"The stories of corrupt men and women being given recognition by their churches or mosques as gallant sons and daughters and the embarrassing stories of pastors displaying conspicuous wealth as we hear from the purchases of private jets and so on clearly diminish our moral voice.”
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, has condemned the acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders, saying it diminishes the moral voice of the church to speak against the evils committed by politicians in power.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, has condemned the acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders, saying it diminishes the moral voice of the church to speak against the evils committed by politicians in power.
He spoke against the backdrop of the presentation of a private jet to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by members of his church during the celebration of his 40th anniversary in the ministry penultimate Saturday.
Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described exhibition of such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.
The cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the State in the Pursuit of the Common Good’. Kukah, who was represented by the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal Nwaezeapu, also expressed displeasure with the perceived closeness of the CAN leadership to the corridors of powers.
He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders. According to him: “CAN has 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.”
He challenged the church to speak against corruption in low and high places, saying such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any reason.
Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described exhibition of such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.
The cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the State in the Pursuit of the Common Good’. Kukah, who was represented by the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal Nwaezeapu, also expressed displeasure with the perceived closeness of the CAN leadership to the corridors of powers.
He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders. According to him: “CAN has 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.”
He challenged the church to speak against corruption in low and high places, saying such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any reason.
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL...WE ALL KNOW THIS
ReplyDeletePeople will always talk. We all know it was a gift for his anniversary yet people are aacusing the man of being worldly.na wa o
ReplyDeletePastor kukah, i kn u don't have jet. That is why u re making noise. If u have one now u will keep quiet.
ReplyDeletePls he's not a pastor, He is ordine Bishop of Catholic the only orgainsed institute. We are orderly. This jet is vanity. Nicole
DeletePoint of correction,Kukah is not a pastor but a Catholic bishop and he is not interested in private jet if you don‘t know.Before you make any comment reason well,the evil that men do lives after them.
ReplyDeleteBishop Kukah should be ashamed of himself for making such comments about this honorable Bishop.He's just been jealous.He should be concern about the homosexual catholic bishops who are abusing innocent children all over the world.There's nothing wrong for a pastor to acquire a jet if he can afford it.He's not God and can't make such judgement on other pastors.
ReplyDeleteBishop Kukah should be ashamed of himself for criticizing the honorable Pastor 4 acquiring a jet.He's only been jealous for him to make these kind of statement.There's nothing wrong for a Pastor to acquire a jet if he can afford it.Bishop Kukah should devote his time to condem the homosexual catholic bishops who are abusing innocent children all over d world.
ReplyDeleteTrue talk.You are 100% correct.Na bad bele and jealousy de worry this Bishop He's no God to pass judgement on any body.
DeleteAll of you passing uncomplimentary comments about Bishop Kukah are FOOLS and you will all perish in hell. You speak with your brains closed. IDIOTS.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous16:59 You are a bigger fool than any of the people u i insulting.
DeleteRev hd never say bad about havin a privat jet by men of God,but how many wil hav it without a single kobo of it clean & not ilegaly acquired.If happened how can men of God check those in govt who stole & donates to religion institutions.Where & who cares about fightin corruption at all levels.
ReplyDeleteHeey bishop kukah, I don't think its a bad idea for pastors to acquire private jets. When your ministry grows to the level you need one, you will get it. Esp if you can afford it..even if it portrays them wrongly, what ever you and I say can't change anything. Why not leave it all to God to judge, afterall they didn't ask you for any contribution. Please let them be, and I think it wunt be bad if you get one aswell. *wink*
ReplyDeleteGOD WILL PUNISH YOU BY CALLING BISHOP NAMES ANIMAL. DO YOU THINK HE IS AN ORDINARY ROADSIDE GENERAL OVERSEAS? YOU ARE A GOAT FOR BEING AGAINST HIM.ALL THE PASTORS IN NIGERIA ARE BUYING PRIVATE JET ANYHOW AND YOU ARE THERE SUPPORTING THEM. PLS DON'T LET THE ANGER OF GOD FALL ON ALL OF YOU SUPPORTING PASTORS TO DO EVIL !
ReplyDeleteJane as u call ur self,God will punish u more.You are a foolish goat without brain.Nothing wrong in having a private jet if one can afford it.You will die in poorverty.
DeleteAccepted its a gift,but do you know whether its illegal bunkering and blood money they use in purchasing the jet for him.its good for them to be using jet but not yet time because this country is full of corruption.our church leaders needs to pray for deliverance for this country.he should dispose the jet and use the money on less previlege people, may God help us.....BBV
ReplyDeleteAll dis fake pastors in nigeria that are sucking poor people pockets in the name of sow a seed and enriching themselves and supporting politician in order to buy them private jet will all go to hell.
ReplyDeleteTry 2 use ur senses, Pastor Kukah‘s msg is, dat a man of God shld nt subject himself 2 d agents of Satan jst bcos of Wordly thins. Pastor Orgfor. ws only compensated 4 his surpportive efforts during d 2011 presidential campaign unda d umbrella of religion sentiment. Pls my fellow Nigerian, since we believe dat we‘re all created by God only dat, ways of worshiping Him r diffce. Y must we allow so called relig leaders 2 inject our reasonings with virus of their selfish interests. Am nt against any man of God but true man of God can b decerned (with quality of selfless interest, telling d truth 2 pple about their trespasses without fear of who u are or death, feel concern wit d welfare of his pple,etc.). D major problem of this country is religion & sect sentiments. Pls let‘s avoid it & b objective in all wat we ar doin.
ReplyDeleteIt is abt time these so called men of God stop deceiving their congregation.I suspected pastor's frequent visits Canada since 2009 was for a reason.in 2009 he came to Toronto asking people to give $2900 for seed offerin regardless of what they do for living. The Bible say "don't be equally yoke with unbelievers" if a politician steal tax payer money to buy a private jet and pastors acquired a private jet from the tithe and offering of the congregation. they are both the same.
ReplyDeleteN D Yusuf u spoke wel,ma broda.u wre vry objectiv dnt mind dos ple calin kuka name,an even som catholic priest gay dnt judge God say so.wat we ar sayin hre objecticaly is dis,btw d masses an d govt or d so cal big men our clergy men either xtian nor muslim re our hop or link.in jos com an c d exotic jeep d men of God used.now is private jet.do u knw hw many nigerians go 2bed wit empty stomach each day?or hw many av die of frustration an anger?an 1man of God wil fly ova thre head wit jet an d nex sunday he xpect dem 2com 2church,listen 2sermon an giv ofering.men of God dnt av 2b dat xtravagant pls.i bliv in his vilage the r les previlage ones dat he can help.ple we need 2tink straight pls.Inedu
ReplyDeleteoritsejafor is only decieving u xtians, he`s a devil & agent of pdp, so u better shine ur eyes.......dan
ReplyDeleteWhy does the Bishop have to make his comments in a public fora. He should have used the platform of CAN to register his thoughts and displeasure on the tendencies he wants curbed.The wealthiest organisation (it should be so) in the world is the catholic church of which he is a bishop and its head the Pope (vicar of Christ)on earth the wealthiest individual in the world. The house cleaning should thus start there in the catholic church that from ages past has acquired the status of a state with investments all over the world. This is surely the case of the pot calling the kettle black. Embarrassing truly.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that some of us do not check facts before we print,Catholic church is the richest but not the Pope according to Mr Idada, Church of England and Catholic churches are largest providers of Tertiary Institutions (Primaty and Secondary Schools),Hospitals etc all over the world, the best church funded school in UK belong to these 2 churches and ask me whose children study in these free schools ? Pentecostal Pastors and the congregation members,they would do anything to get their sons/daughters into the schools...If Pope and the catholic leaders had been doing what other black church leaders are doing there would not have been money or such programme all over the world even in Nigeriaand Arab World.
ReplyDeleteyou all re correct with your different ways of understanding,what i can say is leaving all to God. but checking it as humans, the poverty in the nation is going deeper and eating up the flesh of our youth these days due to the picture our leaders portrait, our religious leaders should endeavour to subject themselves with the things of the world and live a normal life no matter how much you control.. WHY ??? due to the followers(members) am not saying anyone should stop going to church but instead focus your mind on the creator of heaven and earth, knowing you came to this world alone and naked and will go back to the dust alone.. its better to serve God and have a personal relationship with him instead of pastors. pastors re human and are sent by God to lead people to his kingdom. so there should be regulations inorder for the followers to follow. after all jesus did thesame..
ReplyDeletedoes dis mean private jets r for d children of satan?, christians just put themselves in bondage that God has not put them....
ReplyDelete