Across northern Nigeria in particular, state governors and mosques have stepped up attempts to marry off single women as part of a drive to improve the moral fibre of the nation and stem prostitution. Now, it appears the churches are getting in on the act too, as yesterday, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Most Reverend Mathew Audu, married off 109 couples in Masakaon.
At the ceremony, the parish priest of St Martin’s Catholic Church, Reverend Father Jude Maigari, said the mass wedding was cultures imbibed by the church to enable couples with little finances get married. Reverend Audu appealed to relatives of the couples to allow the newly-weds to build their marriages and urged in-laws not to interfere in their affairs.
Reverend Audu added: “As newly-wedded couples, you must love each other just as Jesus Christ loved the church and died to set souls free. You must respect each other’s feelings, care for each other, share views and reason together in peace and unity.
"You must not allow a third party to come into your matter and always invite God to intervene in your case. Ensure that you are coordinated in all your dealings and make the word of God your standard, pillar, faith and hope."
He added that if they keep these entire commandments, their marriages will be perfect and other couples will want to copy them. At the event, Reverend Audu also confirmed 1,390 faithful and blessed 56 eucharistic ministers and 76 lectors.
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