“Tired, dismissive of assurances”: Catholic Bishops in Nigerian Province on Insecurity

In the three-page statement that their Chairman, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos Archdiocese, signed, the Catholic Church leaders commend the pastoral ministry in the Ecclesiastical Province, which they say is “shown in the significant increase in the number of parishes, deaneries, and catechumens.”

“While noting that it is God that gives the increase, we express our appreciation for the evangelization efforts of the Clergy, the religious, and the lay faithful in the province and urge them to remain committed to the mission of the Church with unity of purpose and collaboration for the continued growth of the Church,” they said in their statement dated January 25.

They thank Pope Francis for his contribution to the growth of the Church in Nigeria through the appointment of new Local Ordinaries and the erection of new Dioceses in the country.

In the statement that their Secretary, Bishop Francis Adeshina of Ijebu Ode Diocese, co-signed, the Catholic Church leaders in the Province of Lagos thank the Inter-Diocesan Marriage Tribunal officials and the Provincial Marriage and Family Life Units for unveiling the Marriage Preparation Curriculum.

“We direct that the curriculum shall be followed strictly by instructors and intending couples in marriage preparation programs of all Parishes in the Province,” they say.

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The Catholic Bishops also weigh in on Fiducia Supplicans (FS), the December 18 Declaration of the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF) permitting members of the Clergy to bless “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations”.

“We affirm that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage as the union of a man and a woman in a stable and exclusive relationship, open to bearing children, remains the same,” they say, endorsing the January 11 “consolidated summary” of the responses against the possibility of blessing couples in Africa by the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

Catholic Bishops in Lagos Ecclesiastical Province add, “We also affirm the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and urge the faithful to be guided by it.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.