According to Vanguard, a contentious discussion on the sanctity of human life has been sparked by the Catholic Church in Nigeria’s strong condemnation of claims that the Federal Government is considering legalizing abortion. Reports that the Federal Ministry of Health’s Health Promotion Department is examining parts of the Criminal Code to decriminalize abortion in an effort to increase access to safe treatments and lower maternal mortality sparked the issue.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), through its Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi, expressed its firm opposition. The statement emphasized that legalizing abortion would violate the Nigerian Constitution, particularly Section 33, which guarantees the right to life and prohibits the intentional deprivation of life.
The Catholic Church called on the government to focus on educating the public about reproductive health and the inherent dignity of human life, rather than promoting abortion. The CSN reiterated the Church’s longstanding stance, as expressed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, advocating for the protection of human life from conception.
The statement reads, “Rather than expanding access to abortion, the government should emphasize the sacred dignity of human life, which is affirmed by natural law, divine commandments, and Nigeria’s Constitution. Legalizing abortion undermines this dignity and promotes a culture of death.”
The Catholic Church called on Nigerians to reject any legislation that would legalize abortion, asserting that every human life, especially that of the unborn, deserves protection.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
