Catholic Schism And Pentecostal Politicization Of CAN By Theophilus Ilevbare

“To act as a watchman of the
spiritual and moral welfare of the
nation; to serve as a basis for
response to the unity of the church,
especially as contained in our Lord’s
pastoral prayer “That all may be
one” (John 17:21)” – CAN objective.
Never in its recent history has there
been schism that has threatened the
ecumenism of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) since it
was founded in 1976. Matters came
to a head with the withdrawal at the
national level of Catholic Bishops’
Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) from
CAN, the umbrella body of Christian
churches in Nigeria for promoting
unity and peace among the various
strata of society. The Catholic
church suspended its activities in
CAN sighting “recent attitudes,
utterances and actions of the
national leadership of CAN which in
our opinion negate the concept of
the foundation of the association
and the desire of Our Lord Jesus
Christ”.
The reaction from the Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor-led CAN to the
withdrawal of the Catholic bloc was
rather antagonistic, confrontational,
haughty and a face-saving rant that
does not address the issues raised
by the Catholic bloc. It was
expected that as a responsible
Christian association, pertinent
questions put forward by the CBCN
should have been addressed in their
response. CAN’s spokesman for the
19 Northern states, Sunny Oibe,
reacted brashly; “There is no need
for anybody to lose sleep over the
threat by Catholics to pull out of
CAN because without them CAN will
still continue. The constitution of
CAN makes provision that
membership can be terminated by
any group that is misbehaving or
any group can also terminate their
membership”.With remarks like this,
it is obvious that all is not well with
the Christian association. Such
unguarded comments and outburst
is capable of exacerbating the
present crisis rocking the body.
Close observers of events
anticipated this, maybe it was long
overdue, because in our very eyes,
we saw the CAN leadership,
gradually, in their quest for power,
political relevance, filthy lucre,
material gain and opulence become
an appendage of the ruling political
party. Pulpits of mega churches are
now campaign platforms for
politicians seeking election and re-
election, the picture of President
Jonathan kneeling before a man of
God readily comes to mind. When a
group of Pastors or General
Overseers, begin to manipulate and
use CAN like their personal property,
then there is bound to be schism.
The leadership of the Christian body
is now an avenue for some
avaricious few, to gallivant and
junket around the world in private
jets in the guise of spreading the
gospel. Their choice of a life of
opulence and splendor rather than
the ‘modest life of a leader of the
flock of Christ that common sense
dictates is quite appalling. Men of
God have turned lovers of money,
mundane possessors whose
affections are set on things below.
The Christian body seem to be at
ease with the corruption from all
sectors of the country, it is detached
from the Christian folk it represents.
There is an unhealthy rivalry among
the mega rich, prosperity preaching
and political protestant pastors that
constitute CAN to outdo each other;
whose private jet or private
university is bigger, which
denomination has built the newest
mega church auditorium in town.
CAN now seem to fan the embers of
impunity, sleaze and profligacy in
the country. The reason is not far-
fetched; some of the embezzled
public funds in the country has
found their way via “brown
envelopes” to church offerings and
pockets of pastors who in turn
guaranty return of votes from willy-
nilly church members during
elections. The politicisation and
monetisation of CAN is a far cry
from the association’s articulated
objectives that seeks to act as
conscience of the nation and voice
of the voiceless. With CAN’s
conscience seared and its lips
sealed, it has become a toothless
watchdog of the Christendom and as
of today, it has lost its relevance.
The CAN leadership went a step
further to smear its image when its
President and Senior Pastor, Word
of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor at a lavish church party
to mark the 40th anniversary of his
pastoral calling in Warri; President
Goodluck Jonathan – whom he is
“ferociously” close to – was in
attendance, joined the elite league of
private jet flying men of God when
he received a greek gift from
unnamed members of his church.
It was high time someone said the
truth, CAN has derailed! To aptly put
in Bishop Matthew kukah’s words,
Nigerian Christian leaders “…Have
become more visible in relation to
national prayer sessions,
pilgrimages, alliances with state
power and so on. Unless we
distance ourselves, we cannot speak
the truth to power. We cannot hear
the wails of the poor and the weak.
We should not be seen as playing
the praying wing of the party in
power.” Apparently, he spoke about
CAN.
Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido
Sanusi Lamido must have been
thinking about CAN recently when
he said people now “Find religion to
be a very good instrument in the
contestation of space for political
power and for distribution of
resources, they are not religious
organizations; they are not cultural
organisations; they are political
associations in disguise of religion
and region”.
When was the last time CAN
consulted with its member churches
to make necessary common
statements and take common
actions after a major crisis like the
incessant Boko Haram attack in
northern Nigeria? What we have
seen in the last few years is the
regular visit to the seat of power,
Aso Rock Villa, and mere blowing of
hot air whenever turmoil arise,
exhibiting little or no initiative to
take decisive action in matters
affecting the Nigerian Christians.
There is a general believe that the
Christian body is on a freefall. As a
matter of urgency, a moderation by
the leadership of CAN in its lifestyle
and association with politicians will
go a long way in restoring some
integrity and respect to the national
Christian group.
It will be pertinent to add here that
there has always been some form of
discrimination between Catholics
and Pentecostals even till this day. I
had a personal experience when I
worshipped in a Catholic church, the
Rev. Father during his homily, made
allusion to the raucous manner the
Pentecostals engaged in praise
worship and prayers even for the
death of their enemies. Each group
consider themselves pious
Christians, some Protestants in CAN
still consider Catholics as drunkards
who are not devout Christians.
Catholics in turn do not think
Protestant pastors in CAN as
properly ordained since their
ordination lacks historical link with
early Christian practice. Until such
cerebrations are jettisoned, genuine
ecumenism might be wishful
thinking.
At such a crucial time that the
country is trying to grapple with the
onslaught of Boko Haram on
Christians, the least desired of a
body conceived as a rallying point
for Christians is division. If for
nothing at all, the lives of Christians
lost to the violence of Islamist
fundamentalist and splinter sects
should be a reason the leadership of
CAN and the Catholic bloc resolve
their differences.
Now, more than ever, the Christian
body needs to put its house in order
and reposition itself to speak out
against all forms of violence. CAN
must henceforth desist from
politicking and refocus on its core
values of Christian ecumenism.