By Agnes Aineah
Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown has called for intensified pastoral interventions to address what he described as a rise in “sexual deviations,” particularly homosexuality, among young people in Sierra Leone. He made the remarks on December 5 during the formal inauguration of the Archdiocese’s 2025/2026 Pastoral Year at St. Anthony’s Hall in Freetown, where clergy, lay leaders, and representatives of Church organizations gathered to reflect on the challenges facing the Catholic community.
Archbishop Tamba Charles said he was deeply concerned that homosexuality and lesbianism were becoming increasingly accepted among Sierra Leonean youths, including within Catholic circles. He described the situation as a “worrying pastoral issue” and urged priests and pastoral agents to take a more proactive role in teaching Church doctrine on sexuality and family life.
According to him, the roots of these trends can be traced to what he termed the “sex revolution” of the 1950s and 1960s, which he said shifted sexual intimacy from a sacred marital act to a pursuit of pleasure without boundaries. This cultural shift, he argued, eventually opened the way for casual sex, abortion and, in recent times, same-sex relationships. “These cultural developments have reached Sierra Leone and are now in some of our pastoral units and Church organizations,” he said.
The Archbishop recounted testimonies from young people who had approached priests after resisting same-sex advances, noting that the frequency of such incidents indicated a growing challenge. He also referenced a recent meeting with youth and young adults across the Archdiocese, where he said the opinions expressed about homosexuality and lesbianism were “alarming.”
“It would seem many of our Catholic faithful do not see anything morally wrong with homosexuality and lesbianism,” he noted. He reiterated the Catholic Church’s teaching, inspired by Sacred Scripture, which condemns homosexual acts as “grave depravity,” “intrinsically disordered,” and “contrary to the natural law” because they close the sexual act to the possibility of life. “Two men or two women cannot mate and produce a child. Only a union between a man and a woman can do that,” he emphasized.
Archbishop Tamba Charles appealed to priests to educate parishioners—especially youth and young adults—about Catholic teaching on marriage and human sexuality. He also called for pastoral programs aimed at strengthening married couples, and helping them navigate societal challenges.
Beyond issues of sexuality, the Archbishop also highlighted several other concerns that he said would shape the new pastoral year. Chief among these was the rising abuse of drugs such as “kush” and tramadol, particularly among young Sierra Leoneans. Describing the situation as “scandalous,” he lamented that many young people abusing drugs “die like dogs on the streets” and warned that the crisis threatens the moral and social fabric of the nation.
He commended law enforcement agencies for intensifying efforts to arrest those involved in the sale and distribution of harmful substances, noting that their operations had exposed some officers who were complicit in the drug trade. “We cannot be indifferent to this scandalous phenomenon in our country,” he said, expressing hope that ongoing government initiatives would help rid communities of dangerous drugs.
Archbishop Tamba Charles also raised concerns about resistance to the implementation of approved Archdiocesan financial policies. He said certain Church organizations had opposed the directive requiring parish priests to serve as principal signatories to their bank accounts, citing international affiliations as justification. The Archbishop dismissed such objections, emphasizing that the Archdiocese of Freetown is fully empowered under Canon Law to enact policies for the good of the Church.
“I kindly appeal to all the Church organizations resisting the implementation of the Archdiocesan Policies to stop this cherry-picking tactic,” he said. The policy, he explained, was designed to ensure transparency and accountability in managing Church funds.
Another issue the Archbishop highlighted was the tendency to overload Sunday Masses with thanksgiving celebrations and other events that could be scheduled during weekday services. He warned that this practice risked turning Catholicism in Sierra Leone into a “Sunday religion,” stressing that weekday Mass attendance must be encouraged. “Sunday is already a mini-Easter that deserves recognition,” he said.
Looking ahead, Archbishop Tamba Charles said the 2025/2026 Pastoral Year would focus on safeguarding, lay evangelization, and the continued journey toward a synodal Church. He encouraged Catholics to live out their faith visibly in their homes, workplaces, and professional environments. “If you are a doctor, let others know that you are a Catholic doctor; if you are a nurse, let them know that you are a Catholic nurse,” he said.
He urged the faithful to allow their beliefs to inspire their social, professional, and political engagements without imposing their faith on others. “Without being pharisaic, let others know that our thoughts and actions are guided by the principles of our fundamental call to be missionary disciples of Christ,” he concluded.
The inauguration of the Pastoral Year set the tone for renewed commitment to moral guidance, accountability, and deeper evangelization within the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown.
