It is criminal to remain silent in the face of social injustice

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, says remaining silent 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 at the inauguration of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST) program for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and agencies of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja, said this belief explains why Catholic bishops in Nigeria continually urge the government to shoulder its responsibilities and respond to the needs of the people.

He said the CST provides a moral compass for living, functioning and thriving in society, which places it at the heart of evangelization, adding that it also aims to empower priests and laity to know their rights and to denounce injustices in society.

Cardinal Onaiyekan, who congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the programme, urged them to view CST as essential to service while inspiring them to deploy their knowledge to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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

Listen to him; “This initiative was made possible through the wisdom of the Conference of Bishops, who ensured that the teaching and learning of CST by staff of bishops’ agencies took place in the secretariat.

“The next step is to take action. Here we will divide the staff into different classes and assign them to teachers. OhFor the next two weeks, we will be running the programs every Friday until they graduate.”

Father Obodoechina, who is also the executive secretary of the Caritas Catholic Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), stressed the importance of social teachings andHe reiterated his commitment to continuing the CSE educational program aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of social justice and the role of the Church 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 on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, emphasized that everyone, regardless of their status, has something to contribute to society.

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

The university lecturer commended the Veritas University authorities for their strong collaboration with CRS and CBCN to spread the message.

In a welcome speech on behalf of the graduates, Mr. Joe Nkamuke, expressed their determination and commitment to disseminate the CST knowledge they acquired during the program.

Expressing gratitude to the organizers of the program and reaffirming their dedication to promoting CST principles in society, Nkamuke said: “We promise to open Pandora’s box for others to see.”