Ahiara catholic priests risk sack

…Laity Council Warns

The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN) has warned Catholic Priests and faithful in Ahiara Diocese, who challenge the posting of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke as the Bishop of the Diocese, to retrace their steps or face severe consequences.

The Chairman of Catholic Laity of Nigeria, Barr. Chizoba Nnnagbo, said the opposing priests and Catholic faithful in the diocese have no option than to religiously comply with the directive of the Holy Father, Pope Francis to accept Bishop Okpalaeke as their Bishop.

He said Catholic Church has a system of selecting leadership and is not subject to any intervention from anybody or group of people. According to him, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria had been scandalised and bewildered by the uncharitable utterances used against the hierarchy of the church.

“We are more stupefied by the fact that these utterances were coming from people who are well schooled in the teaching and doctrines of the Catholic Church. We cannot profess to be catholic, while our words and actions show antithesis,” he said.

The Council Chairman frowned at the name-calling, denigration and blackmail of the hierarchy of the church and called on Mbaise people to exercise restraints, as such action was not in tandem with their cultural milieu.

He asserted that the recent appointment, acceptance and peaceful installation of the Bishop of Ogoja, who hails from Ikot Ekpene was instructive enough to Ahiara.“The teaching of Catholic Church richly documented in our myriad Catholic literature is enough to sway any aggrieved member to the part of obedience to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ,” he noted.