NO VOTER'S CARD, NO SACRAMENT, CATHOLIC DIOCESE TELLS MEMBERS

By NBF News

The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Enugu State has threatened to deny people who fail to register during the forthcoming voters registration exercise to partake in the Holy Sacrament. INEC had fixed the commencement of voters registration for January 2011.

The Secretary to the Bishop, Rev. (Fr.) Collinus Obe announced the decision in Nsukka during the maiden Christmas Nine Lessons and Carol organised by St. Theresa's Cathedral Choir.

According to him, the measure was to encourage members to participate in the voters registration.

'The diocese implemented this order in 2003 as well as in the 2007 general elections.

'The Church supports and preaches that members should carry out their civic responsibilities.

'It is when one has voter's card that he or she can vote a candidate of his or her choice,' he said

Obe said the objective of Christmas Carol was to remind Christians of what Christmas celebration was all about.

'Christians are expected to use the period of Christmas to move closer to God and show love to their neighbours.

'The birth of Christ is important in the life of every Christian because without Jesus Christ there would have been nothing like Christianity,' he said.

In his own remark, the Chairman on the occasion, Mr Tony Ugwu, thanked the church for organising the carol, which he said, would help people to understand the meaning of Christmas.

'Occasions like this help to draw people closer to God as well as improve their relationship with fellow human beings,' he said.

Ugwu, who is also the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Council, thanked the church for its support and encouragement in moving the council forward.

The chairman made a donation of N50,000 to the choir, and called for the sustenance of the cordial relationship between the government and the church.

NAN reports that the state Governor's wife, Mrs Clara Chime, read the first lesson from the book of Genesis 3:1-7.

Earlier, the Director of Music at the Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Emma Asogwa, said the choir decided to organise the carol because of God's goodness to members.

'God has been so good to us, so this is just a token to appreciate his loving kindness,' he said.

The highpoint of the event was a drama presentation on how the gospel came to Nsukka Diocese.