“Without strong families, there is no church”: Angolan Catholic Archbishop Calls for Renewed Family Formation

“These realities place God’s plan for the family at risk,” he said, adding that “the Church must respond with doctrinal and pastoral firmness.”

The Angolan Catholic Church leader identified abortion as a serious threat to human life and dignity.

“Abortion is the direct denial of the gift of life granted by God,” he said, adding that the practice “often also leads to the risk of death of young mothers.”

Reaffirming Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life, Archbishop Zeca said that “life must be protected from conception until natural death,” warning that abortion has human, social, and spiritual consequences for families and society.

The Local Ordinary of Huambo Archdiocese since his installation in December 2018 also addressed homosexuality, describing it as “a reality that challenges the Christian understanding of the family as God established it.”

He emphasized that “the family must remain founded on marriage between a man and a woman according to God’s design,” and cautioned against ideologies that, in his view, create confusion about the identity and mission of the family.

Turning to marital fidelity, Archbishop Zeca warned that infidelity continues to undermine family stability.

“Marital infidelity destroys trust, breaks the unity of marriage, and weakens the Christian family,” he said.

Describing infidelity as “a wound that directly affects family stability,” he added that “the breakdown of fidelity destroys trust between husband and wife.”

“Christian marriage requires fidelity, responsibility, and commitment before God,” Archbishop Zeca said, while encouraging reconciliation and forgiveness as paths toward healing broken relationships.