AFRICA/NIGERIA - Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary assembly vows to “Restore hope with the truth”

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

Abuja (Fides Service)- “As shepherds of the People of God in our land we are called to bear witness to Christian hope. Hope is the gift God gave mankind when Jesus Christ triumphed over death” the Catholics Bishops of Nigeria said in a statement issued at the end of a plenary assembly in Abuja 6-11 March .
“We can only offer hope if we speak the truth. As the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria we have a duty to support authentic truth” the Bishops say with regard to the present political and situation in the country.
In the statement the Bishops speak of “rays of hope”: the peace-keeping role of Nigerian troops in various parts of Africa still suffering because of war; development in telecommunications which has meant more jobs for young people; government initiatives to make Nigeria more attractive to tourists; oil sales have never been so high. With regard to an imminent national census the Bishops urged the people to take part in the initiative.
At the level of church the bishops express satisfaction for the creation of two new dioceses, Awgu e Uromi, and respective ordinations of Bishop John Okoye and Bishop Augustine Akubeze.
“Despite these signs of hope Nigerians still have a desperate need of stable supplies of electricity and clean water and good roads” the Bishops say “The serious situation of insecurity which is a threat to life and property, forces many citizens to live in fear and keeps foreign investors and tourists away ”.
With regard to recent violence the Bishops say. “We are offended by this violence and firmly condemn the terrible deaths of innocent Nigerians, whether Muslims or Christians, including Fr Michael Gajere of the diocese of Maiduguri brutally murdered. We pray for the repose of the souls of all who died. We offer our sympathy to all who lost a dear one, or were wounded or mutilated in the violence. We offer thanks to all who helped people whose homes were destroyed in the violence”.
“God wants Nigerians of every ethnic origin and religion to live in unity and to benefit from the resources with which he has blessed our land” the Bishops say urging Catholics to take part in special two days of prayer (27-28 March) promoted by the Christian Association of Nigeria for the victims of the clashes.
The Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria expresses concern “for the activity of certain local and foreign groups in support of proposed bill to establish a National Institute for Reproductive Health with a dubious programme which fails to promote respect for the sacredness of life, marriage and the family. We ask all men and women of goodwill to join us in denouncing the culture of death in all its forms and to promote a culture of life”.
During their meeting the Bishops elected as the new Conference President Archbishop Felix Alaba Job of Ibadan and vice president Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/3/2006 righe 43 parole 539)


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