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WE WON’T REMAIN SILENT IN FACE OF INJUSTICE – CARDINAL ONAIYEKUN
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has called on Nigerians to stand up against injustice, emphasizing that staying silent in the face of wrongdoing is equivalent to being complicit.
Speaking at the launch of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST) program at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) in Abuja over the weekend, Cardinal Onaiyekan stressed the significant role of actively combating social injustices.
He highlighted that the Catholic Church holds a duty to promote the right values, even if it invites criticism from political circles.
“As Catholic Bishops, we often engage in interviews and issue impactful political statements. No one can hinder us from doing so because it is part of our duty. We are obliged to promote the correct values, even if it means encountering backlash from politicians,” Cardinal Onaiyekan articulated.
He continued by stating, “Remaining silent in the face of injustice is not an option. Silence equates to complicity, and it is our responsibility to speak out against injustices wherever they may arise.”
The Emeritus Archbishop underscored the necessity for the Catholic Church to advocate for social justice, emphasizing its longstanding tradition of teaching on such matters. He noted the important role of individual actions in fostering a more just and fair society.
Reverend Father Uche Obodoechina, the Director of the Department of Church and Society, elaborated on the CST programme’s objective. He described it as a platform intended to educate staff members of the Bishops’ agencies comprehensively about CST, enabling them to impart the knowledge to others and disseminate the message effectively.
“We aim to equip Catholics with the knowledge and skills to champion social change by applying the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in their daily lives,” said Obodoechina, who also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN).The program seeks to empower Catholics to become catalysts for social transformation, fostering a cascading effect of awareness that can positively impact communities and society as a whole.
