CATHOLIC CHURCH TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWS MEMBERSHIP OF CAN FOR LACK OF MODESTY IN THE LEADERSHIP OF CAN

CAN President Ayo Oritsejafor

The Nigerian Catholic Church has ‘temporarily’ withdrawn its membership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). A spokesperson of the Church, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cornelius Omonokhua, said the action taken by the Catholic Church will be reviewed after the annual meeting of the Conference of Bishops in February. 

They pulled out for reasons such as the polarizing statements of some Christian leaders; the use of money in CAN elections; and several court cases involving state chapters of CAN. Catholic leaders brought these concerns to CAN leadership but their advice was shunned as the CAN leadership repeatedly accused them of ‘intellectual arrogance.’ Church leaders have been purchasing private jets the CAN president, Ayo Oritsejafor, himself recently got one.

"You just can't save people who are drowning, if you are drowning with them. The leadership of CAN is not the leadership of Nigerian Christians, since most of the churches are autonomous. As such, the pullout will not create any vacuum. Catholic Church does not want to tell church leaders how to live their lives, but modesty is lacking among some church leaders in Nigeria of today. Catholic priests have sworn an oath of poverty and as such can not partake in the material acquisition of worldly things. We will be happy if CAN leadership can show moderation, common sense dictates that they do that." Dr. Omonokhua said.