Ghanaian archbishop asks Catholics to fight legalization of abortion

Accra, Ghana, Aug 26, 2009 / 23:27 pm

Philip Naameh, the Archbishop of Tamale, Ghana has asked Christians to help bring “the virtues of Christ” into the administration of the country and to fight the legalization of abortion there.

Addressing an audience of about 800 at the National Convention of the Knights of St. John International, the archbishop said it was un-Catholic to have abortions in Catholic societies, AllAfrica.com reports.

The archbishop said Catholics must practice sexual abstinence and desist from distributing condoms to the public. He also encouraged them to become involved in politics to ensure effective governance.

The Knights of St. John is a Catholic charitable society. Its convention met in the northern Ghanaian town of Nyankpala and brought together members from Ghana, the United States, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The convention aimed to equip the knights for evangelism and had as its theme “Evangelism through Knighthood.”

Moses Bukari Mabengba, the knights’ Deputy Northern Regional Minister, called on Christians to live upright lives. He added that they should emulate John the Baptist, who stood against vices and died championing the truth, AllAfrica.com reports.

Mabengba urged the knights to be examples of the Catholic community, saying that Christians should serve as the catalyst for the development of the country.

Noble Sister Justina Dazie, Supreme Subordinate in the Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of St. John International, challenged the knights to live exemplary lives and rekindle their prayer practices. She also exhorted the knights to be sensitive to the plight of others and to be loyal to the Church.