliation. We, as well, can earnestly begin the complicated and daunting exercise of ending the culture of impunity, which has been grotesquely normalized in Liberia,” they added.
On reconciliation, the church said, “For decades, we have been batting the ‘old age demons of division’ hampering our progress towards reconciliation, and we see our fellow citizens through the spectrum of political affiliations, tribal and regional lines, alienating those who do not belong to our circles.”
The prelates noted, “However, we forget to know that all of us are created in the image and likeness of God (cf Gen 1, 27) and endowed with certain inalienable rights among which are life, liberty, freedom of speech and religion, the pursuit of happiness, to mention but a few.”
“These rifts within the social fabric of our society make us sacrifice meritocracy to favoritism, nepotism, discrimination, and other related vices; leading to the slow progress of our nation, and while conflict is inevitable within every society, interpersonal and ideological conflicts which culminate in violence and destruction are detrimental to our growth,” the church statement noted.
On the New Public Health Bill, the CABICOL statement intoned, “As was previously intimated, one of the fundamental and inalienable rights of every human being is the right to life. In recent times, the proposed new public health bill, through the influence of some external forces, is diametrically opposing this basic right, through the legalization of abortion.”
“As in the past, collaborating with the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and the National Muslim Council, we reiterate our resounding NO to this bill and its other subsequent tendencies of same-sex marriage, euthanasia, etc.
The Church’s perennial teaching, as inscribed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), is that “human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception till its normal end”. (CCC # 1700), the commandment of God is unequivocal: Thou Shall Not Kill (Exodus 20:13),” the statement maintained.
Meanwhile, the CABICOL statement added, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is never too late to say sorry to God and to one another. It is never too late to start anew and do what is right. The mercy of God is infinite. He also asks us to forgive one another.”
“We must act toward one another in the spirit of love as St. Paul enjoins us, “Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ (Eph. 4:31-32).
That is why, during this Holy Season of Lent, and throughout this Jubilee Year of Hope, we invite all of us to a thorough examination of consciences and say our mea culpa before God and one another,” the statement concluded.