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Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown has expressed deep concern over what he described as a troubling rise in sexual deviations, particularly homosexuality and lesbianism, among young people in Sierra Leone.
The Archbishop made the remarks on December 5, 2025, during the formal inauguration of the Archdiocese’s 2025/2026 Pastoral Year at St. Anthony’s Hall in Freetown. The event brought together clergy, lay leaders, and representatives of Church organizations to reflect on pressing challenges facing the Catholic community.
Archbishop Tamba Charles described the increasing acceptance of homosexuality among Sierra Leonean youth, including within Catholic circles, as a “worrying pastoral issue.” He urged priests and pastoral agents to take a more active role in teaching Church doctrine on sexuality, marriage, and family life, warning that failure to address these trends could have lasting moral and social consequences.
The Archbishop traced the roots of these behaviors to what he called 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. “These cultural developments have reached Sierra Leone and are now evident in some of our pastoral units and Church organizations,” he said.
Citing testimonies from young people who had resisted same-sex advances, Archbishop Tamba Charles noted that such incidents were becoming increasingly frequent. “It would seem many of our Catholic faithful do not see anything morally wrong with homosexuality and lesbianism,” he remarked, reiterating the Church’s teaching that homosexual acts are “grave depravity” and “intrinsically disordered.”
He called on priests to actively educate parishioners, especially youth and young adults, on the importance of upholding Church values and embracing moral conduct aligned with Scripture. The Archbishop emphasized that understanding and following these teachings is essential to protecting the spiritual well-being of young people and preserving the integrity of Catholic family life.
The inauguration of the Pastoral Year set the tone for a renewed commitment to moral guidance, accountability, and the active engagement of clergy and laypersons in shaping the ethical and spiritual lives of Sierra Leonean youth.
