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Enugu Catholic Diocese bans members from attending Mbaka’s ministry

The Enugu State Catholic Diocese has banned all Catholic faithful from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry, Enugu.

The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, who made this known via a statement he personally issued on Saturday, said the teachings and utterances of Fr. Mbaka at the Catholic Ministry were not consistent with the teachings and faith of the church.

The latest development is following after Mbaka called the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, a stingy man, and directed his followers not to vote for the former governor of Anambra State in the 2023 general election.

The cleric, during a prayer service at his church in Enugu on Wednesday, said Obi was a man without a generous spirit, saying “a gum-holder” would not be accepted as a president of the country.

Mbaka later apoligised to Obi and prayed that the Labour Party presidential candidate will succeed in his political career.

The cleric stressed that his intention was not to malign Obi’s image, adding that he is not a member of any political party.

However, Bishop Onaga, while announcing the ban on Catholic faithful from attending the Adoration Ministry, said Mbaka refused to heed the church’s persistent directives.

He stated: “In the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu; capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry; and after having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated; and in fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.

“My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church.

“I enjoin all the Christian Faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka and the Catholic Diocese of Enugu as I entrust him and the Diocese to the maternal care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles,” the statement read.

The Star