President
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius
Kaigama, said Nigerians should avoid hasty generalisation, as the statement of
one Catholic priest cannot be taken to represent the voices of more than 30
million Catholics in Nigeria.
Kaigama
said that though Mbaka could not have been speaking for the Nigerian Catholic
Church, Nigerians should avoid making unguided statements and hasty
generalisation on national issues like the 2015 general election.
“There
are more than 30 million Catholics in Nigeria, Fr Mbaka is just one Catholic,
if he makes a statement, it cannot be the voices of more than 30 million
Nigerian Catholics speaking.
“So
Nigerians should avoid hasty generalisation. Mbaka cannot speak for the church,
only the CBCN can speak for the church. Those who are complaining, should go to
Fr Mbaka and find out why he is saying what he is saying,” Kaigama said.
The
CBCN President said that it is completely out of place for a Catholic priest to
be partisan.
“I
tell you, even the Canon Law forbid a priest to engage in partisan
politics,” Kaigama told
Asked
if there would be punitive measures meted out to Mbaka, Kaigama said: “If
the law has been abused, we will ensure that we enforce the law. In this
case, it is not the Catholic church; the church did not send him to say those
things.
“Mbaka
belongs to a diocese, so if the Bishop finds out that he has fallen out of
line, the Bishop can call him to order,” he said.
“Mbaka
is just expressing his opinion, if we want to make a political statement, we
know how to do it. That we keep quiet and we are marginalised, does
not mean we don’t have strength. With more than 30 million Catholics,
we have the strength,” Kaigama submitted.
The
Archbishop of Jos argued that there was no public uproar when the same Mbaka
assured the first lady of continuity.
Fr.
Mbaka has come under intense condemnation following his sermon last week, lampooning
Jonathan’s administration for poor performance.
His
comment had elicited public outcry, especially, among the teeming Catholic
population in South-east and South-south parts of the country where President
Jonathan has a strong support base.
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