Pope Francis Angry With Nigerian Priests Warn That They May Lose Their Jobs
Pope Francis has laid down an ultimatum to defiant Nigerian priests: lose your job if you don’t obey me and your bishop.
According to a report by Associated Press, Pope Francis met June 8 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Ahiara diocese, south-east Nigeria where priests have been refusing to accept the 2012 appointment by the then pontiff, Benedict XVI, of the local bishop.
According to a report by Associated Press, Pope Francis met June 8 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Ahiara diocese, south-east Nigeria where priests have been refusing to accept the 2012 appointment by the then pontiff, Benedict XVI, of the local bishop.
The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, reporting the pope’s
unusually harsh order, said on Sunday that Francis was acting “for the
good of the people of God” by threatening to suspend the priests from
the ministry if they didn’t pledge in a letter, by July 9, “total
obedience” to Francis and accept Bishop Peter Okpaleke’s appointment.
Mr. Francis told the visiting delegation he was “very sad” about the priests’ refusal to obey and ruled out tribal loyalties as explaining the refusal.
Africa has been one of the continents where the Catholic church is growing. The faithful and clergy there often imbue their practices with local culture in dynamic contrast to more traditional routines in Europe or North America.
Also See: Christians Should Apologize to Gays For Maltreatment- Pope Francis
Mr. Francis told the visiting delegation he was “very sad” about the priests’ refusal to obey and ruled out tribal loyalties as explaining the refusal.
Africa has been one of the continents where the Catholic church is growing. The faithful and clergy there often imbue their practices with local culture in dynamic contrast to more traditional routines in Europe or North America.
Also See: Christians Should Apologize to Gays For Maltreatment- Pope Francis
Francis’ move to end disobedience to the Vatican aims at ensuring the growing church there will be loyal to the pontiff.
His remarks to the visiting delegation indicated how dangerous he viewed any rebellion against papal authority.
Those priests opposing Mr. Okpaleke’s taking up of his office “want to destroy the church, which is not permitted,” the pope said in his address to the delegation.
He added: “the pope can’t be indifferent” to the rebellion.
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His remarks to the visiting delegation indicated how dangerous he viewed any rebellion against papal authority.
Those priests opposing Mr. Okpaleke’s taking up of his office “want to destroy the church, which is not permitted,” the pope said in his address to the delegation.
He added: “the pope can’t be indifferent” to the rebellion.
Also See: Pregnant Secretary Of Pope Francis Found Dead
He has often taken a conciliatory tone in resolving disputes, but in
this one he was entertaining no diplomacy. He demanded that each priest
in the diocese write to him asking forgiveness and “clearly manifest
total obedience to the pope.”
They must also accept the bishop chosen by Rome. If, within a month, each priest doesn’t do so, he will be “ispo facto suspended,” such as from the celebration of the sacraments, and “will lose his current office,” Francis warned.
Francis acknowledged that his move “seems very harsh.” He added that he had even considered the extraordinary remedy of suppressing the entire diocese but didn’t, so as not to hurt rank-and-file faithful.
They must also accept the bishop chosen by Rome. If, within a month, each priest doesn’t do so, he will be “ispo facto suspended,” such as from the celebration of the sacraments, and “will lose his current office,” Francis warned.
Francis acknowledged that his move “seems very harsh.” He added that he had even considered the extraordinary remedy of suppressing the entire diocese but didn’t, so as not to hurt rank-and-file faithful.
He said he thought the rebellious priests might have been manipulated
from outside the diocese or even abroad, but named no culprits.
In 2015, the diocese served around 520,000 Catholics, out of a local population of about 675,000, and had 128 diocesan priests and seven other priests. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the priests were involved in the rebellion against the bishop’s appointment.
In 2015, the diocese served around 520,000 Catholics, out of a local population of about 675,000, and had 128 diocesan priests and seven other priests. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the priests were involved in the rebellion against the bishop’s appointment.
Category: News About Men of God
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