Drug, pornography addiction, evil against families, says Martins

The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins, has warned against drug and pornography addiction, describing them as two evils that threaten the fabric of family and faith.

He gave the warning during his homily at the thanksgiving mass to commemorate the 11th convention of the Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (LACMON), held at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.

The convention is reputed as the largest single gathering of Catholic men in Africa. Martins, while addressing over 5,000 delegates drawn from the 20 deaneries in Lagos Archdiocese and beyond, on the theme, “Overcoming Drug and Pornography Addiction in Family Life,” commended men in the Archdiocese for their concerted efforts towards ridding the family of the evil of drug and pornography addiction which are bedeviling many homes daily.

He challenged fathers to confront the scourge, saying that they are called to confront those twin evils that enslave people by working to restore the values and truths that have been handed to them. He said: “The family is a sacred nucleus of love, a place where values that stand as the bedrock of evangelisation are taught.”

Drugs and pornography are plagues that afflict the sacredness of far too many families. They hold the brain captive and destroy relationships, giving promises of escape, satisfaction, and pleasure but delivering only bondage, shame, and despair.”

According to him, we can overcome these addictions by making fundamental options for God at all times, seeking His Grace as we cultivate a life of prayer, which is capable of changing old habits as it enhances our intimacy with God. We should immerse ourselves in the Scripture, journey with the Lord, and seek the intercession of the Saints.”

Similarly, the Archdiocesan Chaplain of LACMON, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Ike and LACMON President, Kingsley Ekwuem, while relishing the success of the two-day event, noted that the theme of the convention was very apt, hence it would also form the subject of focus at the 2025 edition of the convention.