Onyebuchi Ezigbo in 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 Wednseday
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.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/high-handedness-politicisation-forced-catholic-church-to-leave-can/137428/

callydon:
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in 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 Wednseday
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.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/high-handedness-politicisation-forced-catholic-church-to-leave-can/137428/

Nonsense,catholic church always wants to be considered first in anything christianity and anywhere. They are even at the detriment of other denominations..but they were so comfortable when former governor peter obi of anambra state was backing them up with state fund to the detriment of other sects..were they complaining then ?to me that's rubish..

callydon:
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in 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 Wednseday
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.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/high-handedness-politicisation-forced-catholic-church-to-leave-can/137428/

Nonsense,catholic church always wants to be considered first in anything christianity and anywhere. They are even at the detriment of other denominations..but they were so comfortable when former governor peter obi of anambra state was backing them up with state fund to the detriment of other sects..were they complaining then ?to me this is rubish..