Pulse.ng : Respect civility, decency and accept our differences

Agency Report

By Muhammad Tijjani

Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo says “If we understand ourselves as one or group of humans with respect, civility, decency and accepting our differences working together”, the human race will be better and that is what the Church stands for.

Barkindo, Director of The Kukah Centre: Faith, Leadership and Public Policy Research, Abuja, stated this at a one-day round table discussion on Christian Families Social Values and the Challenges of Modernization, Perspective from Catholic Social Teachings, on Saturday in Kaduna.

He said that the conference was not for condemning modernisation, noting that it had brought a lot in terms of scientific research, improving health care and education.

Barkindo, who is also the Head of Secretariat for National Peace Committee based in Abuja, added that modernisation has also brought ease, especially in the mode of transportation and many spheres of life.

He, however, noted that their concerns were on the negative effects of modernisation, particularly on modern families.

“We are concerned on how we can continue to live together as one human loving families,” he said.

He explained that the role of the church is clear, to educate, sensitize and build human family and educating people on the importance of humanity rather than individualism.

“This harps on absolutely emphasis on human rights. We want to also project the importance of community rights and the right of people as a community where we work together and look after each other,” he said.

He said, therefore, that all the rights sum up to how to manage diversity and how to live together as humans.

“These roles of the church sum up to what it wants to promote, to include togetherness, unity and peaceful coexistence which can be achieved through education and sensitisation”.

He also noted that social media was one biggest challenge which circulates fake news, hatred and issues of identity and superiority of ethnicity and religion which people preach on the platform thereby adding to the conflict.

Also, Rev. Fr. Sixtus Onuh, the Priest from Sokoto Diocese, said the conference was part of a series of programmes organized by the Kukah Centre in Abuja with its Kaduna branch and in partnership with Health Justice, Development and Peace (HJDP).

Onuh, who doubles as the Administrative Secretary for the HJDP in Kaduna, said they hold monthly series where they interact and talk extensively on many issues concerning the society and family, based on the Catholic social teachings.

He said they would continue using the prophetic voice of the church to insist on the right thing through instructions, schools, on the pulpit and family.

NAN reports that participants for the conference were drawn from various societies in the church, educators in schools and many arms from families who would be reminded of their duties and responsibilities.

NAN also report that Rev. Fr. Joseph Nuhu, the Director, family and human life, Kaduna Archdiocese, give a brief presentation on Christian families social values and the challenges of modernizations.(NAN)