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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Vatican cleric, Fitzgerald, urges positive criticism of govt
PRESIDENT, Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Vatican City, Rome, Most Reverend Michael FitzGerald, has advised Christian leaders in Nigeria to engage in positive criticism of President Olusegun Obasanjo's government for the growth of the country.
Fitzgerald, who flew into Nigeria from Rome, met both Christian and Moslem leaders in Kaduna and Sokoto to promote inter-religious dialogue.
He is also expected to visit some states in the southern part of the country, as part of his schedule of activities.
Speaking in Kaduna at the Catholic Media Centre, Fitzgerald pointed out that Christians "should re-enunciate ethical principles, including respect for human dignity, respect for freedom, the right to education, justice in society, allowing all people to benefit from the resources of the society, both national and intellectual, without discrimination."
"The Federal Government has to abide by those principles for the society to advance. And I think this was very well expressed by Archbishop Onayekan when he said our attitudes towards the government is one of critical solidarity," he added.
Fitzgerald urged Nigerians to proffer positive criticisms to correct the government whenever it goes wrong.
His words: "It is your government. You are not fighting against the government but in a critical solidarity, and because you are critical, you should do this when things are going wrong."
The Vatican clergyman also corrected the notion that Christian leaders should be apolitical, saying: "The advantage Christian leaders have is that they maintain their distance from government and are therefore able to discern and criticise their misdeeds.
"Christianity does not teach us to withdraw from society, but it teaches us to engage society. The responsibilities of leaders in the Church is to play a full role in society. It is not for us as Christian bishops to be involved in politics directly, but there is room for Catholics and Christian laypersons to be involved in politics."
On the entourage of Fitzgerald were Reverend Father Mathew Hassan Kukah; Chairman, Kaduna State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Revered Father Victor Yakubu; Editor of The Cross Newspaper (a Catholic publication), Reverend Father Anthony Zakah, former National President, Catholic Women Organisation, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam and two Monsignors from the Vatican City.
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald has advised the Christian Community in Kaduna State not to abdicate their responsibility of propagating the religion while also urging them to engage in healthy communal relationship with non-Christians.
His words: "We as Christians are supposed to reflect these virtues and I hope this movement of population in some parts of the state is just regrouping and would not prevent Christians from reaching out to their non-Christian brothers and sisters."
The clergyman also revealed that he would meet Christian and non-Christian religious leaders in order to promote inter-faith dialogue, as part of his official mission in Nigeria.
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