Catholics rally against move to legalise abortion

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) has called on Catholics and ordinary citizens to mobilise against the proposed Medical Services Bill, which seeks to legalise abortion, warning that the legislation threatens the country's moral foundations and constitutional protections for unborn children.

The bill, which is awaiting a Senate vote this week, has ignited intense national debate, drawing sharp opposition from church leaders who say it represents a fundamental shift in Zimbabwe's values.

In a pastoral statement titled "A Call to Prayer: Defending Innocent Lives," the bishops expressed unequivocal opposition to abortion and urged congregants to actively lobby lawmakers to block the proposed law.

"We call on all Catholics, men and women of faith, and citizens of this country to pray and get in touch with their Senators and urge them not to vote for it," the bishops said.

The statement was signed by seven bishops, including Bishop Paul Horan and Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, who argued that legalising abortion would mark a moral regression, particularly after Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty last year.

"History will judge us harshly for failing to defend the lives of the weaker members of our society," the bishops said, adding that the protection of unborn life was a moral obligation.

The proposed Medical Services Bill seeks to significantly liberalise Zimbabwe's abortion laws by allowing termination of pregnancy on request up to 20 weeks for both adults and minors, without requiring parental consent. It also removes spousal notification requirements and allows a single medical practitioner to authorise an abortion.

Church leaders have warned that the proposed changes could open the door to abuse, including the concealment of sexual offences, sex-selective abortions and terminations based on disability.

"The proposed amendments dismantle long-standing protections and contradict the national consensus that unborn life should be preserved," said the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD), an umbrella body that includes the ZCBC, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and other major church groupings.

"Our position is not political but theological, grounded in Scripture," the ZHOCD said.

Supporters of the bill, including some lawmakers and human rights organisations, argue that restrictive abortion laws do not prevent terminations but instead push women towards unsafe and illegal procedures. They cite a 2024 survey estimating that about 219 pregnancies are terminated daily in Zimbabwe, often under unsafe conditions that endanger women's lives.

As the Senate prepares to debate the bill, pressure is mounting on legislators from both religious groups and rights advocates, setting the stage for a divisive vote that could reshape Zimbabwe's reproductive health laws.