The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has criticised the Samoa Deal signed by the Federal Government, News About Nigeria reports.
The group disclosed this in a communique, signed by its President and Secretary, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Most Rev. Donatus A. Ogun, respectively, on Wednesday.
They described the agreement as a threat to the sovereignty and values of Nigeria, adding that it undermines the moral, cultural, and religious beliefs of Nigerian citizens.
The group urged the government to propose an amendment to the agreement or completely withdraw from it.
“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 threatens our national sovereignty and values.
“We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, as watchmen and guides, 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.”
“In international law, when the state signs a Treaty, it indicates its intention to be bound by it in the future, and it demonstrates its support for the principles and goals of the Treaty and its willingness to consider ratifying it in the future.
“Given the secrecy surrounding Nigeria’s signing of the Samoa Agreement, it is unclear whether the signature was tendered subject to Ratification, Acceptance, or Approval.
“The Samoa Agreement essentially gives international law status to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, and Abortion through its prolific reference to Gender approaches and the phrase Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
“The Treaty does not have a glossary of terms or a definitions section to ensure that all parties have the same understanding of terms, which may pose a problem in its implementation and evaluation phases,” the statement reads in
