Church condemns spate of clergy abductions

 The Catholic church has lamented the increasing abductions of clergy men in parts of the country, saying government must sit up and handle the chaos of kidnaps.   Rev. Fr. Christopher Namibia, the assistant parish priest of the Catholic Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles in Abuja's Central Business District, said the recent kidnap of priests in Makurdi and Kano and the resulting demand for ransom have created big problems.   Speaking at the parish's celebration of Father's Day, he said, "It has gotten to a point where everyone has to protect oneself but we have a government whoes job is to protect us."  "We are living in a chaotic situation and there is an urgent need for the government of the day to sit up," he added.  His comments came as the church awarded 20 fathers for their dedication to the things of God as well as for being role models.   "Fathers have a role to play and one of those responsibilities is to be a shepherd and when they are busy not even  catechising their children and giving them the basic Christian and human values, what do you expect? These children grow up without even their parents guiding them," said the cleric.  "The family is the domestic church, the family is also the cell of society. If there is a problem with the family, which is the domestic church and the cell of society, automatically the church and society has a problem," he noted.   Head of the parish's Catholic Men Organisation, Michael Awunor, said the 20 awardees, including two posthumous recipients, were being recognised for the manner, not quantity, in which they have contributed to both the church and society.