By Damian Avevor
Bishops of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA-CERAO) have encouraged Catholics in the Sub-Region not to shy away from the noble service of politics and political leadership.
“We deem it a duty that must be fulfilled in the spirit of Christ Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and give his life ransom for many”
In a Pastoral Message on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the end of their second Plenary Assembly in Accra, the Bishops recommitted themselves to the better faith-formation of the faithful and pastoral agents.
While admitting that there were still a lot to do to strengthen some Church members in the Catholic faith and its practices and life witnesses, the Prelates encouraged “Catholics to avail themselves of efforts at their on-going formation in order to equip them to take up their social and political as well as cultural responsibilities in their societies.”
On Marriage and family Life, the Bishops affirmed in the Pastoral Message that “When a nation is not a people reconciled with each other and at peace with itself, true and holistic development eludes it. When in the society, marriage and family life that basic nucleus of humanity, is not guaranteed its proper development in peace, that society is condemned to socio-political, cultural and moral instability.”
The Bishops said they were very convinced that in the face of the current socio-cultural developments, the Church-family of God must rise up and defend the truth about marriage and family life as God the Creator had given it.
“We defend the inalienable dignity and rights of all persons, as children of God, created in his message and likeness, we must tutelage the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable in society such as those conceived (the unborn), the aged and the infirm through earthly life to natural death.”
They added: “We in the Church uphold and defend that marriage is a gift of God created for man and woman, nothing more or nothing less and that all human life is sacred and must be respected, accompanied and supported, protected and defended from the womb.”
They said they would stand up for the culture of life, expressing their readiness to defend it in the public spaces of our countries against the incipient culture of death being offered as development.
