Sokoto, 07 January, 2021 / 5:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Catholic Clerics are expected to be vigilant and raise their voices in caution whenever they cite danger, the Bishop of Nigeria’s Sokoto Diocese has said.
In his homily during the vigil Eucharistic celebration ahead of the funeral Mass of the late Archbishop emeritus of Kaduna, Peter Yariyock Jatau Tuesday, January 5, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah reminded Catholic Priests in the West African nation of their role to speak up against evil in society.
“The Priest is a watchman; one whose duty is to watch over the city and to raise his voice whenever he cites danger. He calls on those who lead to remain faithful to their duties,” Bishop Kukah said.
He added, “Our duty is to reject the notion of corrupt governments that somehow, the Lord has not provided for every society.”
Making reference to Nigeria’s economic decline attributed to the low price of petroleum, Bishop Kukah said that when the government authorities “call for us to tighten our belts because there is a recession, that oil prices have fallen, that there are problems with balance of payments and so on, the Priest at the duty post must say what he can see, namely, that when those who preside over the affairs issue a bad check, it must be resisted.”
