The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has issued new guidelines to curb what is termed as commercialisation of Catholic worship, insisting that the Eucharistic celebration must remain central and that giving to the Church must be free, dignified and transparent.
The new document, titled Guidelines on Fundraising in Liturgical Worship in Nigeria, was published by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on September 23, and shared with newsmen on Sunday via Catholic Media Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Kaduna chapter platform.
The guidelines address a range of fundraising practices which the Bishops say risk distracting from the sacred character of the liturgy, including comedians appearing at liturgical celebrations, paid ceremonial unveilings, charging for blessings and excessive frequent second collections.
“The Eucharist itself risks becoming an interruption to the harvest rather than its reason,” wrote Rev. Fr. Augustine Okochi, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Pastoral Agents Department of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, in an article accompanying the publication.
The bishops clarified that the guidelines do not seek to discourage financial support for the Church. Rather, they call for fundraising to be conducted in a manner consistent with the dignity of Catholic worship and the freedom of the faithful.
The CBCN calls for adequate communication before fundraising appeals and insists that donors, regardless of their financial circumstances, should be treated with dignity. It also rejects humiliation, coercion and the use of guilt to secure contributions.
The document further condemns unauthorised levies, elaborate anniversary celebrations, oversized building projects and what it describes as the commercialisation of sacramentals.
To strengthen financial accountability, the guidelines propose structures including diocesan budgets, project-screening committees and greater centralisation of resources.
Fr. Okochi said the guidelines were intended to help priests, religious and lay faithful develop fundraising practices that support the Church’s mission without allowing financial appeals to overshadow worship.
“The book does not discourage generosity but rather purifies it,” he wrote.
The guidelines also affirm the right of the faithful to give freely and cheerfully, while encouraging greater cooperation between clergy and laity in the management and financing of Church projects.
Grounded in Scripture, the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the teaching of recent Popes, the guidelines place the Eucharist at the centre of the Church’s liturgical life.
They call on pastoral agents to guard the Eucharistic celebration against practices that could compromise its sanctity and to promote a culture of responsible stewardship, transparency and voluntary giving.
Fr. Okochi described the publication as a resource for parishes, chaplaincies, dioceses, seminaries, religious communities and families seeking to develop healthier approaches to Church fundraising.
