𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘-𝗦𝗘𝗫 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗦

𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘-𝗦𝗘𝗫 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗦

Maryland County District #2 Representative, Hon. Anthony Williams, has written the Honorable House of Representatives to invite the leadership of the Liberia Council of Churches and the Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Liberia, Rev. Samuel J. Quire, to appear before plenary and address reports of the Church’s alleged promotion of same-sex marriage in Liberia.

In his communication to House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, Hon. Williams emphasized that the request is in keeping with the Legislature’s constitutional mandate to safeguard the cultural, moral, and religious values of the Republic.

He urged plenary to engage the Bishop of the United Methodist Church and the President of the Liberia Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr., to provide clarity and justification on the matter.

The 1986 Constitution of Liberia, in its Preamble, underscores the “Preservation of our cultural heritage and the sanctity of family life.” While Article 14 guarantees freedom of religion, Hon. Williams noted that it does not permit practices that contravene public policy, morality, or existing laws.

Citing the Holy Bible, Hon. Williams referenced scriptural passages such as Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Leviticus 18:22, and Romans 1:26-27, which define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and condemn sexual relations between persons of the same sex.

He further pointed to the Liberian Penal Law, Title 26, Subchapter D, Section 14.74, which criminalizes “voluntary sodomy” and classifies it as a first-degree misdemeanor, thus prohibiting same-sex sexual conduct.

Given the moral, legal, and cultural implications of this issue, Hon. Williams called for a prompt engagement with the said religious leaders to ensure clarity and uphold Liberia’s moral fabric.

Plenary is expected to deliberate on the communication and set a date for the appearance of the Liberia Council of Churches leadership and the Bishop of the United Methodist Church before the House.