Nigeria’s Consecrated Urged “to speak out in face of societal moral decadence in politics”

Fr. Ogundipe goes on to warn that in future, researchers will ransack the archives to “to find the agenda of our family council meetings in various communities, the content of our ecclesiastical newspapers and journals, the reasons for our emergency meetings during these ungodly periods.”

The SDV Delegate Superior who doubles as the Vice Rector of Vocationist International School for Formators Inu-Odi Ibadan says that in areas where Consecrated persons will have spoken against societal ills, posterity “will place our words side by side with our actions”.

“Books will be written about this generation and they will judge and assess our actions and inactions,” Fr. Ogundipe says. 

The lecturer of Mass Communication in Nigeria’s Grajos College of Communication and Information Technology adds, “They will mention names of superiors, dates, places and circumstances. Most of these would be factual, some would be speculative.”

He says though Canon Law prohibits Consecrated Persons from participating in political activities, they need to be vocal on societal issues.

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“The mission of the Church in the world is neither political, social or economic yet, she cannot overlook them in as much as they directly or indirectly contribute to the realization of her mission.” the Vocationist Father says. 

He explains, “The Church’s interest in social-political matters is a product of a careful reflection in line with faith, which aims at bringing every principle towards the fulfillment of the gospel messages. This message is to bring peace, development here on earth and finally peace with God hereafter.”

The 25 February 2023 general elections in Africa’s most populous nation will see the electorate vote for the President and Vice President. Eligible voters are to also vote for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The election of State Governors in the West African nation has been slated for 11 March 2023.

This story was first published by ACI Africa on 27 October 2022.