BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev ( Dr.) Callistus Onaga, has called on the federal and state governments to embark on people-oriented programmes and policies so as to reduce economic hardship in the country.
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Bishop Onaga also urged Nigerians “to keep trusting in God, love one another, be united, prayerful and hopeful, practice the love of Christ ,be sincere, make peace, avoid discord, and allow the light which the presence of God illuminates shine upon everyone this Christmas and always”
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The Cleric who gave the admonition in his 2023 Christmas message on Friday at the Bishop’s Court, Enugu, noted, “Christmas commemorates the nativity of Jesus Christ.”
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The Bishop described the story around Christmas as a “historical fact, not an imagination that Christ was born in Bethlehem, pointing out that “Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of God taking flesh. God took flesh and became man in order to save man from sin.”
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His words: “After the fall of man, efforts were made to save man from sin but Christ Himself came down again to save mankind. We had the fore runner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, say, “I am not the one coming. So, there are proofs. In the Catholic Church, we have the luminous mystery, throwing light . The first mystery is the baptism of Christ at River Jordan. Through the Dove God spoke,’ This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
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“Every year it takes up in all Christendom. People to celebrate it as it has never been done in the past.
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“God is a Saviour. God came after the fall of man . We share the love of God by sharing of love, gifts, forgiveness and caring for one another In Christmas we emphasize that fact that God is with us and if God is with us who can be against us? he asked.
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On the state of the nation, Bishop Onaga lamented the insensitivity if the Nigerian Government to the plight of the people, stressing that things are hard.
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“The federal government announced 50% transport renumeration. How many people can afford it? he further asked.
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According to him, “Government at all levels, the legislators, all the leaders should be sensitive to the plight of the people. Transport is high, the roads are bad. Let us do things as if we are dealing with human beings God is with us in all these things happening. God is still with us.
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He reminded the leaders that they will stand before God and answer questions on their stewardship on earth.
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Bishop Onaga also used the opportunity to commend the media practitioners for the good works they do, urging them to report objectively.
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He urged those hoarding fuel, those selling bad fuel, those involved in different kinds of crimes to desist from doing evil.
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The Man of God drew the attention of the people to the right way of wishing a happy Christmas, noting that “it is not happy holiday but happy Christmas. He said it was anti Christ that introduced happy holidays instead of happy Christmas.
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“It should be happy Christmas. Happy holiday is deliberate. They want to kill the loudness of Christmas. They are anti Christ. You don’t throw away the substance because you want to be happy. It is happy Christmas, we have been having holidays”, he maintained.
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The Bishop Onaga also spoke on morale decadence, condemning the rate at which people, especially youths go into ritual killings and fetish practice.
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He further cautioned film/play writers, television stations against writing movies or plays that promote evil.
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“Be careful what you write, you don’t promote evil. Change your method of conveying values. You should promote good values not ritual killings. You don’t kill to make money. They are all fallacies”, the Bishop stated.
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“I wish everyone a happy Christmas and journey mercies for those travelling, and God’s protection to all”, Bishop Onaga prayed.
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