A Time to Break Silence: On the Appointment of Catholic Bishops in Nigeria

In A Time to Break Silence, Joseph F. Mali argues that given the complexity of Nigeria as a multiethnic society, and in view of the volatile situation in the country, especially the relentless bloodshed in the northern region, there is an urgent need to amend the current process for selecting Catholic bishops in Nigeria. Presently episcopal appointments are the prerogative of the hierarchy and a few influential players.

Nigerian Catholics, Mali maintains, are the best judge of their worse...