Catholic Bishops issued a loaded communique at the end of the 2025 Second Plenary Meeting of The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) concluded recently at the Diocesan Retreat and Youth Development Centre, Nto Ekpu, Ikot, Nko, Ikot Ekpene Diocese.

Three very bold pronouncements stand out because they are directed at the Church. Our Bishops held a mirror to the local Church as a way to steer the ship of the faithful entrusted to them in the right direction.

The communique noted that “Another worrisome trend is the practice of allowing politicians to use the sanctuary during liturgical worship. Very often, such opportunities are misused for mundane and self-serving purposes. The Church is not just any building; it is a sacred space with its sanctity respected (cf Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 32)”.

Not overwhelmed by the preponderance of evidence of the evil that most politicians engage in, it must be admitted that not all politicians are bad. There exists, a respectable number of politicians who regard politics as an avenue to serve God, through serving humanity, the handwork of God, created in the image of God. We must admit that these are a few.

Most politicians are better known for inflicting untold suffering, unabashed flaunting of obscene wealth in the face of unaddressed poverty. Unfair treatment of workers, unchecked diversion of public resources for personal wealth, unrelenting increased tax burdens coupled with unaccounted disposition of their proceeds.

A microphone in the hands of a politician is a dangerous weapon. A double-edged sword capable of inflicting unthinkable damage to both friends and foes alike. That would include those who handed him the microphone.

With the politician, the Catholic Church has religious differences; the Church serves the Prince of Peace while politicians serve people of power – their godfathers. Politicians are transactional, they give you money, a token, then proceed to disarm you of your vote, and your voice, and your God-given right to partake of the benefits of the land, and your children of their future.

The Church promises eternal salvation as benefit of God’s grace; politicians promise heaven and earth, both right here on earth even before you die. They deliver neither heaven nor earth.

The politician is a divisive person who sees every person as either an ally or an adversary; to be used or to be abused. The Church, the Body of Christ is one, and does not permit of divisions, which is the very essence of politics.

The politician looks down at the sanctuary and what does he see? He does not see worshippers seeking the face of Christ. Rather, he beholds the faces of those who campaigned for him and those who canvassed on behalf of his opponents.

Moderation is a diet not palatable to the politician thus, not to be found on his menu. Every opportunity to spew division and to spread scorn is consumed with relish.

Ignorance of the sanctity of the sanctuary and of the liturgy that is directed from it can only lead the politician to abuse the privileged opportunity to speak from it.

For what purpose does the Church preclude her own priests who hold political office from public ministry once in political office, if then she allows politicians to mount the sanctuary?

The excesses of today’s political system do not have a place at the Altar of the Good Shepherd. A place reserved for spreading His message of love and His prayers “that all may be one.”

 

We should applaud our Bishops in appreciation for their courage and for their selflessness. We must cooperate and collaborate with the clergy in protecting the sanctity of the sanctuary.

 

Ayo Fasoro

Non Sum Dignus

 

 

Politicians’ Access to Sanctuary

 

Catholic Bishops issued a loaded communique at the end of the 2025 Second Plenary Meeting of The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) concluded recently at the Diocesan Retreat and Youth Development Centre, Nto Ekpu, Ikot, Nko, Ikot Ekpene Diocese.

Three very bold pronouncements stand out because they are directed at the Church. Our Bishops held a mirror to the local Church as a way to steer the ship of the faithful entrusted to them in the right direction.

The communique noted that “Another worrisome trend is the practice of allowing politicians to use the sanctuary during liturgical worship. Very often, such opportunities are misused for mundane and self-serving purposes. The Church is not just any building; it is a sacred space with its sanctity respected (cf Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 32)”.

Not overwhelmed by the preponderance of evidence of the evil that most politicians engage in, it must be admitted that not all politicians are bad. There exists, a respectable number of politicians who regard politics as an avenue to serve God, through serving humanity, the handwork of God, created in the image of God. We must admit that these are a few.

Most politicians are better known for inflicting untold suffering, unabashed flaunting of obscene wealth in the face of unaddressed poverty. Unfair treatment of workers, unchecked diversion of public resources for personal wealth, unrelenting increased tax burdens coupled with unaccounted disposition of their proceeds.

A microphone in the hands of a politician is a dangerous weapon. A double-edged sword capable of inflicting unthinkable damage to both friends and foes alike. That would include those who handed him the microphone.

With the politician, the Catholic Church has religious differences; the Church serves the Prince of Peace while politicians serve people of power – their godfathers. Politicians are transactional, they give you money, a token, then proceed to disarm you of your vote, and your voice, and your God-given right to partake of the benefits of the land, and your children of their future.

The Church promises eternal salvation as benefit of God’s grace; politicians promise heaven and earth, both right here on earth even before you die. They deliver neither heaven nor earth.

The politician is a divisive person who sees every person as either an ally or an adversary; to be used or to be abused. The Church, the Body of Christ is one, and does not permit of divisions, which is the very essence of politics.

The politician looks down at the sanctuary and what does he see? He does not see worshippers seeking the face of Christ. Rather, he beholds the faces of those who campaigned for him and those who canvassed on behalf of his opponents.

Moderation is a diet not palatable to the politician thus, not to be found on his menu. Every opportunity to spew division and to spread scorn is consumed with relish.

Ignorance of the sanctity of the sanctuary and of the liturgy that is directed from it can only lead the politician to abuse the privileged opportunity to speak from it.

For what purpose does the Church preclude her own priests who hold political office from public ministry once in political office, if then she allows politicians to mount the sanctuary?

The excesses of today’s political system do not have a place at the Altar of the Good Shepherd. A place reserved for spreading His message of love and His prayers “that all may be one.”

 

We should applaud our Bishops in appreciation for their courage and for their selflessness. We must cooperate and collaborate with the clergy in protecting the sanctity of the sanctuary.

 

Ayo Fasoro

Non Sum Dignus