Angered by the uncharitable conduct of the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, the Lagos Catholic Church has wielded the big stick, directing the god of men to proceed on leave without pay.
Rev. Fr. Anelu in a bizarre pronouncement, banned Igbo songs and choruses in his parish arguing that the excesses of Ndigbo must be contained.
The Priest angrily stopped a soul lifting chorus during the second collection noting that Igbos cannot keep dominating other people even in his Church.
He cited the case of his Benin Diocese where Igbos dominate to the point of becoming the Bishop in person of Akubueze adding that the spirit of God in any place recognises only languages indigenous to that geographical location.
This ignoble utterance by a supposed ordained priest didn’t sit down well with the members as the entire congregation went up in tumultuous uproar, staging a massive walk out of the mass.
However, in a swift reaction, the Lagos Diocese dismissed the priest’s comment as “completely unacceptable” adding that the “unsavoury” remarks by Rev. Fr Anelu “doesn’t represent the Catholic Church position on common brotherhood of people of all tribes and religion.”
In a disclaimer issued by Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos, the priest “has been asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence to give an opportunity for a thorough investigation of all matters relating to his ministry in the parish.”
The leave of absence takes effect from Tuesday, 8th February, 2022.
I dont just understand some people o, in this era where Yorubas are learning igbo songs and igbo learning Hausa songs with other ethnic groups just to praise our God… I think the good step has been taken already such should not be allowed in the house of God *we are to be called brethren*
Someone that calls himself man of God should be holy and not discriminatory. Not worthy to be called a priest of God at all at all.