The Catholic Bishop of Oyo, Emmanuel Ade Badejo, in a very
strong statement in support of marriage during the International pro-life
conference in Abuja Nigeria, said that it is only the union of a man and a
woman that constitutes a family
“Such a union is the only source of procreation consented to
man by God”.
Bishop Badejo in the presentation titled: “Social
Communication Channels for the Gospel of Life in Nigeria,” emphasized that
there is an “undeniable nexus between this kind of family and human life.
Everyone who believes in God must appreciate this fact.”
“Much resources
and funds are today invested in programmes and activities which undermine the
family and human life some of which are promoting contraception, abortion and
gay unions”.
Its no good sitting down and weeping about the situation, he
said.
A change is not going to come by chance. We need massive investment of effort and resources and an effective campaign strategy to reeducate the populace towards a new appreciation of the Gospel of life and family values. Everyone must be persuaded to support this campaign to stem the tide of decadent, selfish western culture.
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Imo State, the Most Rev.
Anthony Obinna in his presentation said there was the need for consolidating
and scaling-up pro-life activism in Nigeria.
Its no good sitting down and weeping about the situation, he
said.
A change is not going to come by chance. We need massive investment of
effort and resources and an effective campaign strategy to reeducate the
populace towards a new appreciation of the Gospel of life and family values. Everyone
must be persuaded to support this campaign to stem the tide of decadent,
selfish western culture
Archbishop Obinna began his address by quoting from the
Post-Synodal document on the Church in Africa signed by Pope now St John Paul
ii.
In African culture and tradition the role of the family is everywhere held to be fundamental. Open to the sense of the family, of love and respect for life, the African loves children, who are joyfully welcomed as gifts of God (Ecclesia in Africa, no. 43)
Archbishop Obinna in a written statement also said ‘In the
face of atheist, seculrist and gender ideologies contrary to the Catholic
pro-life, pro-family position, which are aggressively exported from Europe and
America, and equally promoted by some Nigerians in public offices, the Catholic
Church in Nigeria has for a number of years embarked upon pro-life activities
in favour of family and life in general to ward off anti-life ideologies and
practices.
Archbishop Obinna referred to the legal battle against
abortion in the Imo House of Assembly. A close study he said of the bill for a
law on certain reproductive rights for women showed that it was not only meant
to promote abortion but also to promote free sex and promiscuity on the part of
women. Sexuality was totally dissociated from responsible married family life
with the encouragement of free “choice of method of fertility control and
family planning”. It was also
established that members of Planned Parenthood International had sponsored the
bill which was ultimately defeated
