By Matthew Don
Priests attached to the Ahiara Catholic Diocese who apologized to the Pontiff as directed by Pope Francis have started receiving letters of reinstatement from Rome, Aramadanews.com can confirm.
Some of them who have actually got their feedback letters from the Vatican are already rejoicing that they have not lost their jobs.
But it is a different thing if they will go back to where they are coming from- insist on not allowing Bishop Peter Okpaleke originally posted to their Diocese preside over their affairs.
One of the Priests, Very Rev. Fr. (Dr.) C. Ebii attached to one of the popular parishes in Ahiara has confirmed receipt of feedback from the Vatican which restored him to his apostolic stool.
Recently, the Pope announced he had forgiven the recalcitrant priests after they wrote the apology letter he directed them to write on or before Sunday, the July 9.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State advised the priests recently when they ran to him for counseling to obey the Pope.
The governor told the Priests and Laity at the headquarters of the Diocese that the decision of the Pope was binding on them and regretted that the Priests were in the forefront of the agitation.
He told them that the Church would become an object of mockery if the crisis ends the way the Priests and Laity in the Diocese want it to end.
Arrowhead of the protesting priests, President of the Diocesan Priests Association of Ahiara, Rev. Father Austine Ekechukwu announced much later that they had apologised, thereby eating the humble pie.
Reverend Father Ekechukwu said early this month that his members have tendered unreserved apology to Pope Francis through a letter restating their obedience to the head of the Catholic Church.
Rev. Ekechukwu said those who thought they were going to be excommunicated have been disappointed, noting that they have the highest respect for the Pontiff.
In apparent response to a comment by President of Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama who is also Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jos that the Ahiara priests risked excommunication if they disobeyed the Pope on his mandate to them on or before July 9 to apologise to him, Rev. Ekechukwu said it was not in their character to disobey the Pope.
Ekechukwu had said: “This is a private letter Pope asked us to write. The Pope’s directives have been complied with. Whatever the Pope asked us to do in line with the constitution of the Catholic church, we have done. It is not for anybody to interpret the Pope’s action.
“We are not disobeying the Pope and we cannot disobey the Pope. What we are saying is that we should not be suppressed. they are subverting the truth. They are shielding the Pope from the truth. Let the right thing be done. If someone says Catholic priests in Ahiara Diocese are not up to 700, in America alone we have over 70 priests ordained there, we have many of us ordained in other parts the world. Here in the Diocese, over 40 deacons have been denied ordination since the saga started.”
Said Okorocha: “I’m here in Ahiara Mbaise Diocese to bring peace. I’ve been meeting with the priests of this Diocese for over one hour now. And the meeting is all about peace, peace, peace. Peace is very expensive and the bible says to us, pursue peace and not walk towards peace because peace is a very very expensive commodity, but there can be no peace without justice.
“I am a catholic, and I’m also the governor of Imo State. I’ve come here to see my people and address you on the burning issues affecting this Diocese. But I wish you can listen to me attentively so that you can go home with something. I’ve had meeting with all the Priests. I’ve listened to their anger, their grievances and I’m aware of all the historical backgrounds following this agitation. But the moment we are now is a very bad moment. There are so many agitations, so many crises here and there and it looks like Satan has relocated his headquarters to Nigeria. But by the grace of God, we shall fight and destroy these satanic forces.
“We’re talking about Ahiara Diocese, IPOB, Boko Haram, Kidnapping, Niger Delta etc. But the one that touches me so much is the crisis of Ahiara Diocese because this touches the fabrics of our faith. First, we’re Christians and you must understand that Christianity is a very difficult religion because Christianity doesn’t preach comfort for us rather, ability to accept persecution. Today, we have a challenge that whatever has made Ahiara a centre of crisis, we must change it for better.
“Declaration of Biafran War, Ahiara; killing of a steward, Ahiara and now, Diocesan agitation spanning six years and attracting global focus also Ahiara. We must change the story of Ahiara. I want to state here categorically that since this crisis, I’ve been listening patiently and watching. But I had wished that my advise was taken ab-initio and ipso-facto. If Mbaise must be in the news, it must be in the news for the right reasons. This is because Mbaise is the largest single ethnic group in the South-East and there is no place you will go in this world, without having an Mbaise man, doing well in that region. Mbaise contributes substantially to what makes Imo thick.
“Now listen very well my brothers, what I want to say to you now is for your benefit and betterment. You must know that too much of right can also lead to wrong. Mbaise people have made their point. The whole world has heard you, they have listened to you, any further issue on this matter by Mbaise, might not be spoken the way it had been heard before. Let me tell you the gospel truth of how the world is looking at you now, I don’t know how you will take it after my speech now. But I have spoken like Pontus Pilate, I have come to restore peace in this particular place.
“The whole world knows that the Pope has asked all the priests from Mbaise to write a letter of apology to him minus a few of them, to beg the Pope. It might be right, it might be wrong but that’s not the question. But the fact is that before the world, we are no longer enjoying this peace because Mbaise has more priests in the whole of South-East. But sometimes, a wise person behaves foolishly for the sake of his children. So, we must change our style before we deny ourselves of our justice.
“It’s unfortunate that the priests themselves are at the very front of this agitation because the decision of the Pope is binding on them. Please, we must preserve this our priestly order by maintaining the status quo from the papacy. Mbaise must never be seen as a people that disobeyed the Pope and the church.
“Christianity never taught us to be violent rather it’s all about enduring persecution and pains. So, like the priests agreed with me earlier, there must be no room for protest. For now you have done well but don’t overdo it, just leave the stage when the ovation is hot.
“I don’t think any Bishop would like to come to a place where the people don’t want him. You can’t force people to be with somebody they don’t want to stay with. But be careful how you reject people because many a times, the rejected always turns out to be the best. There should be no more protests. No matter who the Pope sends to you, you must rise up to welcome him if not, the church will become an object of mockery. Because if the Pope takes it the way you want it, the church, the Catholic Church will die.
“I want you to see the possibility that Mbaise sons can also become Bishops elsewhere extending to other states and will be accepted like any other.”