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Same-sex marriage: Nigerian Catholic bishops tackle Pope

Published

4 months ago

December 22, 2023

Pope Francis

Same-sex marriage: Nigerian Catholic bishops tackle Pope

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has said blessing same-sex marriage is against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of the country, and the cultural sensibilities of Nigerians.

The CBCN, in a joint statement by its President and Secretary, Lucius Ugorji and Donatus Ogun, respectively, and a few other executive members, assured the ‘people of God’ that the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage remained the same.

“There is, therefore, no possibility of blessing same-sex unions and activities in the church; that will go against God’s law, the teachings of the church, the laws of our nation, and the cultural sensibilities of our people.

“We thank all the priests for their accompaniment of married couples, asking them to continue in all they do to sustain the sacrament of holy matrimony, and never to do anything that will detract from the sacredness of this sacrament,” CBCN said.

The bishops said following the issuance of the declaration on the pastoral meaning of blessings, “Fiducia Supplicans” (pleading with courage) by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the CBCN members recognised their duties as pastors to clarify the content of the document.

They emphasised that the declaration sought to clarify the different forms of blessings that could be given to persons and objects within the Catholic Church, including the possibility of blessing persons in irregular unions.

Such unions, the clerics said, could include, but not limited to, divorced and remarried couples whose previous marriages had not been annulled, those living in same-sex unions, those in polygamous unions and concubinage, among others.

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“The declaration acknowledges and carefully distinguishes between ritual, liturgical and informal blessings.

“While ritual or liturgical blessings are imparted according to the established norms of the church, informal blessings refer to prayers over people who ask for them outside the liturgy or any formal celebration in the church.

“The declaration offers a consideration of the possibility of extending the informal blessings to all God’s children, irrespective of their moral condition, when they ask to be blessed.

“Nevertheless, the declaration insists that the blessings of persons in irregular unions, and never the union itself, can only take a non-liturgical form to avoid confusion.

“It should not be imparted during or in connection with a civil wedding ceremony or with clothing, words and signs, associated with a wedding.”

According to the bishops, the declaration also reiterates the Catholic Church’s perennial teaching on marriage as an “exclusive, stable and indissoluble union of a man and woman, naturally open to the generation of children.”

While stating that the church did not have the power to impart a blessing on irregular unions, they maintained that the declaration also reinforced the truth about God’s mercy.

“For one to willingly ask for a blessing demonstrates one’s trust in God and the desire to live according to God’s commandments.

“Asking for God’s blessing is not dependent on how good one is. Imperfection is the reason for seeking God’s grace.

“Therefore, those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope, but rather to ask for God’s grace and mercy, while remaining open to conversion,” the bishops said.

Same-sex marriage: Nigerian Catholic bishops tackle Pope

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May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State

May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has said henceforth, the least paid worker in the state will go home with N40,000 monthly, instead of N30,000.

He made this announcement in his address to workers when they celebrated this year’s Workers’ Day at UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

He said he increased the wage based on economic reality as well as the lean federal allocations accrued to the state, and not out of sentiments.

Otu said his government was very appreciative of workers even though their industrial output was only 5 per cent which was very poor.

He said, “Government considers its workforce as the driver of lofty projects and programmes for the common good of the people. Workers in the State are always held in high esteem to achieve good results, which reason prompt payment of salary and pension has been up to date.”

“The State Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers. I therefore sue for a little patience from the pensioners in this regard.”

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However, the Organised Labour in the State have have accused the state government of neglect and deceit, calling for open recruitment of employable youths to fill up various vacant positions.

Chairman of TUC, Comrade Monday Ogolodom, said the administration deceived the senior citizens when it failed to deliver its promise to clear off backlog of gratuities since 2013.

Addressing workers, Ogolodom said, “Payment of gratuity in the state has become a mirage. I recall on the 4 of October, 2023, during the swearing-in of the Head of Service, Innocent Eteng, His Excellency, the Governor made a very welcoming, sweet and promising speech, saying “before the end of December, 2023 all backlog of Gratuity in the state shall be cleared”.

“Today is 1″ May 2024, 4 (four) months after, nothing has started”, adding that this has portrayed the governor in bad light and appealed to him to set up machinery towards actualizing the promise as some of our elder statesmen and women were dying due to lack of funds for medications.

He alleged that bribes for promotion were now rampant, adding that it was appalling and discouraging for industrious and qualified workers.

He described as unending the verification exercise that was supposed to weed out ghost workers in the state, saying this has denied workers overdue promotions.

He called on government to officially embark on recruitment exercise instead of secret recruitments.

May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000

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El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna state, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, has hailed Governor Uba Sani for personally attending the May Day rally in Kaduna.

Speaking at Murtala Square, Kaduna, on Wednesday, Suleiman said the last time a governor personally attended the rally was nine years ago.

“Your Excellency, we want to thank you for personally attending the May Day Celebration. Labour has not witnessed the presence of a governor at such an occasion in the last nine years,” he said.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Sani’s predecessor, spent two terms of eight years as governor.

While commending the governor for prioritizing workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as involvement of the labour unions in decision making in the state, the NLC Chairman expressed hope that workers would enjoy favorable working conditions.

In his speech, the governor assured the workers of his support, saying development is about the people, just as governance is also about the people.

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He said governors were working with NLC to come up with decent and acceptable pay for workers.

The Government under my leadership will continue to prioritize workers’ welfare and equip them appropriately within available resources, conscious of the fact that a committed and motivated workforce is critical to the achievement of our Rural Transformation Agenda. Human capital development and poverty reduction will continue to receive robust government attention through investment in education, health, agriculture, housing, micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as support to security agencies as they tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

“Nigerian Governors, under the platform of Nigeria Governors Forum, are in consultation with Labour Unions at the federal and state levels in order to come up with a decent and acceptable salary increase for state and local government workers. As a comrade and veteran of the struggle for better working conditions for Nigerian workers, I will not rest on my oars until we agree on a wage package that will put smiles on the faces of our workers.

“As we ramp up our Rural Transformation Drive and implement innovative programmes to reinvent our economy, we seek the cooperation and total commitment of Kaduna State workers. Increased productivity and sustained industrial harmony will help reposition our economy and put our government in good stead to frontally tackle our myriad security and developmental challenges.”

El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani

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Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Works Minister David Umahi

Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said that Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra, is inciting the southeast to rebel against the federal government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday at a road project stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which will pass through eight other states including the beach resorts along Lagos’ beachfront, has had its construction processs commenced by the federal government.

The project has generated controversy and concerns about funding and the businesses that would be affected during construction.

On Tuesday, Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, criticised the federal government over the project, describing it as a misplaced priority.

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The former Anambra governor said the “insensitive” demolition of structures for the project was “heart-wrenching”.

Responding to Obi’s comment, Umahi said Obi supported the demolition of structures for road infrastructure while he was the governor of Anambra.

The minister condemned Obi for criticising the federal government over the project, adding that affected property owners are already being compensated.

“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done,” Umahi said.

“I think he is inciting some of the south-east people that are not well informed.

“He is inciting and getting them into trouble and he does not go to fight for them.

“Wisdom is a defence. It gives light to those that practice it. I want our people to have wisdom because I’m involved.”

Umahi added that the federal government did not destroy the facilities of Landmark Beach, noting that only shanties on the right of way were removed.

He said the owners of Landmark Beach were not unfairly treated in the construction of the project.

The minister accused Paul Onwuanibe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Landmark Africa Group, of politicising the issues arising from the project.