The Catholic Church has temporarily withdrawn from the Christian Association of Nigeria.
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Catholic Church
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THISDAY [25/01/13]
Nigeria: High-Handedness, Politicisation Forced Catholic Church to Leave CAN
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Abuja — There are indications that the disagreements between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and one of its major stakeholders, the Catholic Church may be deeper than what the public has been made to believe.
THISDAY gathered Wednesday that besides the reason so far adduced for its temporary suspension of its membership with CAN, the Catholic Church has an axe to grind with the national leadership of the organisation for its inability to carry other stakeholders along in its decision-making process.
In addition, the authorities of the Catholic Church were said to have expressed concern over some recent utterances and actions of the national leadership of CAN under Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, which it said negated the concept and spirit of behind the establishment of the organisation.
According to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), one of the key visions of CAN was to promote the desire of Our Lord, Jesus Christ "that they all may be one".
THISDAY gathered from a CAN source that one of the reasons adduced for withdrawing from CAN stemmed from the fact that the organisation was gradually being dragged into partisan politics, thereby compromising its ability to play its role as the conscience of the nation and voice of voiceless.
Apart from politics, the Catholic Church said the Christian body had come under heavy criticism for neglecting ecumenism, which is regarded as the theological foundations of Christian unity.
For instance, the Catholic group alleged that the Directorate of Ecumenism and Inter-faith, as one of the missions used by CAN for the promotion of peace and unity in the nation, was not given attention.
"To cap it all, the CAN leadership was accused of not showing enough respect for the various blocs and no longer acts on consensus opinion on major issues.
"CAN is not an army put in place to defend Christians against Muslims. Rather it is an association whose main objective is to promote unity among Christians and peaceful coexistence with people of other faiths.
"It is unfortunate that the present terrorism in Nigeria has become a major distraction to CAN which cannot just sit down to watch the destruction of Christians and churches," he said.
Following the outbreak of terrorist insurgency which had churches as one of its key targets, the leadership of CAN found itself trying to respond to the serious security challenges facing most Christian faithful living in the northern parts of the country.
Although many among the Christian faithful believe that Oritsejafor has been very proactive in trying to protect the interests of Christians by speaking out most times against attacks on innocent worshippers by the Muslim sect, the Catholic Church felt he did not consult widely before taking positions.
It was learnt that though the Catholic Church may have suspended participation in CAN activities at the national level, it is making efforts to ensure things do not get out of hand.
According to a source at the CSN in Abuja, Catholic Bishops are intervening in the matter and both sides are already taking measures to resolve the conflict.
The source said Oritsejafor has sought for dialogue with the Catholic Church leadership in order to iron out areas of disagreements between them and his leadership.
According to the source, the Catholic Church has accepted to fix a date for a meeting with the CAN leadership after the matter must have been tabled before the its Bishops conference.
DAILY TRUST [25/01/13]
Nigeria: 'Power Tussle Behind Catholics Withdrawal From CAN'
By Ronald Mutum
Catholic Church's pull out of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is because the Catholics lost CAN Presidency to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
Spokesman for the 19 Northern states of CAN and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, said Wednesday night in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
Oibe said, "There is no division in CAN and we are all speaking with one language. There are some certain elements in the leadership of PFN led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan because he lost PFN Presidency to Oritsejafor who has a lot of achievements.
"There is no need for anybody to lose sleep over the threat by Catholics to pull out of CAN because without them, CAN will still continue. The constitution of CAN makes provision that membership can be terminated by any group that is misbehaving or any group can also terminate their membership.
"Why is it that when Catholics were in the leadership of CAN, every bloc supported them but now because power has changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?.
"Catholics have accused the current CAN leadership led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of being pro-government. But if you look at the whole scenario, you will be able to find out who between Oritsejafor and Onaiyekan is more close to government.
"The problem with Catholics is that they always display arrogance of knowledge. They don't want to be under anybody but they want everybody to be under them. It doesn't work like that because there is no seniority in CAN."
Administrator of the Catholic Diocese in Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, announced the group's decision to pull out of CAN Wednesday because of differences on how to run the organisation.
VANGUARD [25/01/13]
Nigeria: Discordant Tunes Trail Catholic Church, CAN Disagreement
By Sam Eyoboka
DISCORDANT tunes have continued to trail the purported pull-out of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, from the umbrella body of Christians, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
While majority of respondents to the story online, have hailed the move by the Catholic Church, others who were worried by the possible fallout of the action, condemned the move by the Catholic Church, saying that solution to the current violent campaigns by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram would better be tackled when all Christians in the country speak with one voice.
The Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, Rev. Father Ralph Madu, told Vanguard yesterday that the reports originating from a Catholic Monsignor in Abeokuta to the effect that the Church has pulled out of the Association is not entirely true.
According to him, "there are certain issues the Catholic Church would want to be properly thrashed out before it would resume full membership of the CAN. We have issues which we want to be addressed by the umbrella body.
"We have not pulled out of CAN and we cannot pull out of the Association. In fact in another few weeks we will make a public statement on that," he stated without itemizing the issues that have warranted the Catholic Church to take "this painful decision to suspend participation in CAN meetings at the national level until such a time the leadership of CAN reverse back to the original vision, mission and objective of the association."
Though Madu refused to expatiate on the issues that have warranted the 'suspension', Vanguard yesterday stumbled on a letter written by the president of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, which gave seven grounds for the Catholic Church's action.
CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Titled; "Our concern for Christian unity," and addressed to the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the letter frowned at recent attitudes, utterances and actions of the leadership of CAN, saying "we have been compelled to take this painful decision because of the following reason among others:
"That the present state of CAN has departed from the original concept of her founding fathers of which our bloc is a prominent holder; That the motto of CAN, 'that they may all be one' is not taken as a priority. We note a total neglect of Ecumenism and unwillingness to learn the theological foundations of Christian unity; That the directorate of Ecumenism and inter-faith which is one of the missions of CAN is not given a priority attention to promote peace and unity in the nation which is the mandate of Christ to all Christians".
Other issues include; "That CAN is being dragged into partisan politics thereby compromising its ability to play its role as conscience of the nation and the voice of the voiceless; That there is not enough respect for and involvement of all the blocs of CAN in major decisions and activities; that CAN is no longer acting on consensus on major issues; and finally that CAN is not a mega church but an association of different churches. Therefore any claim by the president of CAN to be the leader of all Christians in Nigeria must take this into account.
Kaigama, however, said the Catholic Church remains committed to the protection of Christian unity in the country, but did not state when the interregnum will be over or when the Catholic Church will call off their self-imposed suspension.
All efforts to get reaction from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, which produced the current CAN president did not succeed as several of their leaders refused to respond on the issues in order not to be accused of politicking.
A source close to the Fellowship who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that they are not surprised at the turn of events because elections into CAN executive council are fast approaching and quite naturally people are advancing means to actualize their dreams of leading the Association.
"We are not surprised at all," the source said, adding that it is preposterous for Christian leaders to be abusing other religious leaders just to actualize political ambition. According to the source, "Criticism is a proof that the man being criticized is working but the critics just cannot accept the reality. When Jesus Christ was here the Pharisees could not deny the good works he was doing but they just could not tolerate the audacity with which he went about them.
"How else can one explain their opposition to the healing of a man on a Sabbath day? The Catholic Church's move is a subterranean way of admitting that the emergence of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor as CAN president is the best thing coming from the Church, but their grouse is that the man is not a Catholic," the source told us.
Continuing the source said: "Here comes a man from the rank of people they have regarded as 'Pente-rascals' and they just can't keep tab on his developmental strides in terms of his bold opposition to the menace of Islamic fundamentalism in parts of the country. Whereas no one of them has visited the North East till date, Pastor Oritsejafor had personally taken relief materials to the victims and has single-handedly resettled wives of victims."
Speaking in a telephone interview, the PRO of TEKAN Churches in the country, Elder Sunday Oibe said: "The Catholic Church has been sulking since its candidate, Archbishop John Onayekan was defeated at the polls in 2010 by incumbent president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor."
Accusing the church as arrogant, he said there are certain elements in the leadership of Onaiyekan-led CAN that are not happy that their candidate was defeated with the support of Northern Christians who demonstrated their resolve for a change of leadership at the CAN national.
"There is no need for anybody to lose sleep over the threat of the Catholics to pull out of CAN. I was the one who approached Archbishop Onayeikan to contest against Peter Jasper Akinola and when he defeated the Anglican candidate the heavens did not fall. Why won't they allow Oritsejafor to be? If they want to go let them go, CAN won't die as a result.
"Why is it that whenever a Catholic is on the saddle, every other bloc supports them and they won't allow other blocs to run the show? The constitution of CAN makes provision for membership to be terminated by any group," Elder Oibe stated.
A public commentator, Mr. Eghes Eyienyien also berated the Catholic Church for allowing itself to be used by external forces to destabilize the Association, noting that their exit is good riddance to bad rubbish.
Mr. Eyienyien in his response titled: "The Catholic Church and the Christian Association of Nigeria" said: "It is clear that many commentators on the announcement by the Catholic Church that it is "suspending its membership of CAN at the national level" have allowed themselves to be carried away by their Catholicism, admiration for Bishop Hassan Kukah and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, hatred of Pentecostalism, hatred of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, hatred for "wealthy Pastors", Islamism, or other prejudice to detract them from examining the facts which they may not have been privy to.
How can "closeness to government" be an issue raised by Catholic Bishops who have been intimate with Nigerian politicians for decades? Is there any Church more tolerant of corrupt politicians and businessmen than the Catholic Church? Which Church does Chief Anthony Anenih, Senator David Mark and Ifeanyi Uba, for example, belong to? When has Bishop Kukah or Cardinal Onaiyekan ever criticized these people? When did they stop fraternizing with PDP? What utter hypocrisy to talk about CAN being close to government!!
That the Catholic Church has never wanted a Pentecostal Pastor to lead CAN is no news. People should find out what role the Sultan of Sokoto has been playing in undermining and subverting CAN using Cardinal Onaiyekan since he lost his bid to lead CAN for a second term. Talk to other non-Pentecostal members of the CAN Executive Committee if you can. Ask the Anglican Prelate, Rev. Nicholas Okoh.
There are five main blocks that comprise CAN. The Catholic Church is just one. During the last National Executive Committee meeting of CAN in Awka, Anambra State, held sometime in November, 2012, this issue of the threat by the Catholic Church to leave CAN (which has been on for over six months or so) was tabled for discussion. In fact, all the other blocks of CAN were unanimous in condemning the Catholic Bishops and it was the wise leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor that prevailed on those calling for the expulsion of the Catholic Church from CAN!
The Catholic Bishops only respect CAN and push for "Ecumenism" and "Inter-faith Dialogue" when a Catholic is leading the group. The former CAN Presidents, the highly respected Mbang and Akinnola of the Methodist Church and Anglican Church, respectively, were consistently undermined and betrayed during their tenures by the Catholic Church led by Cardinal Okogie and Onaiyekan! There is nothing new here!!
Northern Christians have never been as happy about CAN as under Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's leadership.
Leadership (Abuja) [25/01/13]
Nigeria: CAN Crisis - Catholic Bishops to Meet in February
By Catherine Agbo
The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria has denied its reported withdrawal from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella body of Christian organisations in the country.
The church has, however, said it will come up with a final position on the matter after its bishops' conference scheduled for February, 2013.
The church was reported to have issued a letter to CAN, declaring its intention to pull out of the body and citing "recent attitudes, utterances and actions of the national leadership of CAN, which in our opinion negate the concept of the foundation of the association and the desire of our Lord Jesus Christ 'that they all may be one.'
In the said document, the church reportedly suspended participation in CAN meetings at the national level until such a time "the leadership of CAN reverses to the original vision, mission and objectives of CAN."
A letter addressed to the national president of CAN, signed by the president, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, had given reasons for the decision to include: "that the present state of CAN has departed from the original concept of her founding fathers of which our bloc is a prominent stakeholder; that the directorate of ecumenism and inter-faith which is one of the missions of CAN is not given a priority attention to promote peace and unity in the nation, which is the mandate of Christ to all Christians; that CAN is being dragged into partisan politics, thereby compromising its ability to play its true role as conscience of the nation and voice of the voiceless."
He further wrote that CAN was not a mega church but an association of churches, thereby debunking claims by the president of CAN to be the leader of all Christians in Nigeria.
The director, Mission and Dialogue, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Cornelius Omonokhua, who spoke with LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview yesterday, said that while it was true that the church, through the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), had written a letter on September 24, 2012, and signed by its president, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, to the president of CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, to raise issues on the concerns of the Catholic Church to promote Christian unity, it was yet to make a decision on whether to pull out of the association or not.
He emphasised that the church had only suspended taking part in national meetings of CAN, but was still participating at the state level, noting that, at the moment, some Catholic bishops, among them those of Calabar and Zaria diocese, still held state chairmanship positions of CAN.
He also denied insinuations that the church's current position had anything to do with the private jet donated to the national president of CAN.
According to Rev. Omonokhua, "We did not make this matter public because it is an in-house discussion of the Christian body. The Catholic Church remains committed to the promotion of Christian unity in the country.
"The president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has responded promptly to the letter from the CBCN and indicated his long wish and desire to meet with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops' Conference (CBCN). The Catholic Church has replied this letter and explained that a meeting may be scheduled after the plenary of the CBCN in February with the leadership of CAN.
The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Dr. Ralph Madu has already corrected this notion in an interview with the Guardian Newspaper that "the CBCN did not pull out of CAN and that the body was only trying to sort out some issues with the national Christian body."
Omonokhua added that the church remained bound by one of the aims of CAN, which is to foster unity among Christians and non-Christians alike in the country.
Meanwhile, CAN has welcomed the decision of the Catholic church to partially withdraw from the association.
CAN, in a statement signed by its spokesperson for the 19 northern states, Sunday Oibe, said the church was free to leave.
Oibe said that the constitution of CAN made provision that any group's membership could be terminated as a result of misdeed, while any group could also terminate its membership of its own accord, adding that the exit of the church would not affect the association in any way.
He alleged that the decision of the Catholic Church to leave CAN was because the presidency of the association had moved to another bloc of the group, adding that the church had been unhappy since its candidate, John Onaiyekan, lost the presidency of the association to Ayo Oritsejafor.
"Why is it that when Catholics were in the leadership of CAN, every bloc supported them, but now because power has changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?" he said, accusing the church of engaging in party politics.
"They are an appendage of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They are known for double standards. A man of God should not be double speaking," he said.
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