The Catholic Church has explained why it transferred fiery man of God, Father Ejike Mbaka of the Enugu-based Adoration Ministry.
The church said Mbaka’s transfer was not politically motivated as claimed by some persons, saying the controversial priest was only relocated to where he would be more useful to the ministry.
The Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, who made this clarification in an interview with Premium Times on Monday, said transfer of priests within the Catholic Church is a “normal church procedure.”
“Mbaka’s own is not an exception. The Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church,” the cleric said.
Madu was apparently replying to a statement credited to the All Progressives Congress, where it claimed Mbaka’s relocation to Emene was fueled by his recent prophecies about the state of the nation.
Also father Mbaka had in his farewell speech admitted that he was going to suffer in his new place of assignment.
He said, “I know we are going to suffer within now and few months to come,” the priest said. I am going to suffer and suffer; I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer.”
On Sunday, the South-East zone of the All Progressives Congress alleged that Bishop Callistus Onaga was manipulated by external forces into effecting Mr. Mbaka’s transfer.
“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections,” the APC said in a statement by Osita Okechukwu, Spokesperson of its South-East caucus.
“Even the church did not spare him; he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true,” the party claimed in a statement.
Reacting, Madu said “such frivolities have nothing to do with the posting.”
“His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment – which the Bishop can do because he has the power.
“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing, a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years, it depends on the discretion of the Bishop.
“That ministry (Adoration Ministry) is his private ministry, it does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job. Overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.”
“He is supposed to be a missionary. “What if the Bishop had closed down the ministry, which is within his power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong which he might not be aware of. The Bishop is free to move any priest at any time, it is his prerogative,” he explained.
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