MISSION AND DIALOGUE PLATFORM

MISSION AND DIALOGUE PLATFORM 

RESOLUTIONS

INTRODUCTION:

Mission and Dialogue in this context is referred to a WhatsApp group chat created by Fr Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua when he was the director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

On this group, he has skillfully admitted, first willing PRIESTS  and RELIGIOUS who are interested in dialogue and those who are on Mission (ad intra and ad extra). 

Today, there exist in the platform erudite resource persons, whose wealth of experience is sort after both at the local and international level. The forum has maturely discussed issues that concerns governance, politics, and social morality both at the ecclesial and secular level.

TOPIC FOR THURSDAY 24/6/2020

On the 24th of June the feast day of St John the Baptists Sr Prof, Teresa Okure SHCJ, suggested for discussion on the platform a deeply reflective piece titled: Wisdom in Unexpected Places Inviting Action. for all the members to brainstorm.

Basically, it was a conversation between a Nun and Laborer. The Sister asked how he was faring, and he began to lambast the system that has kept him poor and the people who are suppose to challenge the system are themselves “compromised”. The people are suffering he said and the church, is losing her moral authority to talk because of her romance with the political class.

After dedicating the entire morning and afternoon sessions, deliberating and airing our views on Sr Okure’s presentation, We resolve as follows:

1. That the poor and the rich, the politician and the business person are all equal in the sight of God, even though at harvest time and fundraising ceremonies we have behaved towards the poor people as if their importance is measured by wealth.

2. That we as a church are not satisfied with the leadership example given by some of our Bishops, Priests and Sisters, as it regards our care for the poor.

3. That that church is not free because of the money they have collected and are still collecting from politicians.

4. That after  26 years of promulgating the document Ecclesia in Africa, the church has not learnt the art of self-reliance.

5. That COVID 19 should teach us the necessity of self-reliance, as global economies go into the shadows now.

6. That most politicians are spiritually poor, irrespective of the wealth and the fame around them. A disciplined priest or religious could still be of help to such a person

7. That II is uncharitable for priests and bishops to be talking about harvest this year, as most people are barely struggling to survive.

8. We commend the courage of some Priests who have  to stop offertory (money offering) at Mass for the mean time to allow people go through this moment with hope and less financial demand from the church minister.

9. We do not subscribe to the attitude of those who have left answering the questions ordinary Catholics are asking about their salvation and have focused on how to raise money for big structures.

10. We encourage Priests and Sisters who are close to politicians to use their closeness for community and policy engagement. We need to be doing what Christ would do.

CONCLUSION 

This is the summary of the conversation by the members of the mission and dialogue forum after an intense brainstorming session. May the implementation of these resolutions grant peace to Nigeria and the Universal Church.

Fr Stephen Ojapah MSP

Moderator 24/6/2020