UNE APPEL À TRUE CONVERSION DU CŒUR
Communiqué à la fin de la deuxième réunion plénière de la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Nigéria (CBCN) au Centre pastoral, Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, État des rivières, 10-18 septembre 2015.
1. PRÉAMBULE
Nous, les évêques catholiques du Nigéria, avons tenu notre deuxième réunion plénière de l'année au Centre Pastoral, Igwuruta, État de Port Harcourt, du 10 au 18 septembre 2015. Ayant réfléchi dans la prière aux questions touchant l'Église et notre pays, nous présentons maintenant notre Communiqué.
2. ÉVÉNEMENTS DE L ' ÉCOLE
Nous remercions Dieu pour ses miséricordes infinies et pour les nombreuses bénédictions qu'il a continué à apporter à l'Eglise, Famille de Dieu, au Nigeria. Le 28mars 2015, la démission de MgrAthanase Usuh en tant qu'évêque de Makurdi a été annoncée. Conformément au droit canonique, l'évêque du Coadjuteur, Mgr Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe CMF, a déjà pris possession canonique comme quatrième évêque du diocèse de Makurdi. Le révérend Denis Chidi Isizoh a été ordonné évêque auxiliaire de l'archidiocèse d'Onitsha. Nous nous unissons joyeusement avec l'archevêque Joseph Ukpo qui a marqué son jubilé d'or sacerdotal, avec le Très Révérend Lucius Ugorji qui a célébré son jubilé d'argent épiscopal. Avec une profonde tristesse mais une foi forte dans la résurrection, nous prions pour le repos de l'âme de l'évêque Malachi Goltok du diocèse de Bauchi, qui est décédé après notre première plénière. L'Université Veritas du Nigéria, Abuja (l'Université catholique du Nigéria), a obtenu une licence d'exploitation complète par la Commission des universités du Nigéria.
3. LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE DES FRANCIES POPULAIRES, LAUDATO SI
Nous nous félicitons de la récente lettre encyclique Laudato Si, sur le soin de notre maison commune publiée par Sa Sainteté le 8 juin 2015,à la suite de l'annonce, que la «Journée mondiale de prière pour le soin de la création» soit désormais célébrée chaque année dans l'Église le 1er septembre. Les changements que nous avons remarqués dans notre climat touchent tout le monde. Sur le plan local, la dégradation de notre environnement est aggravée par des mauvaises habitudes collectives telles que la litière partout avec des sachets et des bouteilles en plastique, la perte de forêts tropicales, l'absence d'élimination adéquate des déchets et une culture contemporaine à l'abandon. La crise écologique que nous vivons aujourd'hui appelle les nations, les communautés internationales, les chrétiens, les musulmans, les personnes d'autres religions, les communautés locales, les familles, les individus, toutes les personnes de bonne volonté non seulement à la responsabilité de la justice, mais aussi à une profonde conversion spirituelle et écologique : du consumérisme au sacrifice, de la cupidité à la générosité, et du gaspillage au partage (Laudato Si, 216, 156 et 159).
4. LE JUBILE EXTRAORDINAIRE DE MERCIE
Sa Sainteté le Pape François a également annoncé la célébration de l'Année Jubilaire de la Miséricorde, qui commencera le 8 décembre 2015, et coïncidera avec le cinquantième anniversaire de la clôture du Concile œcuménique Vatican II et de la solennité de l'Immaculée Conception. Nous espérons voir dans notre nation, de nos dirigeants, dans nos communautés, églises, mosquées, relations interpersonnelles, entreprises, démonstrations pratiques de miséricorde et de compassion. Par la grâce de cette célébration, que les pauvres trouvent satisfaction et réconfort; que les blessés soient guéris, que les indigents et les migrants trouvent refuge, amour, soins, réadaptation et espérance. Nous prions pour que le cœur brisé puisse éprouver l'amour, le pardon, la guérison et la miséricorde. Nous espérons également qu'au cours de cette Année de la Miséricorde, les sans-voix pourront être entendus, que les victimes de discrimination pourront trouver une véritable acceptation, que les personnes privées et exploitées connaîtront la justice, que les marginalisés trouveront la force, que les malades guériront et que les injustement détenus jouiront de la liberté.
5. Mariage, famille et société humaine
After our First Plenary meeting from 20 to 26February, 2015 in Abuja, we issued a Communiqué entitled “Good Families Make Good Nations”. As we look forward to the celebration of the World Day of the Family in Philadelphia from 20 to 27September, 2015 and the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October this year, we re-affirm the validity of the family as a divinely instituted community of persons made up of a man and a woman who are open to life in love, together with their children and relatives. We commend His Holiness Pope Francis for the Motu Proprio,Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (Jesus Christ, the meek Judge) aimed at accelerating the process for the declaration of the nullity of marriage. We pledge to use this new process for the pastoral and spiritual benefit of our people.
We observe with deep concern the rise of the orientation towards homosexuality and lesbianism as well as bisexual and transgender activism in many parts of the world (perhaps not excluding our own). We re-iterate our unreserved condemnation of all acts of homosexuality as sinful and opposed to the natural law of creation. We call on our government to continue to resist the attempt by some external governments and agencies to impose an acceptance of same-sex unions. Nevertheless, we maintain that persons with these orientations should be assisted pastorally, spiritually and psychologically, with respect for their dignity as human persons created in the image and likeness of God.
6. YOUTH CHALLENGES AND PRIESTLY MINISTRY
We acknowledge the contemporary challenges that confront our nation especially the teaming youth population. These pose problems to priests in the exercise of their ministry. We encourage priests who work in very difficult situations to draw strength from the cross of Jesus. We the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria are resolved not only to assure priests of their paternal solidarity, but also to encourage them to be united in the intimate sacramental priesthood they share, be diligent in their duties and seek for holiness of life. Priests should love their Church as Christ does. This era more than ever requires that priests be modest and honest. The Youth are crucial agents of transformation that require our sincere pastoral concern. We note however the many challenges confronting the youth in their lives especially in the practice of the Christian faith. We invite the young people to be courageous and proud of their faith and while investing in the life of the Church seek the truth of the gospel in which lies freedom.
7. THE STATE OF THE NATION
We congratulate Nigerians on the peaceful 2015 General Elections. The doom that many predicted did not happen. We are indeed grateful to God and to all those who allowed God to use them for this positive development. The elections have come and gone. It is time now for real governance and we call on our leaders to work for the common good of all our citizens. We congratulate the Nigerian government and all the security agencies on the achievements recorded so far in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. The refugees and internally displaced persons are gradually returning to their homes. As we pledge our willingness to collaborate with the government on the modalities of their movement and resettlement, we enjoin the government and other humanitarian agencies to start putting in place practical measures necessary for immediate rehabilitation, reconstruction and the reconciliation of the victims and their families.
8. CORRUPTION AND INJUSTICE
Since it came into existence, this Conference of Bishops has constantly condemned corruption, violence and injustice and has consistently urged all Nigerians, especially those who hold public offices, to embrace a life of transparency and service. For many years, the Catholic Church has offered public prayers against bribery and corruption in Nigeria. It is therefore a welcome development that the present government has made the fight against corruption and insurgency central to its programme. We affirm that the war against corruption is not just a battle for virtue and righteousness in our land but a fight for the soul and substance of our nation. This is a collective responsibility that requires our collective efforts. All Nigerians should be part of this struggle, which ought to be carried out at all levels, in order that we may recover our wasted opportunities. To guarantee sustainable success in fighting corruption, Nigerians must transcend ethnic, religious and regional affiliations and sentiments. Those who are genuinely identified to have either stolen or recklessly used the national wealth must be compelled to make comprehensive restitution. In this process, we strongly urge all to eschew personal interest, political vendetta, and bitterness. Those with the mandate to facilitate this process should be guided by a true sense of justice and act in accordance with the rule of law.
9. THE ECONOMY
At the moment, the Nigerian economy is in distress. More and more Nigerians are now struggling or are unable to provide the basic needs for their families. Unemployment is growing beyond control, leaving many of our citizens, especially the younger ones, to migrate, both locally and to other countries. This exposes them to inhuman conditions, including different forms of immorality and criminality. In many cases, young promising lives are wasted on our streets, in the deserts of some African countries and on the shores of Europe. We therefore appreciate the desire of the government to re-invest in the agricultural sector and to seek other alternatives to oil and gas, which have fared very badly in the recent past. We encourage the federal and state governments, the private sector and individual Nigerians to intensify their efforts in exploring the means of diversifying the sources of national income, while initiating genuine policies that would protect the citizens, create wealth and absorb our teeming unemployed youth.
There is a serious outcry today against the high cost of governance in Nigeria. There are instances of enormous sums of money paid as allowances to public office holders (in addition to their already high basic salaries) and of legislators passing bills in view of future pension benefits for themselves and members of the executive arm of government. It is regrettable that this is happening in a nation where a large percentage of the population is living in dehumanizing poverty, where so many workers are not paid the recommended basic salary, and where massive decay of infrastructure has put much stress on the citizens and their lives in great danger. This situation is unjustifiable. It also represents a gross injustice against the poor. We therefore commend the initiative of some States in cutting the cost of governance and call on the Federal and other State governments to do the same.
10. CALL TO PRAYER AND CONCLUSION
As Christians we rely on God to make our efforts towards the emergence of a new Nigeria bear the desired fruit. At very difficult moments of our history, we, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, have called on all to pray. In many respects, it can be said that our Nation is today at the crossroads. Although the general elections were peaceful, our problems are far from over. We therefore feel the need to renew our call to prayer. In addition to the prayers already being said for the Nation, we ask individuals, families and Parishes to intensify their prayer for a period of six months, beginning from the month of October and according to the following programme:
a) Family Rosary – Every Saturday evening;
b) Rosary and one hour Eucharistic Adoration in Parishes – Last Sunday of the month (between 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm).
The Family Rosary and the Eucharistic Adoration should always end with either the Prayer against Bribery and Corruption or the Prayer for Nigeria in Distress. This six-month prayer programme is expected to end on 4 April 2016, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria re-echo in our hearts the very first words of Jesus as he began his public ministry: “Repent for the kingdom of God is near” (Mathew 3:2). We therefore invite all Christian faithful and citizens of this country to a true conversion of heart (Deut. 2:16-17; Micah 3).
May our Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy continue to intercede for us to attain true conversion of heart and thus continue to grow in wisdom and insight which come from Christ Jesus the Lord.
Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau KAIGAMA
Archbishop of Jos, President, CBCN
Most Rev. William AVENYA
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Secretary, CBCN
