Bishop Calistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, has banned Catholic faithful from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry henceforth.
This is coming following Mbaka’s recent vituperation against the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Mbaka had during his mid-week prayer activities declared that Peter Obi, “a stingy man”, could not be Nigeria’s president. He also said that he was “cursed.”
Shortly after, the Catholic Diocese of Enugu disassociated from the utterances, noting that Mbaka’s attack on Obi breached Canon 220 of 1983 Code of the Canon Law that prohibited anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person.
In a letter Bishop Onaga personally signed, which was addressed to ‘All the Clery, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu’, he banned them from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
He said in the letter that Mbaka, having refused to heed to the Church’s persistent directives, “and in fulfillment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd, 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.”
While noting that his decision was based on the fact that Mbaka’s teaching and utterances were not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church, he enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”
The letter banning Catholics going to Adoration Ministry reads,
“To All the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu
“Dear Msgri, Frs., Bros. and Srs..
Dear People of God,
PASTORAL INJUNCTION ON ATTENDANCE TO CATHOLIC ADORATION MINISTRY CHAPLAINCY ENUGU
“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.”