Catholics return to CAN After 5 years of Absence

Catholics return to CAN after five years absence.

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has returned to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, after five years of walking out of the national Christian Umbrella body in the country over some irreconcilable differences with the leadership.

Vanguard recalls that Catholic Bishops had in a letter dated September 24, 2012 which was signed by their President, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and addressed to the then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, announced the withdrawal of the Catholic church from the organisation.

However, in 2017, Kaigama led a delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, to the CAN National secretariat where, in a meeting with the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle and his team, they addressed the identified grey areas and fashioned out wways of addressing them. Sequel to that, Kaigama disclosed the readiness of the Catholics to work with the new CAN leadership.

Last week Thursday and Friday with the appearance of the CSN delegation led by Rev Fr. Prof Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, who represented Most Rev Kaigama, at the expanded National Executive Committee meeting for the amendment of the constitution of CAN and the quarterly meeting of the Association.

Rev Ayokunle could not hide his joy on the new development when he was reacting to their return.

He said: “Their return was one of the best things that have been happening since I was given the mandate to become the President of the Association. One of my visions for CAN is to bring our Catholic brothers and sisters back to the fold and I must acknowledge the support and understanding of my brother in Christ, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and his team.

“I give kudos to all the Principal Officers, the Directors and some Christian leaders in the country for their support and understanding while the dialogue lasted.

“My joy knows no bond with the presence of the CSN at the Constitutional Amendment Meeting held on Thursday and at the National Executive Committee meeting of the Association on Friday. It is our prayers that the Body of Christ in the country will remain one forever in Jesus’ name.

“At a time like this when Christians are almost becoming endanger species in Nigeria, when churches are being denied the Certificate of Occupancy especially in the core North, when Christians are being denied of key public offices and when the Church is expected to speak for the voiceless especially over the economic and social hardship in our country, we cannot afford of being at war with ourselves”. Speaking further, Ayokunle who also doubled as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said, “Our Association is unity in diversity. Jesus Christ prayed for the Church shortly before He returned to heaven in John chapter 17 when He said, ‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”’ (John 17:20&21).

Speaking in the same vein, the CAN Chairman, Northcentral, Rev Dr Israel Akanji who was among those who played prominent roles in the matter said the return of the Catholics to the Association is a sign of good omen to the Body of Christ in Nigeria.

“We are all happy with this new development, now the Body of Christ in Nigeria is one, virile and strong. We can now speak with one voice. With their return, CAN is even now stronger and greater. We have learnt one lesson or two from the challenges that led to their withdraw. Never again will any of the blocks withdraw its membership.”

The Director of Legal issues, Barrister Samuel Kwanku disclosed that the association is working on the new Constitution to ensure that “CAN has an effective internal mechanism to address any misunderstanding among its members. We are all happy with the return of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN). Our strength lies in our unity.” The CSN delegation participated fully in all the discourse while the two days meeting lasted.

CAN was formed in 1976 by five Christian blocs in the country: the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN); the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN); Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria or The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN)/ Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA).

- Vanguard.

Comments

MAN CAUGHT IN CROSS RIVER WITH GUNS BURIED IN GARRI

A man has been nabbed at a motor park in Obudu, Crops River with pistols buried in bag of garri. The suspect identified as 32-year- old Emmanuel Akamabe, resident at Ranch Road in Obudu was arrested on Tuesday morning at the Obudu Motor Park by Mr. Martin Umbie, the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW. He was found with two Barreta pistols, two empty magazines and two live rounds, hidden in a bag of garri. The suspect claims he was taking the arms on an errand for one Mr. Ezekiel Bala, also known as, GUN RUNNER, from Wukari, Taraba state to deliver to a client with GSM 08036695154 in Calabar. -CrossRiverWatch

10 Reasons why the Church should involve in politics

Recent events have raised the issue, Should the pulpit always avoid politics? It depends on what we mean by “politics;” it demeans the pulpit to use it for partisan politics. But here are ten reasons why I don’t think politics and religion should (or even can) be completely separate: 1) The Word of God has something to say about all of life, beyond just the spiritual. My long-time pastor, Dr. D. James Kennedy, once noted that the Church of Jesus Christ has always been opposed to abortion—from the very beginning. It still is. In the last generation, abortion has become a “political” issue. Does that mean, asked Dr. Kennedy, we should now ignore it in the pulpit? No, because the Bible is pro-life. 2) The Bible itself addresses the issue of governing in different texts. There are biblical books dealing with political rulers—1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Judges. In Genesis and in Daniel, we see godly men serving well in pagan courts, for the good of all. In Romans 13 and 1...

IMMIDIATE PAST GOVERNOR DIES IN ISREALI HOSPITAL

The imidiate past Governor of Nasarawa state of Nigeria , Aliyu Akwe-Doma, is dead. He died at age 78. He died after a slight illness at a foreign hospital in Israel, a nephew, Ahmed Bako, said the day before yesterday. Investigation in addition discovered that his fitness condition turned into said to have worsened in the beyond one month earlier than he was flown in another country to Tel-Avivi in which he ultimately gave up. Former Nasarawa facts commissioner, Mamman Alakayi, said in Lafia that Doma died in an Israeli hospital on Tuesday. “I got a name from the past governor’s son, Umar, this nighttime, that Baba Doma died in an Israeli health center at about 7:45 p.m. Nigerian time,” he said Also confirming the news to the dying of the erstwhile governor, his son, Umar, said his father died in Tel-Avivi at approximately 8p.m the previous day. His phrases: “My father died in Tel-Avivi, the capital of Israel at approximately 8pm in the night.” The late Aliyu governed Na...

Mohamed Salah wins African best footballer of the year BBC award 2017

Following a record number of votes, the Liverpool star won ahead of Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Guinean Naby Keita, Sadio Mane of Senegal and Nigeria's Victor Moses. "I am very happy to win this award," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport. "It's always a special feeling when you win something. I feel like I had a great year, so I'm very happy." Salah, the Premier League's top scorer with 13 goals, has enjoyed a stellar year for both club and country. In early 2017, the forward was the central figure for Egypt as they finished runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations. He also had a hand in all seven of the goals that took the Pharaohs to their first World Cup since 1990 - assisting two and scoring five, including the stoppage-time penalty against Congo that qualified them for Russia. "I want to be the best Egyptian ever so I work hard," added Salah, who is the third player from Egypt to win the award and first since 2...

HOW NIGERIA MAY BE IN 2045- Obasanjo reveals

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria has predicted what may be Nigeria’s condition by the year 2045. Obasanjo said the country’s growing population will either be beneficial or disastrous depending on whether the leaders will able to make the country self-sufficient in education, food, employment and housing. He said with the available potentials in the country, Nigeria should aim to be one of the 10th largest economies in the world by the year 2024. This He said on Monday at the Calabar Free Trade Zone in, Cross River State, while inaugurating the Skyrun ultra- modern freezer and fridge factory. “When I was in the aircraft, Senator Liyel Imoke told me that Nigeria’s population currently stands at 193 million people. By the year 2045, Nigeria’s population will be about 400 million and we can be happy as well as, be sad.He said “If we can provide food, education, employment and housing for all of them , then we shall be happy, otherwis...

Rivers State government reiterates committment to the health insurance scheme

Rivers State Government on Wednesday said that it was committed to implementing the Health Insurance Scheme. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt. Chike said that the government was already building five zonal hospitals as part of the preparations for the project take-off. According to him, the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BSMH) is also being upgraded to meet the requirements for the scheme. The commissioner said that the government’s intention for the scheme was to make healthcare affordable and accessible to the ordinary people. He said that the scheme would reduce out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare. “The health insurance scheme is a good thing; it covers a wide spectrum of aliments; all you need to present is your card. “What is required to access the scheme will be made affordable; it is a scheme that targets the ordinary people,’’ he said. Chike said that the gove...

Benny Hinn Admits he went too far with prosperity message

Popular Israeli televangelist, Benny Hinn, has faulted pastors, whose sermons only focus on prosperity and living ostentatiously. Benny Hinn, while reflecting on Billy Graham’s death in a Facebook Live broadcast, called on preachers of the gospel to stop living extravagant lives and start living according to God’s instruction. According to him, everything should be about Jesus not other extravagant things, adding that he has never flown a private jet in his life. “We get attacked for preaching prosperity, well it’s in the Bible, but I think some have gone to the extreme with it sadly, and it’s not God’s word what is taught and I think I’m as guilty as others. Sometimes you go a little farther than you really need to go and then God brings you back to normality and reality,” Hinn, 65, said He admitted that as he has grown older and come to understand the Bible more, he now realizes that some of the things he learned from preachers wh...

MY SURE NEWS

Search This Blog