Catholic bishop says gays are horrible sinners: ‘Malawi isn’t Sodom and Gommorah’

Malawi’s influential and biggest church, the Catholic, has described those engaging in homosexuality as horrible sinners.

Bishop Martin Anwell Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese said this Monday when he opened a catholic women organisation conference in his diocese.

“The practice is sinful act, people who engage in this are sinners who need to repent,” said Mtumbuka, giving the conservative church’s view on the matter since the arrest of Cuthert Kulemeka and Kelvin Gonani two weeks ago but have since been released following pressure from powerful nations of US, UK and Germany.

Mtumbuka asked catholic faithful to pray relentlessly for those engaged in homosexuality so that they can repent.

He said the Bible clearly says marriage is between man and woman, after all, he said, God created Adam and Eve.

Bishop Mtumbuka said the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality is as clear and plain as the Bible’s condemnation of murder, adultery, premarital sex, kidnapping, lying and idolatry.

He said marriage is between one man and one woman for life and sexual activity should be confined to marriage.

However, the United Nations has welcomed the decision by the Malawi government to drop charges against the two men.

The UN statement released Monday asks the government to put in place measures that would ensure that the police never arrest those engaged in homosexuality again.

“We are looking forward to the speedy review of the laws so that they are in line with the UN human rights laws,” says the statement in part.

The UN has also condemned the harassment and humiliation of the two gay men, saying this was against Malawian tradition and culture.
Kelvin had his house ransacked in Area 25, Lilongwe and both were subjected to medical examinations of their anus to establish penetration.