Francis met June 8 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Ahiara diocese, where priests have been refusing to accept the 2012 appointment by the then pontiff, Benedict XVI, of the local bishop.
Though Okpaleke is an Igbo from Anambra State, the Catholic leaders in Ahiara rejected him because he is not an Igbo man from Mbaise.
Yesterday, the pope threatened to suspend the priests from the ministry if they didn't pledge in a letter, by July 9, "total obedience" to Francis and accept Bishop Peter Okpaleke's appointment.
Francis told the visiting delegation he was "very sad" about the priests' refusal to obey and ruled out tribal loyalties as explaining the refusal. His remarks to the visiting delegation indicated how dangerous he viewed any rebellion against papal authority.
Those priests opposing Okpaleke's taking up of his office "want to destroy the church, which is not permitted," Francis said in his address to the delegation. He demanded that each priest in the diocese write to him asking forgiveness and "clearly manifest total obedience to the pope."
They must also accept the bishop chosen by Rome. If, within a month, each priest doesn't do so, he will be "ispo facto suspended," such as from the celebration of the sacraments, and "will lose his current office," Francis warned.
He added that he had even considered the extraordinary remedy of suppressing the entire diocese but didn't, so as not to hurt rank-and-file faithful.
Well,,the pope should follow the wish of the people not him.,..he should not be a dictator., parishioners should be able to decide who leads them,...
ReplyDeleteSorry the catholic church is not a political system where u think your interest will over-ride the powers of the church. The church preaches love and unity and not selfishness and parochial ethnic sentiments. All priests promised to be obedient to the church and her rules, and to jettison that obligation is to disrespect the church, and lose your position as a catholic priest.
DeleteEvery priest is meant to be loyal to the bishops and pope as well, and such respect them and their orders
ReplyDeleteThe pope and bishop should be obeyed, the pope is the head of the church. There should not be division or ethnicity in the house of God.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much to add but let the proper thinz be done
ReplyDeleteIt's selfishness,they want mbaise man .after they will say biafra,when they don't even love there fellow igbo man.
ReplyDeleteSo if mbaise man is yet to reach rank of BISHOP they will make him bishop because he's from misuse.fools after church money.well I advice everyone if it happens never give offering or donation in a church outside your state of origin,keep your money anytime you travel give it in your state.