The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on Monday expressed concern over the “excesses” of a Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, whose recent comments on the 2015 general elections have continued to generate ripples.
Mbaka had in his New Year message slammed President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to quietly resign from office.
While calling on the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga, to caution the priest, the CSN said Mbaka’s comments concerning the President and the forthcoming general elections were his personal opinion and not that of the Catholic Church.
Secretary-General of CSN, Rev Fr. Ralph Madu, in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja, said there were better ways for Mbaka to pass his message across “considering the explosive nature of this country.”
He said, “With the way the Catholic Church operates, he (Mbaka) belongs to a Diocese and it is the responsibility of his Bishop to draw his attention to that; the name of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese is Bishop Callistus Onaga. The Bishop of Enugu Diocese should draw his attention to it; the (Catholic) Church doesn’t ignore such excesses because there is a procedure.
“If I get a vision to go and kill somebody, will I go and kill? That is what I am telling you, that people like him (Mbaka) have many followers and all over the world, they are the same. When they claim that the spirit is telling them something, who are you to question the spirit? But if the Holy Spirit is telling you something, you must say it in a manner that will forestall confusion and trouble. That is how things are done, it is not the Catholic Church that is speaking; it is just an individual, just one priest. I think if it is taken that way, it will be properly understood.”
According to him, some charismatic leaders “say so many things and most times, they claim they are getting their inspiration from the Holy Spirit or from God.”
He added, “Fr. Mbaka is a popular guy and not like the rest of us and what makes him popular are these prophecies and that is why people are following them. So, I think his Bishop can draw his attention to it.
“You know people like him have many followers and they celebrate them and they visit them for healing and many other spiritual pilgrimages. That is why they attract such type of crowd. Even though he doesn’t make much noise like us, they are the people who have their own followers, and that is why everybody is concerned.”
When asked what the Catholic Church says about visions and prophecies and whether the priest has not been deviating from the Catholic dogma, the CSN scribe said there were better ways of passing across such messages.
He said, “People get messages in visions but if you are talking of the sensitivity of what you are saying, that is the issue. Most times, even when people have the truth, you don’t open your mouth wide. You can be saying something that is true, but there are some ways of passing across that message in a way that it will be acceptable, considering the explosive nature of this country and many other factors.”
Before he “fell out” with Jonathan, Mbaka was one of the President’s supporters and was said to have endorsed him for re-election.
In November 2014, during the annual thanksgiving and bazaar organised by his church, which had many dignitaries, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, in attendance, Mbaka had reportedly said the President had “done well” and deserved another term in office.
He had said Jonathan could have accomplished more if not for “distractions,” adding that “campaigners have no reason asking the President to return the (Chibok) girls home since Mr. Jonathan was not keeping them. Jonathan is not a kidnapper.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Let us pray for the church.
ReplyDeleteWhen same Rev. Mbaka praised president Jonathan during the wife's visit to last year, the catholic secretariat did not ask the Enugu diocese to caution him.
ReplyDeleteIt was not as explosive and volatile as the recent so called New Year message. Please, don't join those leading out priests astray. Even some of his followers began to complain there and then. Mbaka is wrong! For your information, pride goes before a fall and I know that God didn't speak through him. The political opponents of GEJ have used and spoken through Mbaka.
Deleteexactly..... well said....
DeleteGod didn't speak through him but we all can see that what he said has no lies
DeleteThe church has failed.
ReplyDeleteAnybody that condem Fr Mbaka is one of the enemy of this country, I think all other big churches should follow suit by saying the truth or posterity will judge them. Is the message not better than him promising them miracles that will never come. Most of this pastor deceive the followers instead of them telling us like what Mbaka did that our destiny is in our own hands they just give mirage promises and hope that May never comes. Forget the messager(Mbaka ) just concentrate on the message and l think all other pastor should follow suit.
ReplyDeleteMbaka is a brave priest and should be applauded for saying the truth. Let many people in positions of authority publicly say the truth that way our country will be better. It does not matter who said it but what he said is the reality. The destiny of this country is in our hand.
ReplyDeleteLucifer was once an angel of God but when pride and arrogance took over him he started to claim to be God.The rest is history. So, by their fruits we shall know them. Mbaka has derailed so much and may likely more souls astray.Where were the Bishop of Enugu before now? Mbaka over the years has been using his wealth and politics to hold the diocese to ransom and have have been even crossing the line to other neighboring diocese like Okigwe and Owerri where he had earlier been making unguarded comments in issues especially relating to Ohakim and Rochas.
ReplyDeletesome rev father are politician
ReplyDelete