Promotion and Protection of Human Rights: Core Concerns of the Catholic Church in Nigeria

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 10th December 1948 is the conscience of the world community on what to be done or not to be done to a human person and to issues of concern to his existence and wellbeing. Consequently, the care for the wellbeing of human beings by a country or an organization whether civil or religious is measured by the extent the country or organization adheres to human rights principles and standards. By this logic the extent to which the Catholic Church in Nigeria caters for the wellbeing of human persons is determined by the extent to which she adheres to human rights principles and standards. This paper examines this hypothesis adopting the doctrinal research methodology by gathering information from the official teaching and activities of the Church. The examination covers the commitment of the universal Catholic under the Roman Pontiff and also covers the teaching and initiatives of the Catholic Church in the Nigeria municipal community. The finding is that the Catholic Church in Nigeria is passionately committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country notwithstanding the fact that the Church is herself a victim of human rights deprivations in some States in the northern parts of the country with Muslim majority as it concerns government employment of Christians, government university admissions of Christians, and land acquisition for religious purposes.