The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, has banned all its members from attending Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry.
This ban, which effectively declares Father Mbaka persona non grata in the Catholic Church came days after torrents of unprecedented criticisms by Nigerians over his description of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as a “stingy man.”
Though Mbaka on Friday renounced himself and tendered apologies for his poor choice of words and misreading of the mood of Nigerian, it was too little too late for the Catholic Church hierarchy.
In a letter he personally signed and addressed to ‘All the Clery, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu’, Bishop Onaga banned them from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
He said in the letter that Mbaka having refused to heed to the Church’s persistent directives, “and in fulfillment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd”, “I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Cathooic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.”
While noting that his decision was based on the fact that Mbaka’s teaching and utterances were not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church, he enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”
