Catholic Lawyers in Nigerian Archdiocese Urged to “live above corruption”

The NACL Abuja Chapter President continued, “We have a lot of problem in Nigeria especially as it relates to corruption. However, we always counsel our members each time we meet for them to know what we stand for; we make them understand that they are lawyers but they are also Catholic and must live out the Catholic social teaching in all they do in their legal profession.”

In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration to mark the 2023 Catholic Lawyers legal year, the Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja urged Nigerian Judges and legal practitioners in the country to deliver judgment with the fear of God and not to assume the position of God in their delivery of judgment.

“The legal profession is among the professions where God can easily be cast aside and human being and their purposes of selfish interests enthroned because unless you realize that God is the ultimate law giver and who is the judge you might end up taking the place of God and behaving as if you are God yourself,” Bishop Anselm Umoren said.

Bishop Umoren added, “In our country there have been many cases where the fate of all of us in a sense rests on lawyers.”

“I charge each one of us today to feel the pulse of the masses; let us at least fear God for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Bishop Umoren said making reference to Proverbs 9:10, and added, “Let wisdom guide you in all you do.”

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The member of the  Missionary Society of Saint Paul of Nigeria (MSPN) told Catholic lawyers, “You need God in your professional life; He is the source of every just law and to Him we all render account at the end of our lives.”

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.