Catholics have been called upon to bear witness to the Catholic faith in whatever sphere of life they find themselves as well as arm themselves with the knowledge of the social teaching of the Church for guidance in all that they do. The charge was given by Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos in his homily during the 2022 New Legal Year Mass of National Association of Catholic Lawyers, Lagos Archdiocese, held Sunday, September 18, at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Archbishop Martins urged legal practitioners in the country to use their profession to bear witness to the values of their faith, integrity of life, honesty of purpose, be at the service of justice and peace and standing out as people who can be trusted and relied upon at all times. The Archbishop commended the Catholic lawyers for the interventions that they have made in the affairs of the nation, particularly as it relates to the holy Catholic faith and the Church. He commended them for stepping out for the faith on the issue of the law concerning abortion, particularly in Lagos, as well as stepping out on the issue concerning marriage and licence, among others.
“We hope that you will continue to respond to matters that are not friendly to our Catholic faith on the one hand or to the practice of the faith on the other hand”, the Archbishop Martins said. Commending the association for commenting on the state of the nation based on the social teaching of the Church, and their concern for the common good, Archbishop Martins urged them to continue to be vigilant and speak out whenever they see that the common good is threatened. He urged them to arm themselves with knowledge of the social teaching of the Church so that they can bear witness effectively to Christ as Catholics and as lawyers. On the sanctity of human life, common good, the dignity of labour and the rights of workers among others, the Archbishop said, “As you bring these values to your practice of the law, I believe that the social order will be better and our country Nigeria will be able to rise and attain the heights that God has in store for her.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala, National President, National Association of Catholic Lawyers noted that the country needs lawyers who will enlighten citizens and take the nation out of the rubbles. He said that Nigerians are tired of hearing adverse stories, as he added that the association is ready and prepared to see how Nigeria can be better governed. Appreciating God for the out gone year, Mr. Phillips Njeteneh, President, National Association of Catholic Lawyers, Lagos Archdiocese committed the new legal year into God’s hands. He stated that the judiciary will do all it can within the ambit of the law to ensure that the rule of law is upheld during the electoral process in 2023.
