The Catholic faithful in Mchinji District have been challenged to find ways of addressing some of the driving factors behind the rising cases of early child marriages.
According to some community members, the distribution of contraceptives by civil society organizations and government agencies in villages and schools is the root cause of the issue.
However, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, his Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa, quashed these concerns.
He said the Catholic Church does not allow its members to use modern contraceptive methods, allowing only traditional ones.
Bishop Mwakhwawa believes that the issue is a lack of faith in the community and urged them to deepen their faith to combat the problem.
Speaking at Mponda Zone of St. Joseph Ludzi Parish on Wednesday in Mchinji District, Bishop Mwakhwawa noted that most families do not pray in their homes, which he believes contributes to bad behavior.
He appealed to the faithful to deepen their love for prayer, the Eucharist, and to be hard workers and charitable.
He believes these practices will not only help end early child marriages but also strengthen the community’s Catholic faith and help them resist anything that contradicts church teachings.
St. Joseph Ludzi Parish Priest, Father Thomas Msalala, urged the 280 confirmed children to use the gift of wisdom they received from the Holy Spirit to know the difference between right and wrong.
“Sometimes it is very difficult for young people to differentiate between good and bad. They should realize that wisdom from the Holy Spirit surpasses intelligence,” Father Msalala said.
Mponda Zone Chairperson, Gift Saka, stressed the need for continued coordination so that children continue to receive church teachings, as confirmation alone is not enough.
One of the confirmed children, Joseph Jonathan from Maimbidwe Zone, expressed his joy after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, believing that his desire to be a PMS animator might now be fulfilled.
Jonathan urged his peers to see this as a blessing and use it to change their lives spiritually.
By Lester Mhone