Advertisement
*Reject Bishop Okpalaeke’s Associate
What is remaining of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise in Imo State was last week laid bare as more than 200 priests from the diocese trooped out to protest the appointment of one of their own, Rev. Fr. Clement Ebii as the Vicar General of the Diocese by the Apostolic Administrator, John Cardinal Onaiyekan.
The priests, it was learnt, also sponsored the Catholic Women Organisation to embark on another round of demonstration to force Cardinal Onaiyekan to withdraw that appointment, saying the appointment of Fr. Ebii was part of the “desperate attempts of Cardinal Onaiyekan to further cause the internal crisis in the diocese”.
The appointment of Fr. Ebii followed the resignation of Rev. Fr. Professor Louis Asiegbu last April, whose advice that the pro-Bishop Okpalaeke priests should not be given viable parishes(as part of their punishment), was ignored by Cardinal Onaiyekan, who instead, posted one of the priests, Fr. Chima Ahaneku to St. Patrick’s Parish Umuokrika Ekwereazu.
While some of the protesting priests, who demonstrated at the Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral, Ahiara Mbaise, accused Onaiyekan of trying to use the appointment of Fr. Ebii to bring back the “rejected” Bishop Okpalaeke, others accused Fr. Ebii of scheming to become the new bishop of the diocese.
One of the protesting priests and Editor-in-chief of The Guide (Ahiara Diocese Newspaper), Rev. Fr.Kingsley Anyanwu, described the appointment as weird, saying that Fr. Ebii had not been in good standing with the diocese since three years now.
247ureports.com learnt from another priest that the main reason for the rejection of Fr. Ebii as the Vicar General was because “he is one of the eight Ahiara Diocesan priests who have been working hard for the installation of the rejected and impeded Bishop Okpalaeke in Ahiara Diocese”.
The priest who did not mention his name said, “In his determination to bring Bishop Okpalaeke back to the diocese, Fr. Ebii has done so many unspeakable things to discredit the presbyterium of Ahiara Diocese. Just last month, he reported to the police authorities in Owerri and Abuja that the priests of Ahiara Diocese were out to kidnap and murder him. He later submitted the names of eight priests of the diocese for being responsible for the attempted kidnap and murder”.
The priests accused Fr. Ebii of detesting the fellowship of his fellow. “He does not attend priests’ monthly recollection neither does he attend priests’ annual retreats. He has refused to meet up with his obligations to the diocesan chancery office. He has more than 55 debts to the diocese hanging around his neck.”
Investigations by 247ureports.com reveal that following the manner some senior priests schemed to become the bishop of the diocese after the death of Bishop Victor Chikwe by mudslinging others, as well the manner many priests in the diocese behaved towards Bishop Okpalaeke, Fr. Ebii, a parish priest of Rose’s Catholic Church, Ihitte in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, decided to avoid their association.
Since then, he had bluntly refused to pay burial levies for deceased fellow priests as well as refusing to allow his parishioners to participate in any common activity of the diocese as well as imposing sanctions on any of his parishioners that participates in the diocesan or deanery ceremonies.
He was said to have rejected senior seminarians posted to his parish for the six-week Apostolic work.
During the crisis last year where the priests stopped Bishop Okpalaeke from assuming office, Fr. Ebii was said to have declared publicly that he had broken communion with the Ahiara Diocesan Presbyterium until further notice, describing the actions of the priests of the diocese as antichrist and demonic.
With this in mind, the priests vowed that they would not be alive to see Fr. Ebii superintend over them as the vicar.
It was gathered that the priests had instigated the members of St. Patrick’s Umuokrika to reject the posting of Rev. Fr. Chima Ahaneku to the parish by Cardinal Onaiyekan, citing his supportive role to the rejected Bishop Okpalaeke
Advertisement
And Mbaise sons and daughters want to be governor of Imo state !
Ahiara priests should please wake up to the reality of their calling to the apostolate. Disunity and divisions amongst the people of God is variously condemned by the Bible and all the the documents of the Holy See- Code of Canon Law, The Second Vatican Council etc.
The Ahiara priests layfaithfuls who are leading protests against Bishop Okpaleke and the new Vicar General are only exhibiting their ignorance and personal sinfulness to the general public. They think Catholic religion is for gain of family and village prosperity as some of them have been fattening on the purses of the poor and obedient faithfuls and overseas benefactors of the diocese.
It is a sad development because most of these detractors are doomed to hell fire if they do not repent before the die. Jesus said woe betide those who cause these little ones to fall. It were better if a milestone is hung on their neck and thrown into the sea along with them. It is abominable to have priest encourage their layfaithfuls and women to march out aganist their new Bishop and the new Vicar General. God will judge between His church and those priest and the faithful they are misleading.
Mbaise people should know that their sons and daughters are all over the world serving as priests and religious and it has not been reported that any diocese has asked Mbaise born Bishop or priest to vacate their seats for seasons bothering on their not beEing sons of the soil. Thast shameful terminology which should never be part of Catholic Ideology. We are all one before God.
Repent and be forgiven, jesus is asking the rebel priest to come back and embrace peace and be saved. Let sall the good people of Mabaise rise up and say enouhgh, let the new Bishop serve. The Pope has appinted someone Bishop and that appointment has been ratified in Heaven And as they live the virtues of Obedience, faith and religion may God bless them and enrich the all.
Mbaise people!
I learnt from people of Ibo land that you are safer with a viper than an Mbaise person. Does the action of these unfaithful priests with their followers not buttress this assertion?
why do all the fights n querrels among u come from ?they come from your desires for pleasure which are constantly fighting within you. You want things but you cant have them so u are ready to kill … James 4 : 1-2 pls my dear priests of God let the spirit of God lead … May God continue to guide u Amen
I LOVE MBAISE !
@Buat, be careful on what you say on issues like this for those that made those your assertion in the past are either today dead or mad. May I ask you how can you prove to me that all the Priests in Ahiara Diocese are from Mbaise. Also what parameters did you use in measuring unfaithful Priests?
Well, what is happening in this Mbaise case is the effect of creating a diocese just for a cluster of villages. It is all rural poverty and mentality that drive the parishioners – clergy and laity – here.
Well, what is happening in this Mbaise case is the effect of creating a diocese just for a cluster of villages. It is all rural poverty and mentality that drive the parishioners – clergy and laity – here. One would suggest that Ahiara diocese be merged to Owerri or Okigwe diocese.
Well, what is happening in this Mbaise case is the effect of creating a diocese just for a cluster of villages. It is all rural poverty and mentality that drive the parishioners – clergy and laity – here. To stop Mbaise people from further bringing shame to the Catholic Church worldwide, or even commit murder, one would suggest that Ahiara diocese be merged to Owerri or Okigwe Catholic diocese.
An Mbaise son was just recently made the Vice Chancellor of Unizik in Awka.
My kingdom is not of this world. If it were …… so said Jesus. These People worship me on their lips but their heart is far from me so said Jesus.
The world shall know you are my disciple if you love one another …Jesus said.
What Bible are these Mba use Priests using ?
Is it Hiajioku version or Ala Ogbaga version ?
NDI MBAFIVE~ LET THOSE THAT NAME THE NAME OF THE LORD DEPART FROM INQUITY. GOD IS GOD; HE’S NO MAN. WHAT EVER A MAN SOWS HE REAPS. RESPECT YOU LEADERS.