Interchurch relations in Nigeria have been dealt a blow by the Catholic Church’s decision to indefinitely suspend its involvement in the nation’s 40-year-old ecumenical association. Catholic and Protestant churches formed the Christian Association of Nigeria to promote Christian unity and to speak with one voice on national issues. Catholic leaders have now decided to pull Read more
Nigeria’s newest cardinal has condemned the deadly bombing of a Protestant church inside a military base, saying that terrorist attacks against Christians “could happen anywhere”. Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, who received his red hat from Pope Benedict on November 24, said: “This attack took place within one of the highest military establishments in Nigeria, Read more
Pope Benedict XVI sent a clear signal about the universality of the Catholic Church when he created six new cardinals on November 24. For the first time in decades, all of the new cardinals came from countries outside Europe. “I want to highlight in particular the fact that the Church is the Church of all Read more
Catholic clergy and people in Nigeria are at a point of “near desperation” after the a suicide-bomb attack on a church during Mass, according to the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama wrote about “seeing children, women and men bombed out of existence”. The October 28 bomb, the latest in a series Read more
A terrorist attack on an evangelical Christian church in central Nigeria, in which at least 20 people including the pastor were killed, has been followed a day later by a similar attack on a mosque. The assault on the main mosque of Okene showed the true nature of the terrorist attacks by the Islamist insurgency Read more
At the end of today’s General Audience in the Paul VI hall, the Pope, who has been following the news of the terrorist attacks in Nigeria – particularly against Christians – with deep concern, said he called upon the perpetrators to stop the bloodshed of innocent people immediately, to give up acts of revenge and Read more
Cardinal Anthony Okogie of Lagos consoled the families of the victims of the crashed Dana Air plane and urged them to draw strength from God. “My heart goes out to all those who lost their loved ones, friends and well-wishers. I condole with them and indeed all Nigerians,” the cardinal said in a statement June Read more
Bishop John Namaza Niyiring of Kano/Jigawa Diocese, Nigeria, has declared that the 10 Catholics who were killed in cold blood by a terrorist group during last Sunday Mass at St. Stephen chaplaincy, Bayero University Kano, are martyrs. “These beloved Catholics who we mourn today were killed inside the church while worshipping God, even though their death Read more
Up to 11 people were killed after a Catholic church was targeted by suspected suicide car bombers in the restive central Nigerian city of Jos, officials say.
The car was apparently stopped before it could enter the church compound.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
A bombing at a Jos church two weeks ago killed three people and injured nearly 40. Islamist militants from Boko Haram said they carried out that attack.
Read the article...In light of new bombings in northern Nigeria, attributed to Boko Haram, the Catholic bishops have issued an appeal for “reconciliation, justice, and peace in the face of dramatic challenges to the security in our country.” The bishops said that “Nigerians must learn to live together in peace, or they will die because of violence Read more