Bishop Alfred Adewale Martin of Lagos | Image : Google
.Condemn insecurity in Nigeria
‘If my people…humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)’
By Valentine Amanze
The Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province comprising of Lagos Archdiocese, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta Dioceses have joined many other Christians in condemning the blessing of the same-sex marriage contrary to the view of the Catholic Pope Francis, while also decrying the high-level insecurity in Nigeria.
The bishops made their position on the issues public after their first plenary meeting for the year 2024 held at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland Lagos, recently.
In their communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, and the Secretary and Bishop of Ijebu Ode, Most Rev. Francis Adesina, the bishops stood behind the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and that of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in condemning the blessing of homosexual unions or same-sex couples.
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The communique further stated: “We affirm that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage as the union of a man and a woman in a stable and exclusive relationship, open to bearing children, remains the same.
“We also affirm the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and urge the faithful to be guided by it.”
The bishops also admitted that Nigeria is at a crossroad, why blaming the government and Nigerian leaders for not doing enough in providing food for the citizens and protecting them.
“However, in the midst of all these, we must never lose sight of the fact that the true security and prosperity of our country lies in the hands of the Almighty God. As the Bible says, unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain (Psalm 127:1).
“As we navigate the challenges of the time, we must remember that the solution to our woes begins when we recognise that in various ways, we have sinned against God and our country and we express willingness to turn away from our evil ways.
“If my people…humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
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