Jonathan Nwokpor
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During mass, mobile phones will no longer be used by Catholic priests or their parishioners.
This comes after Facebook and other social media platforms were outlawed by the Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Additionally prohibited by the CBCN are the improper introduction of secular music into the liturgy, the misuse of the pulpit for private gain, the settlement of disputes with parishioners, indecorous dancing, even with the Eucharist in the monstrance, and improper attire for clergy and laypeople during liturgical celebrations.
This was mentioned in a circular about several abuses and aberrations that was dated August 15, 2024.
This was made clear during the Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama’s lecture at St. Theresa’s Parish in Wumba, entitled “Taste And See That The Lord Is Good!” In this lecture, the Catholic Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 200 parishioners.
He said, “The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria issued a circular dated August 15, 2024, regarding some abuses and aberrations such as the use of phones by priests during Mass and the lay people taking calls during Mass or doing Facebook, etc.
“The arbitrary distortion of the liturgy, arising from the desperate quest for inculturation; the irreverent handling of the Eucharist; altering the structure of the liturgy by taking up too many collections and fundraising right in the middle of liturgical celebrations and invention of rites in the name of child dedication with some priests placing a child on the altar against the teaching of the Church that a child is already dedicated to God during baptism.”
Other aberrations listed by the CBCN and identified by Kaigama are “inappropriate importation of secular music into the liturgy; indecorous dance, even with the monstrance containing the Eucharist; inappropriate dressing for liturgical celebrations by priests and lay people; abusing the pulpit for personal gains, settling scores with parishioners.
“For us Catholics, the Eucharist should be a very effective means to help us transform our society; to arrest the degeneration of moral values, criminality, inhuman treatment to people, corruption by those in authority, as well as the corruption found even among the poor; businessmen and women hiking the prices of things or selling fake items.”
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