‘Muslims, non-Catholics can belong to JDPC’

By Remmy Nweke

Muslims and other non-Catholics could belong to the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), according to the chairman, Publicity and Enlightenment Committee of the commission at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Mafoluku-Oshodi, Lagos, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke.

“Muslims, Pagans and non-Catholics can be members of the JDPC,” she declared.

Speaking at a one-day annual animation workshop for JDPC members in the parish, on “Foundation of JDPC,” she said that even before the creation of JDPC by Pope Paul VI in January 1967, the church had always talked and advocated about justice and peace in the society.

She stressed that the fathers of the church were precise in their choice of the commission as an instrument to boost harmonious living of all in the society despite their religious background.

She pointed out that following the adoption of the commission by the Synod of Bishops’ second general assembly on November 30 1971, JDPC teachings cut across the society, thus, “Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the gospel.”

In other words, she noted that the church’s mission is for the redemption of human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation through actions of JDPC, and advised members to see their contributions as part of evangelism.

Mrs. Nweke quoted Luke 4:18-21 to buttress her point, saying “The spirit is upon me because he has chosen me to bring goodnews to the poor. Proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind and to set free the oppressed.”

Equally speaking on “Human rights, justice and the church” Mr. Elona Agu, noted that the evolution of human rights began since time immemorial with human societies holding basic notions of fairness, freedom, equality and justice.

“Over time, countries of the world began to promulgate human rights through various instruments,” he said, highlighting that the famous instruments in this regard included the Magna Carta of 1215 in England which was a charter meant to put the then King under the law and limit his powers.

This, he also said, included the provision of the rights to fair trial in the famous words, followed by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, American Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the French Declaration of the rights of man and citizen of 1789 among others, which emphasised on the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, even as the Nigerian constitution with particular reference of the rule of law and fundamental human rights sessions cannot be over emphasised.

He therefore enjoined members of JDPC to ensure they are proactive, knowledgeable about current affairs in the society so as to keep pace with events in their communities and eventually contribute their quota in growing the society.

Earlier in his comment, Coordinator, JDPC at St. Jude’s parish, Mr. Charles Ukwuoma, while harping on the role of civil society groups in transformation of the society, outlined that what happens in a given society is determined largely by how the society is organised.

“The forces in operation in the society makes things happen the way they happen,” he declared.

According to him, the root causes of social injustice rest on how a given society is structured through the evolution of upper, middle and lower classes respectively.

He explained that most civil society like JDPC exist basically to bridge this gap in the society so as to bring about transformation, hence they are agents of change and play vital role.