By Caleb Ayansina (Abuja) & Olayinka Latona (Lagos) ABUJA –

THE Catholic Church, has sent a strong warning to Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai over the move to enact a religious bill to prohibit preaching of religious sermons in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Director of Caritas International, a department under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey said the peoples’ will is sovereign and must be respected, noting that the bill had enormous potential abuses, therefore, it should not become law, because it would be misused against one religion by ambitious state officials.

Fr. Bassey said: “The danger in Nigeria is the manipulation of structures and institutions by strong individuals. Thus, the fear is that even if the proposed bill contains good aims, the proposed restrictions would play into the hands of officials of state who have a hegemonic mentality and would allow them the freedom to persecute one religion in favour of another.

“The principle of separation of state and Church/Mosque which springs from the supposed secularity of the Nigerian constitution would be severely battered if this bill is pursued in the way it is. Gov. el Rufai, who is quite dogged in the pursuit of anything, given this tool, would pursue ardently both what is good and what may be divisive. We therefore advise that Kaduna State rely on existing laws and existing state instruments of law enforcement, to maintain religious harmony in the state instead of reinventing the wheel.

“The majority of Kaduna people appear not to want this law, and their wishes should be respected, as no governor is an emperor but an elected official who should defer to the people’s will. The people’s will is sovereign; because of the potential abuses this bill could bring when it becomes law, we opine that it is not necessary.

” On the last National Conference, the Catholic Church called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the report and institute measures which should stand Nigeria on the pillar of justice and peace, arguing that “Niger-ian citizens should continue to engage political and state structures to become institutions which are guided by the rule of law.

“Presently, our constitution is like a hermaphrodite, neither completely secular nor religious. A secular constitution guarantees the rights and dignity of all under the law,” the Church said.

In a similar development, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins also frowned at the legislation, arguing that the Nigerian Constitution makes pro-vision for freedom of worship.

Speaking during a Chrism Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, Martins stressed that any law that will restrict freedom of worship, should certainly not see the light of the day.

“I hope the governor will seriously listen to what the people are saying because democracy is about the people and the good of the people. There may be good intentions behind the law but it is important that in making laws for the people, the laws can only be effective and just if the people have an input.”

Calling on government to take the welfare of Nigerians more seriously by enacting policies that will benefit the general populace, Martins lamented that Nigerians are facing numerous challenges which, according to him, is very worrisome.

“The government should take the welfare of the people more seriously; there is a lot of suffering, poverty, pro-blems among the people. Government should put in place policies that will indeed help ordinary citizens feel a sense of belonging in the nation,” the archbishop appealed.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/controversial-religious-bill-catholic-church-cautions-el-rufai/

am nt surprised...God go soon kill him

El Rufai, I only pity you. If not for this person above me...well God dey sha

El Rufai should carry go and pass on the Bill. We have freedom of worship but not freedom to disturb others. Enough is enough, enough of religious craziness, no Mosque/Church should be allowed to use speaker again and the religious hawking should also be stopped. A good Muslim must be time conscious to observe Salat and same as a good Christian. We must stop disturbing our society all the name of religion.

El-rufai is just playing with GOD, he needs to be taught a lesson nd a very good lesson.

Why is Hell-rufai attempting to reinvent the wheel and cause religion acrimony in Nigeria ?

Nothing divides mankind than different religious views

The majority of what don't want the bill? I didn't know the Catholic church conducted a survey to come to this conclusion. It even sounds silly to claim powerful individuals can hijack the implementation like in Nigeria courts don't exist to seek redress. The sad thing is this people pretend to know and love secularity yet when a bill that will regulate religious behavior in line with secularism they kick really hard. Till this moment no one has refuted the bill provision by provision rather same sound bites with little contents.

Holywizard:
am nt surprised...God go soon kill him

and u will not die abi



kontinu

the Catholic s shld not worry
bill like dt r ment to ban pple like dt apostle sule



T.B


chris........ u can add urs


shekau and any other bokoharamite mallams



and dt man dt av d key to hell, wat dt is name ooo!



Bishop em ... bishop emmm somtin...





shalom

[s]

Firefire:
Why is Hell-rufai attempting to reinvent the wheel and cause religion acrimony in Nigeria ?

[/s]

It is lying wailing zombies who have used every lie to sow discontent and acrimony in line with Jonathan's strategy of ruling a divided society.

evansjeff:
El Rufai, I only pity you

pity urself










pastor worshippers














shalom

vedaxcool:


[s]It is lying wailing zombies who have used every lie to sow discontent and acrimony in line with Jonathan's strategy of ruling a divided society. [/s]

I stopped engaging brainwashed zombies. Sorry!

Religious tolerance is the way forward or we go the way of Sudan.

[s]

Firefire:


I stopped engaging brainwashed zombies. Sorry!

[/s]

Falsehood by its nature is bound to fade.

Africa: where Christians and Muslims fight each other on behalf of foreign Gods while the atheists and pagans are going to hell.

vedaxcool:
[s][/s]
It is lying wailing zombies who have used every lie to sow discontent and acrimony in line with Jonathan's strategy of ruling a divided society.

what is this one even saying??

R

Final warning to hell-rufai....

Hell-rufia let God's will prevail.

El Rufai should engage stakeholders properly.

As much as I support the bill, the sensitivity of religion can not make it look like another ordinary bill.

If this bill was in place when Yussuf started his Boko Haram teaching before it became a deadly Movement, things will not get out of hands like this.

I prefer the mature way the Catholic Bishop is going about it not a Pastor screaming dieeeeeeeeee as if we will not all die eventually.

Instead of the brainwahsed congregation to ask for time line so we will start tracking. They were busy screaming prophet has spoken.

OK! Will it return constant power in Nigeria, reduce drastically d price of fuel, and put food on my table





If No, then He should resign!

El rufai is biting more than what he can chew.

Their state, Their Problem.

The midget wants to cause more trouble than his small brain can handle

Anything to promote secularity is a welcome idea. Religion has its place in a society no doubt. People will always have a need to supplicate to a supposed higher deity but i'd rather they do it within the confines of their churches,mosques and shrines and not bother the rest of us who have no need for imaginary friends and just want to get on with our daily lives.
Anyway,i have not seen the contents of the bill so it will be prejudicial to condemn or commend it. Until i do...

madridguy:
El Rufai should carry go and pass on the Bill. We have freedom of worship but not freedom to disturb others. Enough is enough, enough of religious craziness, no Mosque/Church should be allowed to use speaker again and the religious hawking should also be stopped. A good Muslim must be time conscious to observe Salat and same as a good Christian. We must stop disturbing our society all the name of religion.

....But the noice pollution cars are causing is enogh to get it ban.

vedaxcool:
[s][/s]

It is lying wailing zombies who have used every lie to sow discontent and acrimony in line with Jonathan's strategy of ruling a divided society.

u have to drag Jonathan vs Buhari in every political issue...

dont u think?

are you that stup.Id?

Am not against any law that will check d religious madness in dis country but am scared d law will favour one section of d divide more than d oda like our constitution.

I dont know why some pple cant reason well. We d ppl of Kaduna state are in strong support of our governor. If u cant liv with it, Nigeria is big u can relocate to a different state.

Holywizard:
am nt surprised...God go soon kill him

That why he is GOD.He is not wicked like us so he can't and will not kill what he created,instead second chance would be given second chance.

EL rufai stirring up unnecessary religious controversy when there are pressing economic issues that needs to be addressed.How does the law improve revenue generation? When a religious bigot is in power, its always obvious.

El rufai, you've been warned.Go ahead at your own peril.