Pope: Catholics tell Lalong to resign, embark on 40-day prayer
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has rejected the apology by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State over his utterances on the Pope.
The group, under the aegis of Mass Servants Association of Nigeria (MSAN), said it is not enough for the governor to express remorse, adding that he must prove it by embarking on a 40-day fast and step down from his role as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council.
Recall that the governor had tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, over alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments about the Holy Father.
While admitting that it was an error on his part to have linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics, he begged for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ conference.
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But in a statement signed by Moses Idoko, the MSAN said Lalong must repent and return every penny from the promoters of Muslim-Muslim ticket.
According to Idoko, the governor should go a step further to resign as the DG of the APC’s presidential campaign council to show true repentance.
Quoting the Canon Law, Idoko said “Lalong must confess to the priest for reconciliation with God and with the Catholic Church”.
He added that “even though God is merciful and forgiving, he does not declare the guilty to be guiltless (Ex 34:7).
Pope: Catholics tell Lalong to resign, embark on 40-day prayer