After five years, Catholic Church rejoins CAN

The Catholic Church has announced its return to the Christian
Association of Nigeria after about five years of dissociating
itself from the body.

The return process was concluded on Thursday and Friday in Abuja
when a delegation of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, led by
Rev. Fr. (Prof.) Cornelius Omonokhua, attended the expanded
National Executive Committee and quarterly meeting of CAN for the
amendment of its constitution.

The CSN delegation participated in the two-day meeting.

The President of CAN, Dr Samson Ayokunle, according to a
statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant, Media &
Communications, Adebayo Oladeji, could not hide his happiness on
the new development.

Ayokunle was quoted as saying, “Their return is one of the best
things that have happened since I was given the mandate to become
the President of CAN. 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, the president of 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 bound with
the presence of the CSN at the constitutional amendment meeting of
CAN held on Thursday and at the NEC meeting 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
endangered species in Nigeria, when churches are being denied
Certificates of Occupancy, especially in the core North, when
Christians are being denied 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 to be
at war with ourselves.”

CAN’s Director of Legal Issues, Kwankur Samuel, said the
organisation was 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 CSN. Our strength lies in our unity.”

The CAN Chairman (North Central Zone), Rev Dr Israel Akanji,
said the return of the Catholics was 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 withdrawal. Never again will any of the blocs withdraw its
membership,” he stated.

The CBCN had in a letter to CAN, dated September 24, 2012,
announced its withdrawal from the organisation.

CAN was formed in 1976 by the five Christian blocs in the
country. They are the Christian Council of Nigeria; Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria; Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria; Organisation of African
Instituted Churches, Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria and The
Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria/Evangelical Church
of Winning All.

Kagama had last year led the leadership of CBNC to the national
secretariat of CAN where, in a meeting with Ayokunle’s team, he
identified the controversial areas and hinted of their readiness to
work with CAN.

When contacted, the Director of Caritas Nigeria and Executive
Secretary, Justice Development and Peace Commission, two agencies
of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, confirmed to our
reporter the return of CSN to CAN.

He said, “Yes, I can confirm that Fr. Cornelius (Omonokhua) led
the CSN team to the CAN NEC meeting. The Catholic bishops had
demanded that CAN should make some adjustments to its constitution.
And they have satisfied those things that the bishops wanted.

“It is not that the Catholic Church totally left CAN; the
bishops just said they were suspending their activities; that was
just what happened. Satisfying those conditions would mean that the
(Catholic) church is fully back to CAN. Fr. Cornelius just went to
the CAN NEC meeting preparatory to a full lifting of the
suspension.”

The Catholic Church has announced its return to the Christian
Association of Nigeria after about five years of dissociating
itself from the body.

The return process was concluded on Thursday and Friday in Abuja
when a delegation of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, led by
Rev. Fr. (Prof.) Cornelius Omonokhua, attended the expanded
National Executive Committee and quarterly meeting of CAN for the
amendment of its constitution.

The CSN delegation participated in the two-day meeting.

The President of CAN, Dr Samson Ayokunle, according to a
statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant, Media &
Communications, Adebayo Oladeji, could not hide his happiness on
the new development.

Ayokunle was quoted as saying, “Their return is one of the best
things that have happened since I was given the mandate to become
the President of CAN. 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, the president of 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 bound with
the presence of the CSN at the constitutional amendment meeting of
CAN held on Thursday and at the NEC meeting 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
endangered species in Nigeria, when churches are being denied
Certificates of Occupancy, especially in the core North, when
Christians are being denied 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 to be
at war with ourselves.”

CAN’s Director of Legal Issues, Kwankur Samuel, said the
organisation was 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 CSN. Our strength lies in our unity.”

The CAN Chairman (North Central Zone), Rev Dr Israel Akanji,
said the return of the Catholics was 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 withdrawal. Never again will any of the blocs withdraw its
membership,” he stated.

The CBCN had in a letter to CAN, dated September 24, 2012,
announced its withdrawal from the organisation.

CAN was formed in 1976 by the five Christian blocs in the
country. They are the Christian Council of Nigeria; Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria; Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Christian
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria; Organisation of African
Instituted Churches, Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria and The
Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria/Evangelical Church
of Winning All.

Kagama had last year led the leadership of CBNC to the national
secretariat of CAN where, in a meeting with Ayokunle’s team, he
identified the controversial areas and hinted of their readiness to
work with CAN.

When contacted, the Director of Caritas Nigeria and Executive
Secretary, Justice Development and Peace Commission, two agencies
of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, confirmed to our
reporter the return of CSN to CAN.

He said, “Yes, I can confirm that Fr. Cornelius (Omonokhua) led
the CSN team to the CAN NEC meeting. The Catholic bishops had
demanded that CAN should make some adjustments to its constitution.
And they have satisfied those things that the bishops wanted.

“It is not that the Catholic Church totally left CAN; the
bishops just said they were suspending their activities; that was
just what happened. Satisfying those conditions would mean that the
(Catholic) church is fully back to CAN. Fr. Cornelius just went to
the CAN NEC meeting preparatory to a full lifting of the
suspension.”