He added, “St Philomena Catholic Hospital, and its educational institutions, namely: School of Midwifery and College of Nursing Sciences, are owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City; built, equipped and funded by the Archdiocese and kind donations from benefactors like Mr Peter Obi amongst many others.”
He warned that politicizing the mission and legacy of a Church institution not only distorts the truth but also undermines the Church’s longstanding contributions to the common good.
“This appears to be a case of political revisionism, which sacrifices facts for distortion. To suggest that a Church-owned facility is ‘government-owned’ and ‘government-funded’, simply to downplay a charitable act by a political opponent, is not only unethical but profoundly damaging,” Fr. Orah said.
He urged all citizens to “critically evaluate public statements and demand accountability for the information disseminated in the public domain.”
St. Philomena Catholic Hospital was founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries as part of the Church’s apostolic mandate to heal, educate, and uphold the dignity of the human person, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
The hospital, Fr. Orah told journalists, “has served faithfully without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation”
“Since its establishment, the institution has been sustained through the sacrificial giving of the Church, the labour of priests and religious sisters, the goodwill of donors, and modest service charges,” he said.
The Priest noted that the institution “does not enjoy any governmental subvention or state budgetary allocation as claimed by Senator Oshiomhole.”
Fr. Orah reminded journalists that the Catholic Church’s involvement in healthcare is a theological and moral obligation.
“The Church … gives aid to every human being who suffers, and strives to bring healing to the world not merely through words but by concrete acts of service. This is what St. Philomena Catholic Hospital represents: a living ministry of healing and love, not a political facility in a government ledger,” he said.
