Catholic Professionals have been urged to come together to associate, interact, encourage and challenge one another in order to enhance the practice of their profession and their faith. The charge was given by Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos during the 2023 Catholic Lawyers’ Day with the Archbishop, organised by the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Lagos Archdiocese, held recently at Cathedral Hall, Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Archbishop Martins commended members of NACL for creating time for the meeting, as he urged all Catholic lawyers to be part of the annual event where they can avail themselves of the strong values that are inherent in convention, by words of encouragement offered to one another in the practice of their faith and profession. Urging the lawyers to fulfill the objectives of the association, Archbishop Martins said they must be catholic lawyers who practice their profession in an outstanding manner for others to see. The Archbishop advocated that senior lawyers help junior ones to rise within the faith, as he added that this needs to be done because Heaven is the target at the end. He said: “If we are able to help one another to live in this world and still attain Heaven because of the values that come from the senior to the upcoming ones, then I think we would have been able to attain one of the goals for which we live.” On means of grace necessary for journeying into Heaven, the Archbishop said: “The Sacraments, the Holy Rosary, reading of scripture, respecting the values of married life and making efforts to live the married life appropriately, looking up to saints that can serve as models, are essential for living our lives as Christians.”
Delivering the keynote address on the topic: “The 21st Century Catholic Lawyer: Challenges and Faith Building Opportunities”, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN spoke on the roles of the 21st Century Catholic Lawyer and opportunities the Church offers, as lawyers strive to measure up to the moral, ethical and statutory standards they subscribed to at their Call to Bar. Stating that they bear the responsibility for a fair and just society, Onwuenwunor said the 21st Century Catholic Lawyer needs to appreciate the uniqueness of his position first as a Catholic, and second, as a lawyer in the society. Onwuewunor called on every 21st Century Catholic Lawyer to endeavour to be a member of NACL, adding that any Catholic Lawyer that is not a member of NACL still belongs to the old school. He stated that the overriding importance of being a member of NACL is to promote intellectual, social and spiritual interest of members. He said membership of NACL entails taking up the many legal issues and constitutional challenges facing the country and to engage in corporate actions that have substantial positive bearing on the moral, spiritual and social development of people in Lagos Archdiocese or any of the constituent parts as may from time to time arise or be spelt out by the Holy See, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) or the Archbishop of Lagos. According to him, NACL members place their expertise and professional experience at the disposal of the society and the Catholic Church in its mission of evangelisation and spread of the social teachings of the Church and to promote the spiritual growth of members of the Association and help members live out the gospel values, which should be reflected in their lives and works.
