Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi) Abuja — Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has condemned attempts by foreign agencies to introduce anti-life values in the nation.
In a communiqué entitled, Our Faith Commitment in Action sent to CISA on September 16 the bishops appealed to Nigerians to reject such moves lest they lose their faith, cultural identity and pride.
“We have observed with keen interest the continuous attempts made by foreign agencies to introduce unwholesome values to our society in their campaign for abortion, supply of condoms and promotion of same-sex unions. We reiterate our commitment to the sanctity of life from the very moment of its conception to the time of natural death”, read the communiqué in part.
The bishops congratulated the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for her firm stand and outright rejection of the Bill on Same-Sex Marriage and noted that Natural law and the Christian faith says that same-sex marriage is unnatural, unwholesome, and contrary to the plan of God.
The bishops led by the CBCN President Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama held the Second Plenary Meeting for the year 2013 at the Double K Resort, GRA, Otukpo, Benue State.
The Bishops vehemently rejected any move by anyone to promote the culture of death and call on such people to repent of their ways.
They said that use of capital punishment as the easiest way to rid the society of dangerous criminals is improper adding that the lives of condemned criminals remain sacred and demand deep compassion.
“Capital punishment does not offer criminals the opportunity for repentance in accord with the vision of God about man’s salvation. Given modern developments for the safety of citizens, public authorities are increasingly called upon to explore practical measures to prevent criminality and to foster humane ways that would lead to the reformation of criminals” read the communiqué
The Bishops noted that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI affirmed: “Openness to life is at the centre of true development. When a society moves towards the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man’s true good… the acceptance of life strengthens the moral fibre and makes people capable of mutual help” (Instrumentum Laboris, 2nd Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops No: 20).
The bishops further congratulated the Nigerian government for the bold measures to combat terrorism which had reduced the Boko Haram terrorist attacks, especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
