Silence in the face of social injustice, a crime

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has said that silence in the face of social injustice is a crime against the Gospel of Christ and the nation.

He stated this in Abuja during the inauguration of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) program and agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also witnessed the graduation ceremony of the CST program trainers.

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

He said this belief was why the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria continually urged the government to shoulder its responsibilities and respond to the needs of the people.

He explained that CST provides a moral compass for living, functioning and thriving in society, thus placing it at the heart of evangelism.

The cardinal congratulated the graduates, urged them to view CSE as essential to service, and challenged them to deploy their knowledge to spread the Gospel.

According to the Cardinal, the CST aims to give priests and laity the means to know their rights and to denounce the injustices of society.

Taking the floor, Reverend Father. Uche Obodoechina, director of the Department of Church and Society, said the program was designed to equip staff of episcopal agencies with comprehensive knowledge on CSE.

“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.

For the next two weeks, we will run the programs every Friday until they graduate,” he said.

Obodoechina, executive secretary of the Caritas Catholic Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), also highlighted the importance of social teachings.

He reiterated the commitment to continue the educational program of the CSE, promoting 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.

In his opening address, Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, emphasized that everyone, regardless of their status, has something to contribute to society.

He noted that the CST, a hidden treasure of the Church, will address various social concerns, including politics, health, climate change, education and social inequality.

Ichoku expressed satisfaction with Veritas University’s collaboration with CRS and CBCN to spread the message.

In his farewell address, Mr. Joe Nkamuke, who spoke on behalf of the graduates, assured of their commitment to disseminate the CST knowledge they acquired.

“We promise to open Pandora’s box for others to see,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the program and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the principles of CST in society.