Liberian Council of Churches Rejects Same Sex Marriage

on June 11, 2014

The Liberian Council of Churches — a member organization of the World Council of Churches (WCC) — on May 28 issued a statement rejecting homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The statement was issued by Rev. Dr. Kortu Brown, current First Vice President of the LCC. Brown is the current acting president of the Liberian Council of Churches, which is a collaboration of nineteen member churches and denominations and ten organizations within the West African country. Member churches include the United Methodist Church in Liberia, Catholic Church of Liberia, Lutheran Church in Liberia, and the Episcopal (Anglican) Church of Liberia, among others.

Brown reiterated LCC opposition to same-sex marriage, stating that “the practice is against the cultural norms and the faith of the nation (Liberia)” and it should in no way be legalized. He also called on all Liberians to recommit themselves to forging the peace, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation of Liberia as the nation prepares to celebrate its 167th year of independence on July 26.

Earlier, at the country’s National Fast and Prayer Day program hosted by the LCC, the Catholic Archbishop of Liberia, Lewis Zeigler, warned that any acceptance of same-sex marriage could hinder Liberia’s progress and undermine the fabric of society.

According to the U.S. State Department, Liberia’s “culture is strongly opposed to homosexuality.” Homosexual activity is illegal in Liberia, with penalties up to one year imprisonment. A bill has been passed in the Liberian Senate criminalizing same-sex marriage (2012), and is awaiting a vote in the nation’s House of Representatives.

Other prominent individuals have joined the LCC to rally against homosexuality in Liberia. Cllr. Jerome Verdier, Sr., the former chair of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Council, said that “legalizing homosexuality will further erode and degrade the moral fabric of our nation (Liberia) and degenerate its civilization and godliness.”

The LCC official, on behalf of the Council also called on the Government of Liberia to organize an open summit for both the private and public actors of the country to find a remedy to crucial issues facing the nation. He said, “For two to work together, they must agree and a house divided against itself cannot stand. We [LCC] therefore, call for a civil discussion that builds on the gains made thus far” Meanwhile, Brown affirmed the LCC’s commitment to helping the government and people of Liberia in the fight against poverty and hunger, saying that the recovery and development if the country is everyone’s responsibility. He said the Liberian Council of Churches is committed to mobilizing and engaging the Church for Cape Mount to Cape Palmas to supplement the national efforts at bolstering food production and reducing poverty through a program of advocacy, and support to agriculture.

  1. Comment by Noel Weymouth on June 12, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    Great!

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