Nigerian Catholic Bishops Rejects “Samoa Agreement” – Orders Federal Government To Pull Out From It
The Nigerian Catholic Bishops have rejected the “Samoa Agreement”, and has ordered the Federal Government to withdraw from it.
The Samoa Agreement signed by the Nigerian Government contains clauses that mandate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender rights. However, the Catholic Bishops have kicked against it.
According to the Bishops, it stated that Nigeria’s civil authorities may not be fully aware of the implications in the document. And it has threatened the nation’s sovereignty and values.
Being a watchman and also responsible and committed to the sound moral, religious, and cultural growth of the country, they have urged the government to withdraw or amend their decisions.
According to the Bishops, “Given that Nigeria has signed the Samoa Document, we call on the government to propose an insertion of a substantive article in the general Agreement and the African Regional Protocol thus:
“Nothing in this binding Agreement can be interpreted to include any obligations regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, comprehensive sexuality education, abortion, contraception, legalization of prostitution, same-sex marriage, or sexual ‘rights’ for children.
“If Nigeria takes the lead in calling for amendments to the SAMOA Agreement and its protocols, other states in the African Caribbean and Pacific regions may more likely follow suit.”
According to them, “We are concerned that our civil authorities may not be fully aware of the implications of the nuanced language in the document, which threaten our national sovereignty and values.”
The Bishops further stated that “The agreement looks innocuous and attractive on the surface but underneath it is carefully blended with post-modern secularistic ideologies that significantly undermine the moral, cultural, and religious beliefs of Nigerian citizens.
“We are concerned that our civil authorities may not be fully aware of the implications of the nuanced language in the document, which threaten our national sovereignty and values.
“We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, as watchmen and guides (cf Ezekiel 3: 17), deeply committed to the sound moral, religious, and cultural growth of our dear country, hereby clearly highlight what the Samoa Document portends for the future of Nigeria and Nigerians and call on our government to, as a matter of urgency, propose an amendment of the Agreement or withdraw from it”.
