Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops urge prayer and action against Medical Services Bill amendments seen as legalizing abortion, warning of harsh historical judgment.
Newsroom (15/12/2025 Gaudium Press) In a forceful pastoral statement issued on December 13, members of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) have urged Catholics, people of faith, and all citizens of goodwill to pray fervently and speak out against proposed amendments to the Medical Services Bill, which they describe as an attempt to broaden and liberalize abortion provisions in the country.
The statement, read in all Catholic parishes across Zimbabwe on Sunday, December 14, comes as the bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate in the coming week. The bishops warn that the legislation proposes changes to the existing Termination of Pregnancy Act that would effectively legalize abortion, despite the amendments not explicitly stating so.
“In the coming week, Senators will vote for or against the Medical Services Bill, which proposes changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Act,” the ZCBC members stated. “Though not spelled out, the Bill seeks to legalize abortion in Zimbabwe.”
Expressing unequivocal opposition, the Catholic leaders declared, “As the Church, we are totally against abortion, and we would like to appeal to all people of faith and all those who value life to pray and speak against this evil.”
The bishops issued a direct call to action, encouraging faithful and concerned citizens to contact their senators personally. “We call on all Catholics, men and women of faith, and citizens of this country to pray and to get in touch with their Senators and urge them not to vote for it,” they said.
Lamenting what they see as a regression in the nation’s commitment to protecting life, the ZCBC drew a stark contrast with recent progress on human rights. “How sad it is that the whole world celebrated with us last year as the country abolished the death penalty, and today it watches as we take a back step and sanction the massacre of the innocent,” the statement read.
The bishops further cautioned that future generations would hold the nation accountable. “History will judge us harshly for failing to defend the lives of the weaker members of our society,” they warned.
Reaffirming core Church teaching, the ZCBC emphasized, “As the Church, we uphold the sanctity of life from conception to a natural death. A value that is also mirrored in our Zimbabwean cultures that nurture life.” They extended an invitation to all citizens to “pray for our Senators and for the respect of life in all its forms.”
In a direct appeal to the senators themselves, the bishops invoked moral conscience and biblical imperative. “Is it money, political correctness, or seeking relevance that sees you choose to worship at the altar of human sacrifice? As Moses commanded the Israelites, we urge you to choose life,” they stated, concluding with a plea: “Our prayer is that sanity will prevail, and many innocent lives will be spared.”
The Catholic bishops’ intervention follows earlier concerns raised by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD). In a pastoral letter dated November 29, ZHOCD leaders expressed significant distress over the proposed amendments, noting that they have “caused significant distress among Christians, parents, and many citizens who uphold biblical and cultural values that protect life as a fundamental human right.”
The broader Christian body described the proposals as a departure from the national consensus established during Zimbabwe’s constitutional consultation process, which affirmed that “unborn life is to be protected and abortion tightly restricted.” ZHOCD urged believers “to stand firm in defending life, to pray diligently for our nation and its leaders, and to actively engage your Members of Parliament in your respective constituencies,” insisting that “for the sake of our moral integrity and social stability, these changes must be rejected.”
As the Senate prepares to deliberate on the Medical Services Bill, the unified voice of Zimbabwe’s Christian leadership underscores a deepening ecclesiastical mobilization in defense of unborn life, framing the legislative debate as a profound moral crossroads for the nation.
Related Images:
