By Nwafor Sunday
Following the statement made by the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, against the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi, Catholic Church Tuesday, distanced itself from the priest, stating that the church is apolitical and it is wrong for any priest to support a political candidate during election.
Disclosing this on behalf of the Catholic Church in Enugu, the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi, averred that the diocese was not in support of the Mbaka’s remarks.
His words, “The diocese is not in support of any priest making political statements.
“The church is supposed to be apolitical and the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has said this repeatedly.
“We are not supposed to make any political statements from the pulpit within the context of Mass, that is, church service.
“So, it would be wrong to stand at the pulpit to make any political statements.
“There is a document issued by the Bishops’ Conference to that effect.
“So, he just spoke on his own, not representing the diocese.
“We are not expected to come out openly to support a particular candidate for any reason. The church law does not accept such a thing. So, it would be wrong for anybody (priest) to come out and give an endorsement to a particular candidate.”
Mbaka had told Obi to name a project he would do for God after Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and others had donated several items for the ministry.
But Obi, reacting to Mbaka’s request, said that the later would show him a project they have in mind and he will do it and communicate the ministry later.
Angered with the non- exactitude of Obi’s statement, Mbaka said that Atiku/Obi might end up in shame the way they are going.
He equally described Obi as a stingy person, noting that if Obi and Atiku failed to donate to the ministry before December 31, 2018, when he would do his prophecy for 2019 elections, the team will fail.
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