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HomeNewsWe won’t bow to Pope, Ahiara Catholics vow

We won’t bow to Pope, Ahiara Catholics vow

The defiance of Catholics in Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise area of Imo State, has taken a new dimension as Mbaise Catholics in the Diaspora have been mobilsed to reject Bishop Peter Okpalaeke as the Diocesan Bishop of Ahiara, despite Pope Francis’ warning that the agitation against the priest is unacceptable.

It will be recalled that at the peak of the resistance to Okpalaeke’s appointment, said to be spear-headed by Catholic Priests of Mbaise extraction, the Vatican had invited the agitating Priests for an audience with the Pope.

Our correspondent learnt that after deliberations, Pope Francis frowned at the situation in Ahiara, saying it is inadmissible and consequently gave every priest of Mbaise descent 30 days, which expires July 9, (today) to write a letter to apologise for their opposition. They are also to pledge their obedience to the Papacy and accept the bishop appointed for their diocese.

Although the Priests have complied with the Pope’s order, a diaspora group named Ahiara Diocesan World-wide Laity Council, led by one Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, is insisting that Mbaise Catholics will not bow to the Pope except justice is done.

In a position paper titled, ‘The Ahiara Episcopal Grab,’ signed by 224 people, maintained among other things, that the appointment of Bishop Okpalaeke was fraudulent; due process was not followed; and that “Ahiara Diocese rejects the violation of the canonical process that produced Bishop Okpalaeke. Can. 377 &2, provides guidance.”
Earlier, the agitating Priests had argued that the Church hierarchy in Nigeria lied to the Pope that Okpalaeke was rejected because of ethnic sentiment.

While addressing pressmen recently, President of Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Priests Association (ADCPA), Ahiara Diocese, Rev. Dr. Austin Ekechukwu, said that the Reverend fathers of Ahiara Diocese origin within and outside the diocese have complied with the Pope’s directives, adding, “We are not disobeying the Pope and we cannot disobey the Pope. What we are saying is that we should not be suppressed. They are subverting the truth. They are shielding the Pope from the truth. Let the right thing be done.”

“The Church hierarchy in Nigeria lied to the Pope that we are rejecting Okpalaeke because of ethnic sentiment. But the truth is that the process of his selection was not transparent. We are still wondering how his name from another state entirely not even from a Diocese within the Ecclesiastical Province was appointed the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.

“We are not disobeying the Pope, we have all written the apology letter as he directed, but we want to make it clear that the appointment of Bishop Okpalaeke was a fraud and we are saying that another Bishop should be appointed from the Province, if not from Ahiara Diocese,” said another Priest, Rev Father Joseph Ezeji.

Mobilizing Mbaise Laity in the Diaspora, the Ahiara Diocesan World-wide Laity Council accused Cardinal Francis Arinze, a native of Anambra State at the Vatican, of perpetuating nepotism and attempting to derail the code of canonical law.

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“It is unacceptable for Cardinal Francis Arinze to derail the code of canonical law, disqualify an entire slate of candidates of Ahiara Presbyterium, in order to grab an additional episcopal see, for an Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Anambara State that already has eight bishops and one cardinal.”

The diaspora group also accused Bishop Okpalaeke and the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Jos, Archbishop Ignitius Kaigama, of neglecting their pastoral obligations saying: “Since his appointment five years ago, it is a clear sign that Bishop Okpalaeke and his representative, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, appointed to administer the Diocese in his stead, do not care for the flock of God in Ahiara Diocese. ‘We have been so starved of the Sacraments of Confirmation and priestly ordination and all other Pastoral obligations reserved to the Bishops.’

“The Bishop Okpalaeke crisis has incapacitated him to efficiently administer the Diocese… The code of canon law Can.401 § 2 states that, ‘A diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office.’ Bishop Okpalaeke should immediately resign or be reassigned. He makes the flock to scatter and run away (John 10:5). His name alone brings anger, fear and disaffection to the people,” the group said.

Invariably, the group added that Ahiara Diocese is not disobeying the Pope, but rather helping the Holy See in reforming the Church, making sure that people do not commit ecclesiastical crimes in his name.

They insisted that the grievances of the Diocese are strong, justified and deserve a fair hearing by his Holiness Pope Francis, especially for the potential disruptive impact on evangelisation globally.

“It is worthy of note that Ahiara Diocese has about 750 priests, who trace their origin to the Presbyterium. Since the establishment of the Diocese in 1987, there have been at least 167 priestly ordinations for the Diocese. The Diocese is currently served by 127 priests and 113 religious. With such a wealth of priests, the Ahiara diocese has sent more than its share of missionaries around the world, and yes, has contributed to the universality of the church and sure can differentiate it from lawlessness,’ the group said.

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