Commit to “truth, common good”, Denounce Christian Persecution: Nigerian Church Official to Catholic Journalists

He implored, “May God rest the souls of those killed, heal the wounded, and comfort all who bear the pain of these tragedies.”

Fr. Umoh went on to urge journalists to use their platforms to hold leaders accountable and to amplify the voices of victims of violence and injustice. “When you see journalists being harassed or arrested yet continuing to speak out, that is real journalism,” the National Director of Social Communication at CSN told ACI Africa.

He decried the minimal media coverage following the coordinated Easter attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue States, calling it a failure to support the voiceless.

“If coordinated attacks like those in Benue State don’t make the headlines, it reflects poorly on the kind of journalism we practice. It shows a failure to stand for the voiceless. Journalists, especially Catholic journalists, must make it a point of duty to speak out against any form of Christian persecution no matter how it appears,” Fr. Umoh emphasized.

Reflecting on the Church’s communication strategy, he traced the origins of World Communications Day to Pope Paul VI, explaining Nigeria’s local adaptation through the establishment of Communications Week (COMWEEK).

More in Africa

Missionary Congregation Joins Call for Prayers for 265 Children still Held after Nigerian School Abductions

Read the article

“In Nigeria, we initially marked the day with Mass and public lectures, but that was not the full intention. To make the observance more impactful, the Bishops of Nigeria launched Communications Week,” he said about the initiative first marked in 2022.

Now in its fourth year, COMWEEK is observed in the week leading up to World Communications Day (WCD) and involves nationwide activities inspired by the Pope’s annual theme.

“Each year, based on the Pope’s theme, we develop resources and topics for Parishes, Dioceses, and institutions across Nigeria,” Fr. Umoh said.

In the May 23 interview, the communication official of Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops reflected on efforts to integrate media education into Priestly formation, saying, “The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is committed to media education. We’ve taken seminars at several Major Seminaries... We want future Priests and Bishops to understand and engage with media effectively.”

He emphasized that Priests have a responsibility to engage with media not only for evangelization but also for shaping society.

“The Priest’s role goes beyond administering Sacraments. Formation, spiritual, catechetical, and even in temporal matters like media, is essential. Media shapes culture and behavior, and Priests must help their communities navigate its influence,” Fr. Umoh said.

He said that this year’s COMWEEK theme, “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your heart”, relates to the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, which is being realized under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”.

Fr. Umoh urged Catholic media professionals to report with compassion and resilience, saying, “Even in crisis, we must avoid spreading despair. We must report with compassion and show that there is still hope for the vulnerable and voiceless.”

He encouraged Catholics to embody this message of hope in their digital interactions. “We all belong to online platforms. We must not be antagonistic or quarrelsome. Let us be responsible, loving, and hopeful in our digital conversations,” Fr. Umoh said.

As part of the COMWEEK celebrations, Fr. Umoh announced a national public lecture to be realized on Wednesday, May 28 under the theme, “Media with Gentleness: A Path to Being Narrators of Hope in a Distressed Nation.”

(Story continues below)

The event is to bring together journalists and media professionals to explore ways of engaging media as a tool for fostering unity and healing in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.