Uzodimma Advises Priests to desist from Partisan Politics
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has advised the Church to be wary of partisan politics just as he admonished the clergy to resist the temptation of converting God’s houses and pulpits as soap boxes for political campaigns.
This is according to the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku.
The Governor gave the warning on Sunday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral Orlu in Imo State on the occasion of the opening session of the second plenary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Uzodimma said the church needs to preserve the norms that make its moral authority inviolable.
“Sadly, this has become the norm in many of our churches. My worry is that if the church drags itself into partisan politics, then it would have lost its moral authority to pontificate because it has made itself an interested party.
“Indeed, the church cannot be in the moral pedestal to preach against certain conducts of the society if it has not gone through purification by purging itself of those who are diminishing its authority.
“In the same vein, some priests under your watch have through inciting sermons also taken it upon themselves to inflame passions, instead of abating them. In addition, I have noticed with dismay that some members of the clergy have also become open canvassers for separatism and secession”. He said.
The Governor reminded the bishops that contrary to the false information they were fed on social media, they are now in a better position to know that peace has actually returned to Orlu and that the people are going about their businesses without molestation.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr ABC Orjiakor among other things pleaded with the Catholic leadership to help secure family lives in the society today that is being threatened by divorce.
Orjiakor further admonished them to devote their time to praying fervently for the nation so as to overcome most of the things plaguing her currently even as he solicited a healthier relationship between the bishops and the Laity.
