ABSTRACT OF MY PRESENTATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRO LIFE CONFERENCE

In Nigeria today, marriage and family values and human life are endangered. The Christian and African family values and the dignity of human life have lost considerable momentum. Only the union of a man and a woman constitute a family. Such a union is the only source of procreation consented to man by God.   There is an undeniable nexus between this kind of family and human life.  Everyone who believes in God must be helped to appreciate this fact. Much resources and funds are today invested in programmes and activities which undermine the family and human life some of which are promoting contraception, abortion and gay unions. This is done also through powerful media and organizational networks. Current near indifference to this reality in Nigeria portends great danger to African and Christian values and to the culture of life.

It’s no use sitting down and weeping about the situation. A change is not going to come by chance. We need massive investment of effort and resources and an effective campaign strategy to re-educate the populace towards a new appreciation of the Gospel of life, and family values. Everyone must be persuaded to support this campaign to stem the tide of decadent, selfish western culture. The promoters of anti-family and anti-life values typically tell only one side of the story, their self-serving side. The channels of Social Communications can do a lot to expose the other side, the case for the Gospel of life.

Deploying Social Communication Channels

The Church has often emphasized proclamation of the Gospel through the traditional means of communication, a vigorous formation of consciences, catechesis, community media and by witness of life. The Church must put her resources including finances where she wants her doctrine to thrive. Pope Francis hit it in his message for the 48 World Communications Day, “Communication at the Service of an Authentic Encounter”.  He wrote: …if a choice has to be made between a bruised Church which goes out to the streets and a Church suffering from self-absorption, I certainly prefer the first.  Those “streets” are the world where people live and where they can be reached, both effectively and affectively”. Aside from securing the collaboration of media practitioners at all levels, allying with the youth and their social media networks, reactivating dormant grassroots communication channels, it is important to prioritize a media education programme to equip the end users of noxious media messages with the capacity of discernment.  Commissioned works of art are a necessary component of this campaign. A popular song or drama clip done in a street corner can achieve with the general public what 100 lectures might not achieve.

It is necessary to re-sensitize all agents of evangelization that life is dear to the heart of Jesus who declared “I have come to give them life, life to the full”. They must turn every platform and channel of their ministry to promote the family and the gospel of life everywhere possible.

All social and religious organizations with the goodwill to support the culture of life must be co-opted in the campaign.