The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, has prohibited Catholics from visiting the Adoration Ministry of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
This restriction followed Mbaka’s recent vituperation against the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
During his midweek prayer exercises, Mbaka labeled the Labour Party’s presidential candidate as a “stingy man” who would not be president of Nigeria.
Additionally, he claimed the candidate was cursed.
Shortly thereafter, the Catholic Diocese of Enugu distanced itself from the statements, saying that Mbaka’s attack on Obi violated Canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which forbade anybody from unjustly damaging a person’s reputation.
In a letter that he personally signed and sent to “All the Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu,” Bishop Onaga prohibited them from participating in the Adoration Ministry.
In light of Mbaka’s persistent refusal to comply with the Church’s directives, he stated in the letter, “in fulfillment of my pastoral duties as Chief Shepherd, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious, and lay faithful) from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the canonical process initiated by the Diocese has been completed.”
Noting that his decision was based on the reality that Mbaka’s views and statements were inconsistent with Catholic Church doctrine, he urged “the Christian faithful to continue praying for Fr. Mbaka.”
Some members of the Adoration Ministry disagree with the decision of the Enugu Diocese of the Catholic Church to prohibit members of the congregation from attending Father Mbaka’s church.
While some were shocked by the discovery, others remarked that it was something they had long anticipated.
Damian Ihuoma, one of the followers, stated, “The news came as a nasty shock. Tomorrow (Sunday) I had intended to take my daughter to Adoration for her dedication, but now I have no choice but to reschedule.
“I am Catholic and I adhere to her teachings on obedience. Since this evening, I’ve been sending text messages to my buddies requesting that they do not return. Thus, the ban was unexpected.”
Another follower, Anthony Okechukwu, stated, “Those who are familiar with the Catholic church and how it operates anticipate that it will be slow to anger but decisive.” I informed my friends that Mbaka and the Adoration Ministry may be destroyed by the Peter Obi scandal. The issue has not been resolved!
“The assertion that canonical proceedings will follow the ban is pregnant. If the claims of disobedience and unethical behavior are verified, the highest sanction will be expulsion, especially because he was allegedly warned multiple times in the past.
“The best anyone who loves him can do is to pray for him, because he does have some positive qualities that we cannot dispute. Even the Bishop’s letter made it abundantly apparent that he requires our prayers. Let us pray for him rather than assigning blame.”
Members of the Adoration Ministry, who called for prayers, underlined the need to unite in prayer for Mbaka to emerge from his trial period stronger and unwavering in his faith.
One of them, a former seminarian named Godwin Eze, told Sunday PUNCH, “Right now, we owe Rev. Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka prayers.”