The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has suspended Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, for bigotry says capable of dividing the church.
The priest last Sunday, had banned Igbo songs and choruses in his church.
The priest who angrily stopped a soul lifting chorus during the second collection said the Igbos cannot keep dominating other people even in his Church. He sighted the case of his Benin Diocese, where Igbos dominated to the point of becoming the Bishop in person of Most Rev. (Augustine Obiora)Akubueze, who is the president, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), and Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin Diocese.
Rev. Fr. James Anelu said that the spirit of God in any place recognises only languages indigenous to that geographical location.
On saying this, the entire congregation went up in a tumultuous uproar, leading to abrupt dismissal as people massively walked out of the Mass.
Reacting to this unfortunate religious bigotry and Igbophobia, the Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins quickly suspended the priest.
The Catholic Church is not for religious bigots. Thank God for that prompt response. I wish Rev. Father Ejike Camillus Mbaka could also be similarly dealt with, even though he is not in this class of bigotry.
