By CSN Media
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) issued an important document on October 1, 2024, warning priests against engaging in partisan politics or assuming public office without proper ecclesiastical authorisation. The document is rooted in two key provisions of canon law and reflects the complex political landscape of Nigeria.
The document cites two key canons: Canon 285 §3, which prohibits clerics from engaging in activities unbecoming to their state, including partisan politics, and Canon 287 §2, which prohibits clerics from assuming public office without proper ecclesiastical authorisation.
Based on these laws, the bishops outline three levels of progressive penal measures for priests who disobey. Firstly, a priest may face suspension from exercising their power of orders and governance for an appropriate period. Additionally, he may be subjected to further canonical sanctions, such as being required to reside in a particular place or territory. In cases of persistent disobedience, the most severe penalty of dismissal from the clerical state may be imposed on the priest.
The CBCN also urged Major Superiors of Religious Institutes in Nigeria to take note of these prohibitions, which equally apply to priests-religious within their jurisdictions. Through this document, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria reaffirm the Church’s clear stance against clerics engaging in partisan politics or assuming public office without proper ecclesiastical authorisation. By doing so, the document provides clarity and consistency on the application of canon law in Nigeria, ensuring that priests and religious are well aware of the expectations and consequences of their actions.
It will be recalled that on August 7, 2018, ahead of the 2019 election, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria had also issued a directive to all priests, emphasising the need for them to remain apolitical in their engagement with politics. In the directive, the bishops reiterated the priests’ obligation as teachers of faith and morals to educate the faithful on their role in the country’s political life, particularly in the midst of Nigeria’s charged political atmosphere.
The CBCN remains committed to ensuring that priests remain focused on their primary duty of caring for souls, thereby enabling the Church to fulfill its mission with integrity and effectiveness.
