Catholic Bishops in Benin Call for “transparent, truly inclusive, peaceful elections”

In their May 19 collective statement issued at the end of their third Ordinary Plenary Assembly for the pastoral year 2021/2022, Catholic Bishops in Benin say they are concerned about the “decline in morals that is increasingly observed among young people.”

“This is reflected in the practices of fraud, the trivialization of sex on social media and, worse still, immoral and unimaginable acts which are committed with contempt for human dignity and motivated by the lure of easy wealth,” CEB members say.

They invite the political and administrative authorities, religious leaders, educators at various levels, and especially parents, “to take full responsibility and to work, each according to their charisma and specific mission.”

The Catholic Church leaders further call for urgent measures “to save this section of the youth from perdition.” 

CEB members encourage young people in the West African nation “to develop, in the face of current circumstances, a spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship, because only hard work is liberating and a guarantee of a better future.”

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The Plenary Assembly examined issues relating to Seminaries and houses of formation for future Priests.

In their May 19 collective statement, CEB members “salute and congratulate the Seminarians as well as their formators for the various sacrifices made on both sides for a good formation to the Priesthood inspired by Ratio Formationis (basic principles and training norms for formation).”

They take the same opportunity to congratulate the members of the Episcopal sub-commission in charge of Seminaries for their appointment to “this mission of the Church”. They assure them of their “prayers and paternal support.”

CEB members also invite leaders at Parish level, the vocation committees, and all the people of God to accompany the different initiatives intended “to support the Seminaries on the spiritual, intellectual, human and material levels.”

“May God, the Sovereign Master of all peoples, continue to pour out his rain of graces and blessings on our country,” Catholic Bishops in Benin implore in their May 19 collective statement.