It’s criminal to keep mute amid social injustice – Catholic Bishop

Bishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has said keeping mute in the face of social injustice is a crime against the gospel of Christ and the nation.

He said that beyond evangelism, the Church must inculcate communication on justice and peace, all encapsulated in its social teachings

The respected clergy, who spoke while inaugurating the Catholic Social Teaching (CST) programme for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), and agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja, said the belief explains why the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria continually urged the government to fulfil its responsibilities and address the people’s needs.

He said CST provides a moral compass for living, functioning, and flourishing in society, making it central to evangelisation, adding that it is also meant to empower both priests and laypeople to know their rights and speak against injustices in society.

Cardinal Onaiyekan, who congratulated the graduands for successfully completing the programme, urged them to view CST as essential for service while challenging them to deploy their knowledge in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Also speaking at the event, Rev. Father Uchechukwu Obodoechina, the Director, Department of Church and Society, said the programme was designed to equip the staffers of the Bishops’ agencies with comprehensive knowledge on CST.

Hear him; “This initiative has been made possible by the wisdom of the Bishops Conference, ensuring that the teaching and learning of CST by the staff of the bishops’ agencies takes place at the secretariat.

“The next stage is to go into action. We will divide the staffers here into various classes and assign them to teachers. Over the next two weeks, we will conduct the programmes every Friday until they graduate”.

Father Obodoechina, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), emphasised the significance of social teachings and further reiterated the commitment to continue the CST education programme aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of social justice and the Church’s role in society.

“We are creating a ripple effect of knowledge and awareness that will extend far beyond the secretariat, impacting communities and society at large,” he added..

Delivering a keynote address at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, stressed that everyone, regardless of status, has something to contribute to society.

For him, CST, as a hidden treasure of the Church, will address various social concerns, including politics, healthcare, climate change, education, and social inequalities.

The University teacher commended the authorities of Veritas University for their robust collaboration with CRS and CBCN to spread the message.

In a valedictory speech on behalf of the graduands, Mr Joe Nkamuke, expressed their resolve and commitment to spread the CST knowledge they have gained during the programme.

In expressing gratitude to the programme’s organisers and reaffirming their dedication to promoting CST principles in society, Nkamuke said; “We promise to open the Pandora’s box for others to see”.