By PJ Usanga
The Director of Church and Society Department, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, advocated for strategic influence by the clergy and lay faithful through lobbying, advocacy, and soft diplomacy to effect positive change in the society. He emphasized that Catholics should not wait for a Catholic leader to effect the needed change in the country.
“We may not be in the political party sector, but we have a duty to evangelize that sector. We have the duty to give politicians and all the leaders of this nation the instrument for their work, articulated in the Catholic Social teachings.”
In his Opening Remark at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Department of Church and Society, CSN, Fr. Obodoechina challenged all diocesan directors and coordinators of the various units of the department to take proactive steps towards shaping politics and policies in their localities.
“We have over 40 million Catholics in Nigeria, 6,000 priests, and 87 bishops. Why can’t we move this nation forward? Why would we be at the sideline? Why would we not be at the pressure point of power to determine the flow of politics and policies. Let us know that outside of God, the next thing is government and power, and who influences government?” he challenged.
The two-day AGM, focused on the theme: “Promoting Catholic Social Teaching as Vehicle for Socio-economic and Political Reorientation in Nigeria.” It started with the arrival of delegates on Tuesday, November 19, and will continue till Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the CSN premises.
In his welcome address, the Deputy, Secretary General of CSN, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, on behalf of the Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Zachariah Nyantiso Samjumi, stressed the importance of Catholic Social Teaching in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic and political challenges. He noted that the country stands in need of serious reform and encouraged participants to think critically about their role in bringing about positive change.
“One thing remains indubitable. That is the fact that our country today stands in need of serious reform: social, economic, political, cultural, and even religious. This has been the cry of every generation of Human Rights Activists since after the civil war in 1970.”
Fr. Banjo who is also the Director, Department of Pastoral Affairs, CSN, emphasized that If the Church in Nigeria must not just be voice of the voiceless, but also help of the helpless, then, it must take to heart this task as an integral aspect of her gospel proclamation. He charged all to make deliberate effort to collectively undo the evil they have collectively done to the nation’s God-given human and natural resources and the laudable vision of the founding fathers of the country.
“As Pope Francis noted in his recent Encyclical, ‘Dilexit Nos’, ‘All sins harm the Church and society, especially those that constitute a direct attack on others; but by collectively entrusting ourselves to the heart of Christ, ‘over the ruins of accumulated hatred and violence, the greatly desired civilization of love, the Kingdom of the heart of Christ, can be built” (cf. D.N: nn.182 – 184), he quoted.
As part of the activities marking the commencement of the event, goodwill messages were received from the various collaborative agencies and the various units under the Church and Society Department.
The annual gathering brought together diocesan directors and coordinators of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Migrants and Refugees Unit, Family and Human Life Unit, Education, and the Health Commission which are all units under the Church and Society Department.
The 2024 AGM which featured paper presentations, group discussions and interaction, question and answer sessions, aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to apply the Catholic Social Teaching in their respective areas of influence.
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