The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Adewale Martins, says the
Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka,
could be banned from preaching if he continues to deviate from the doctrine and
tenets of the Catholic Church.
Martins who was appointed Archbishop of Lagos by the Pope in
2012, said this during an interview with BBC Igbo while reacting to Mbaka’s
prophecy that Hope Uzodinma would emerge as governor of Imo State.
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Mbaka had on New Year’s Eve prophesied that Uzodinma would
emerge as governor in 2020, a prophecy which came to pass on Tuesday when the
Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha and named Uzodinma as the duly elected
governor.
Reacting to the prophecy which has stirred a heated debate,
the archbishop said Mbaka is under the Diocese of Enugu and therefore does not
report to him.
He, however, said if Mbaka continues in the manner with
which he is doing things, the Catholic Church may bar him from ministering.
Responding to a question, Martins said, “Fr Mbaka falls
under the authority of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese and therefore he has the
responsibility of cautioning him. I can imagine that this must be giving the
bishop some challenges.
“It must be giving him a bit of a headache and I feel sorry
for him and I hope he will find some way of dealing with this matter that has
been recurring. Of course, what could be done in the end is either to say ok
you receive the sanction of being stopped from public ministry. That is a
possibility. If it is not done, there must be a reason.”
Martins who was ordained a priest in 1983, said the Catholic
Church does not engage in partisan politics.
He said even if Mbaka received a prophecy from God, he ought
to ensure that his conduct corresponds with the scriptures and the doctrine of
the Catholic Church.
The archbishop added, “It is utterly surprising that Fr
Mbaka would go as far as naming one person as governor against another. It is
embarrassing when you hear of priests or people in position of authority making
statements that are clearly partisan as far as politics is concerned.
“The position of the Catholic Church on matters that have to
do with politics is not to be partisan in statements that are made. Of course,
we as a church cannot be oblivious to political events and happenings in the
country or the world at large and therefore we must speak from the point of
view of principles.
“The priest who believes he has a gift of prophecy has to
test whatever has been told to him in the light of the scriptures, in the light
of the teachings of the church and in terms of the authority that has been
given to leaders in the church.”
Martins said Mbaka’s behaviour was at variance with the
teachings of the Catholic Church and he had fallen below the standard expected
of priests.
“Therefore, this kind of prophecy or vision that Fr Mbaka is talking about is certainly not the kind that we expect of priests in the Catholic Church,” he said.
(Punch)