Report True, Fair News “no matter who is touched”: Nigerian Bishop to Catholic Journalists

Bishop Chukwu who has been at the helm of Abakaliki Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination on 19 August 2021 following his appointment on 6 July 2021 further challenged Catholic journalists to do their duties “with forthrightness, with sound mind, courage, and with respect for the dignity of human persons.” 

“We need men and women of integrity in the media sector, he said, and added addressing himself to Catholic journalists in his Episcopal See, “Live the life of the truth; let your news reportage be for the benefit of the poor and the downtrodden.”

He told CAMPAN members that their news reportage should be a “call to light primitive prejudices that are antithetical to the dignity of the human person and expose the excesses of the arrogant.”

The 56-year-old Catholic Church leader further told CAMPAN members, “In your media coverage, detest the arrogant, those who destroy others,” and added, “Expose their wicked plots and practices in the light of the day so that they will be ashamed and repent. Your exposition will save those who would have been their victims.”

Bishop Chukwu continued, “When you expose what is wrong and is going on in the society, those who are in charge of policy making are kept on their toes until they do something about it; and there is a whole morality, a whole Catholic social teaching guiding media practitioners.”

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“All you need to do is to tap into this world of moral theology that will help you to be authentic media personnel as well as authentic Catholics,” he said, and added, “When you let your Catholic faith flow into your practice, you sanctify the profession and make it holy, and then your practice will bring salvation to people.”

The Nigerian Catholic Bishop said that there is social and eternal salvation and Catholic journalists can contribute to both of them.

“When you report a story that leads to the liberation of someone, that person is now enjoying social salvation and that will also help him intensify his efforts as a child of God so that eventually he will enjoy eternal salvation,” he said.

He encouraged Catholic journalists to remain courageous even in the face of persecution, saying, “Jesus was also persecuted for doing what is right, and if you run to Him, He will always have a way of protecting you.”

“When you are sure you are doing the right thing, don’t worry about what people will say. When you do what is right, when you stand for the truth, when you bring the light of media coverage on anything that is going wrong and people begin to send you threatening letters, threatening messages, you are not alone,” he said. 

Bishop Chukwu continued, “As we are taught in the sermon of the mountain, we are blessed when we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. God gives his special mark of ownership on those who endure persecution for the sake of righteousness.”

“It is not an easy task. May the good Lord bless your efforts, advance your fortunes in your chosen careers through Christ our Lord,” the Local Ordinary of Abakaliki Diocese said, and promised to stand with Catholic journalists in his Episcopal See who may face persecution as long as they report the truth. 

“If you base your reporting on the truth, after properly investigating the facts, and what you have written or presented is factually correct, and you guess into trouble because of that, I will stand with you to the very end,” the Catholic Bishop said in his September 5 homily.

He also urged media practitioners to collaborate and organize debates for political aspirants in the 2023 general polls. He said, “I challenge your organization to take control of the political process by organizing debates for those who want to rule and govern us.”

Bishop Chukwu added in reference to Catholic journalists engaging political actors, “Take it up as an issue; organize yourselves and invite the candidates for debate. Put them to task; challenge them to present their manifestos so that our people may be able to make their choice.”

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Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.