Priests must be neutral, non partisan, says Kaigama - Catholic Herald
Catholic Herald
  • Home
  • Cover Story
  • Editorial
  • Archbishopric
  • News
    • Vatican News
  • Homily
  • Kids &Teens
  • Gallery
    • Gallery
No Result
View All Result
Catholic Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Uncategorized

Priests must be neutral, non partisan, says Kaigama

by admin
October 13, 2019
in Uncategorized
0
509
SHARES
1.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Administrator of Jos

Archdiocese and Co-adju-
tor Archbishop of Abuja,

Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama
has emphasised the need
for priests to always be neutral and non
partisan on issues relating to communal
and tribal clashes by avoiding taking

sides, or making inflammatory state-
ments capable of fuelling the conflict.

He said the best approach to resolving
such conflicts was to teach the people
the merits and benefits of forgiveness,
reconciliation, and resolving differences

through genuine dialogue.

“We need to firmly resist the temp-
tation of taking as real what could be

distorted historical narratives, mere

prejudices, blackmail or fabricated sto-
ries that have no bearing with reality but

which severely strain relationships.”
Archbishop kaigama made this remark
at a recent meeting of some Catholic
Bishops and Priests of Abuja and Jos
Ecclesiastical Provinces who met at
the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace
(DREP) Centre, Jos. The meeting which
attracted mostly Bishops and priests

from the areas affected by the Jukun-Tiv
crisis was designed to brainstorm and to

deliberate on how they can help to min-
imize or completely stop the atrocities

unleashed on innocent people.
According to Kaigama, priests are at a

vantage position of being in direct con-
tact with the people at the grassroots

and so can use the opportunity to pro-
mote peace and good neighbourliness.

“When our people suffer, we too suffer
in many ways with them and when they
remain in a state of constant distress we

know that it affects how we can minis-
ter to them spiritually and pastorally.

As Catholic priests, we are fortunate
to have our people’s confidence and we

can play a very significant role in mak-
ing them realize that polarization along

ethnic lines causes retrogression in all
ramifications and it also contradicts the
very essence of Christian unity (cf. Eph
4:4-5).
He noted it is very embarrassing and
disappointing that people, most of

whom profess Christianity can take up
arms against one another and commit

atrocities against one another on ac-
count of tribal differences or in the name

of the struggle for economic or political
control.

He revealed that the inter-ethnic clash-
es in the affected region of the country

have spread to engulf Idoma-Tiv- Igala-
Ogoja- Jukun – Kuteb-Alago, Eggon, Ag-
atu and even Agila in Benue and Ngbo in

Ebonyi States. These recurring conflicts
are always mostly over land matters.

As a remedy, he encouraged the gov-
ernment to employ the services of his-
torians, anthropologists, security agents,

boundary demarcation experts, consti-
tutional experts, neutral international

bodies (ECOWAS AU, UN), etc, to re-
solve the claims and counter claims that

refuse to allow peace to reign.
He wants government at all levels to be
more determined to meet its obligation

of caring for the poor who fight one an-
other not because they hate themselves,

but, according to him, as a result of the
compelling force of poverty, worsened

by the inequitable distribution of re-
sources.

It would be recalled that a Catholic priest,
Rev Fr David Tanko was killed while on
his way to attend a reconciliatory meeting
in connection with the Tiv/Jukun crisis last
August in Taraba State.

Share204Tweet127Share51
admin

admin

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

The 12 Articles of the Creed

June 14, 2021

Examination malpractices: Who is to blame?

July 10, 2021

Act right, don’t be part of those destroying the world today!

June 14, 2021

Agenda for in-coming Lagos State Governor

0

Fathers And The Omugwo Train

0

Married Pentecostal Pastor Set To Become Catholic Priest

0

New successor of St. Peter: Meet Pope Leo XIV

May 12, 2025

Priestly dignity: JDPC Director advocates supportive environment

May 12, 2025

Workers’ Day: A stark reality of economic hardship

May 12, 2025
Catholic Herald

© 2024 | Xebrian

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Mixed Grill
  • Interview Section
  • Spirituality
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Gallery
  • Back Page
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cover Story
  • Editorial
  • Archbishopric
  • News
    • Vatican News
  • Homily
    • Spirituality
  • Mixed Grill
  • Interview Section
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Kids &Teens
  • Gallery
    • Gallery
  • Back Page
  • Contact

© 2024 | Xebrian