LUGBE, ABUJA - Diocesan coordinators of Family and Human Life units of the Catholic Church in Nigeria have stressed the importance of continuous formation and adequate pastoral care for families to facilitate the inculcation of core Christian and family values in the Nigerian society. The call was contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the National meeting of the coordinators held recently at the Daughters of Divine Love Retreat and Conference Centre (DRACC), Lugbe, Abuja. Endorsed by Rev. Fr. Anthony Adebuyusi and Fr. Simeon P. Sa’ad, Chairman and Secretary respectively, of the Communiqué Committee, the coordinators condemned in strong terms the wanton destruction of life and properties in some parts of the country on the basis of religion, noting that “life is a sacred temple of the Holy Spirit.” They also expressed concern on the issue of food security stating: “As much as we encourage food production for our people, we advise that people should beware of genetically modified food.” During the meeting which focused mainly on the agenda for the promotion of Family and Human Life values, the coordinators expressed that adequate attention is not being given to the formation of young people who have the vocation to marriage, the need for continuous formation for married Catholic couples. They added: “Marriage and family life is under serious threat and remains one of the greatest challenges to the Church in Nigeria.” In view of the challenges observed at the meeting the coordinators resolved among other things that: “There is urgent need for a renewed vigour for the pastoral care of the family while pre-marriage courses for intending couples and on-going formation for the married should be given priority and mandatory attention.” Other resolutions arrived at included: collaboration of all agents of evangelization for effective marriage and family life ministry; need for the Church to pay special attention to children and youth, especially in the families, schools and parishes,; need for the Church to be more involved in pro-life activities and the training and retraining of marriage formators and provision of a standard curriculum for marriage preparation and ongoing marriage enrichment. The coordinators called for the involvement of parish priests in the training of the faithful on the use of Natural Family Planning Method in the parishes as well as the strengthening of the Family and Human Life units in all the Archdioceses and dioceses of the country.