Nigerian Bishop Rebukes US, Blasts “Dictatorship of the Minority”

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ROME, May 1, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - A Nigerian bishop is blasting U.S. politicians and calling out American cultural imperialism for the second time in months.

In a lengthy interview with Aleteia, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, Director of Communications for the African bishops, says, "[P]eople ought to open their eyes to the cultural imperialism that America is promoting, and promoting so blatantly."

He's talking about the high-financed imposition of disordered Western values like "gay rights" onto Africans, who already struggle with problems like terrorism and disease. Referring to the U.S. government appointing a special envoy for so-called gay rights, Bishop Badejo remarks, "I think there is a mix-up between what are actually 'rights,' and what are behaviors. And human behaviors cannot be put on the same level as human rights."

"We have a right to live. I do not think that homosexuals ought to be killed, by no means. Life is a basic human right. But the right to do things that are considered abnormal are not,” he says. And while the archbishop makes clear he doesn't deem those with same-sex attraction to be “evil people,” he still recognizes homosexual activities as "sinful and disordered."

What he objects to is the West trying to push the gay agenda — what one American journalist deems "luxury issues" — onto the rest of the world.

"If we invest so much money and effort into imposing the orientation of this minority — this particular minority — onto the entire world, then we are guilty of what I like to call a 'dictatorship of the minority,'" Bishop Badejo warns. This is the same problem he identified in a previous interview, in which he revealed that the United States once told Nigeria it would only help out with Boko Haram if it changed its laws to be more favorable to homosexuality and contraception.

The cultural imperialism commandeered by the United States distresses the African prelate, who wishes to see Americans return to more democratic values. "It is my desire that the American people open their ears and their eyes," he explains, "and know exactly what kind of people are running to be the next President of the United States."

In particular, he criticizes 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who recently told a women's conference, "Deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed" to make sure women can be given “reproductive healthcare,” i.e., artificial contraception.

"I really think that Hillary Clinton is just speaking for votes, rather than speaking for reason," Bishop Badejo says.

"I believe there are three groups of people in this world: those who believe in God, those who do not believe in God, and those who think they are gods," he remarks. "Hillary Clinton I think is one of those who thinks she is a god. And I'm not obliged to believe that."

When the prelate isn't fighting off "ideological colonization" from Western powers, he's busy fighting Boko Haram. He battles spiritually, however, not physically, as he's been helping to distribute around one million Rosaries to Nigerians. "I believe that the Rosary has the power to help change situations,” he declares, “and that includes the situation with Boko Haram."

Asked about his brother bishop's recently reported vision of Christ, in which Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme saw Jesus and received a sword that turned into Rosary beads, Bishop Badejo says he's a believer.

"I've been close to [Bishop Oliver] because he and his people are on the front lines, and we try to support them in whatever way we can. I spoke to him on the phone and he is convinced about what he saw."

Bishop Badejo affirms, "Bishop Oliver said he had a religious experience. Religious experience is legitimate and one doesn't need to be against it. I think very many people question this kind of thing because they have really, actually stopped believing actively in God."

He asks, "We call Jesus 'Emmanuel.' If he is 'with us' all the time, why can't he show himself to us?"

As to the content of Bishop Oliver's vision, Bishop Badejo assures he's pleased, stating:

I am particularly happy that when he said Jesus handed him a sword, this sword became a rosary. Thank God. Better the rosary than the sword. Christianity has always fought its battles by prayers, not by arms. And so what Bishop Oliver said is, I believe, very consonant with Catholic theology and Catholic practice.

And it would appear that what Our Lord told Bishop Oliver about Boko Haram's defeat is coming true, as, according to Bishop Badejo, the Islamic terror group has been losing ground lately.

"[T]he bombing and the killing has largely diminished," he says. "In many parts of the north of Nigeria where you couldn't go before, now you can hear a pin drop. People are returning to their homes, and Boko Haram is largely consigned to the borders of Nigeria."

"Much has changed now. The Nigerian army recovered so much territory from Boko Haram," says the Nigerian bishop, who, at the same time, is quick to remind that "Boko Haram is not dead." In fact, the group is now attempting to join forces with other Islamic terror groups.

"Evil tends to find strength in other evil," he points out. "I was sure that Boko Haram, ISIS and Al Qaida were going to somehow try to link up resources and strength to do more harm than they've been doing, because they're simply evil. I was wondering why that was so difficult for the powers that pretend to want to help us to see."

While he knows the dangers of Islamic terror remain, he's also hopeful that one day his people can be free from it.

"I think that if the civilized world decides that terrorism is going to be eliminated, it can be eliminated," says Bishop Badejo, but only "if there is sincerity and commitment."

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