The Catholic Church in Nigeria has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s alleged plan to legalize abortion, sparking controversy over the sanctity of human life.
The Church’s condemnation arose amid reports that the Health Promotion Department of the Federal Ministry of Health is reviewing sections of the Criminal Code to decriminalize abortion. This move is reportedly aimed at expanding access to safe termination of pregnancies and reducing maternal deaths.
However, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) formally expressed its dissent on Thursday, issuing a statement signed by Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi, Secretary General of the CSN.
The statement emphasized that legalizing abortion contradicts Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. It noted that Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution states that every person has a right to life and that no one shall be intentionally deprived of that life.
The Catholic Church said that, rather than promoting abortion, the government should focus on educating citizens about reproductive health and the dignity of human life.
They emphasized that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has consistently advocated for the protection of human life through communiqués, teachings, and ecclesiastical documents.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria urged Nigerians to reject the legalization of abortion, emphasizing the sacred dignity and love owed to every human being.
The statement reads, “Rather than expanding access to safe termination of pregnancy by destroying life, the government should amplify its efforts towards educating the people on the imperatives of the values and dignity of the human person.
“Rather than enthrone the culture of death through the legalization of abortion, the government should place a premium on the sacred dignity and love that should be accorded to the human person, which is guaranteed by natural law and divine commandments and affirmed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is safer to have human dignity included in the curriculum than to work against it in the name of providing access, shrouded in the garb of human freedom. The more we know and value the dignity of the other person, the more society will seamlessly live in peace and harmony.
“The Catholic Church and all ethically-minded people oppose all forms of abortion procedures whose direct purpose is to terminate the life of a baby in the womb. The unborn child has the right to live and be protected and not to be killed by the fiat of an unjust law. We believe strongly that every human life must be respected and protected, especially the most vulnerable ones in the womb from the moment of their conception.”
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