…Bishops warn clerics against partisan politics, holding public office without Church’s approval
By Ade Iyamoye
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has issued a firm warning to priests, cautioning them against involvement in partisan politics or accepting public office without prior ecclesiastical authorization.
The bishops emphasized that such actions violate Church law and could attract severe disciplinary measures, including suspension and dismissal from the clerical state.
The warning, contained in an official document released on October 1, 2024, draws authority from Canon 285 §3, which forbids clerics from activities unbecoming of their vocation, and Canon 287 §2, which prohibits them from holding political office without approval from Church leadership.
According to the CBCN, priests who flout these directives may face a three-tiered disciplinary process.
First, a priest could be suspended from exercising his priestly functions. Continued defiance may lead to restrictions such as mandated residence in a particular location.
Ultimately, persistent disobedience may result in dismissal from the clerical state; the most serious canonical penalty.
The bishops also extended the warning to religious priests, directing Major Superiors of religious institutes in Nigeria to ensure strict adherence within their ranks.
“This directive is not new,” the CBCN stated, recalling a similar 2018 guideline issued ahead of the 2019 elections. “Priests are called to be moral guides, not political contenders. Their duty is to form consciences, not join political campaigns.”
The document reaffirms the Church’s commitment to preserving the sacred identity of the priesthood while urging clerics to remain focused on their spiritual mission of caring for souls and promoting the common good through prophetic witness, not partisan alignment.
As Nigeria approaches another election season, the CBCN’s directive sends a strong and unambiguous message: the pulpit is not a platform for political ambition, and any priest who crosses that line will face the full weight of canonical discipline.
