“Quite unreal”: Catholic Priests in Nigeria on Government’s “palliative structure”

They invite the people of God to “keep working hard and never allow themselves to despair or resort to criminal activities in the face of the present situation.”

“The Church, more than ever before, should remain faithful to her age-long teaching of Preferential Option for the Poor and make it concrete among the faithful at the National, Provincial, Diocesan and Parish levels,” NCPDA members say.

In their October 27 statement, Catholic Priests in Nigeria also reflect on security challenges in Africa’s most populous nation, and call for “proper security structures”. 

They say, “The Church should stand up to the challenge of insecurity which is presently affecting her pastoral ministry by putting up proper security structures as well as using all legal means available to her in engaging the Government; not excluding prayers, in combating such evil.”

“We condemn the lip-service approach of the Government to freedom of religion in the country, especially in higher institutions of learning and other institutions in the country where citizens are denied their human right of freedom of worship,” NCPDA members say.

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They challenge the government to live up to its “primary duty” of protecting life and property of Nigerians. 

“The Government should not continue to neglect her primary duty of providing for the wellbeing of the people and protecting their lives and property,” NCPDA members say, and add, “The Church on her side should always reflect her Master, Jesus Christ, who, when he saw the crowd, had compassion for them.”

“We commend our dear country Nigeria to the maternal love, care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria and Mother of Priests. May her powerful intercession always remain with us,” Nigeria’s Catholic Diocesan Priests implore in their October 27 message.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.