The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins has commended men in the Archdiocese for their concerted efforts towards ridding the family of the evil of drug and pornography addiction bedeviling many homes. He made the commendation while delivering the homily at the Thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the 11th convention of the Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (LACMON), held at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.
Addressing the over five thousand delegates drawn from the 20 Deaneries in the Lagos Archdiocese and beyond, on the theme, “Overcoming drug and pornography addiction in Family Life”, Archbishop Martins described drug and pornography addiction as two evils that threaten the very fabric of family and faith.
He said: “As fathers, you are called to confront these twin evils that enslave people by working to restore the values and truths that have been handed on to us. The family is a sacred nucleus of love, a place where values that stand as the bedrock of evangelisation are taught. Drugs and pornography are plagues that afflict the sacredness of far too many families. They hold the brain captive and destroy relationships, giving promises of escape, satisfaction, and pleasure, but delivering only bondage, shame, and despair.”
According to the Archbishop, “We can overcome these addictions by making fundamental options for God at all times, seeking His grace as we cultivate a life of prayer which is capable of changing old habits as it enhances our intimacy with God. We should immerse ourselves in the Scripture, journey with the Lord, and seek the intercession of the Saints.”
Similarly, the Archdiocesan Chaplain of LACMON, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Ike, and the LACMON President, Barr. Kingsley Ekwuem while relishing the success of the two-day event, noted that the theme of the convention was very apt, hence it would also form the subject of focus at the 2025 edition of the convention. The convention is reputed as the largest single gathering of Catholic men in the whole of Africa.
