Tobias Sylvester
Pope Francis has condemned the attack on Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga by followers of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
Mbaka Followers Protest
KanyiDaily recalls that Bishop Onaga had banned Catholics from attending the Adoration Ministry, following Mbaka’s recent utterances against the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Barely 24 hours after the ban, Mbaka’s followers gathered on Sunday morning at the Adoration Ground and started a massive protest against Bishop Onaga.
The protesters, who chanted anti-Bishop Onaga songs, called him unprintable names, querying his authority for clamping down on Mbaka’s Ministry.
The supporters, who threatened to take the protest to the bishop’s residence, were, however, prevented from doing so as security operatives rose to the occasion to ensure they did not protest beyond the Adoration ground.
Some of the protesters seen chanting: “No more Onaga”, “Onaga Must Go,” were also violent as they stopped people, including newsmen from taking pictures or videos of what was happening.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Elijah, in a viral video openly threatened to kill Bishop Onaga anywhere he finds him.
Pope Francis Condemns Attack On Bishop Onaga
Reacting to the development, Pope Francis condemned the protest at the Adoration ground, citing an online video of the death threat on Bishop Onaga, describing it as unacceptable.
The Pope spoke through his representative in Nigeria, Papal Nuncio, Antonio Guido Filipazzi, during the installation of Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji as the new metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province in Owerri the Imo State capital.
Filipazzi, who spoke in a homily at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, condemned what he called growing divisive tendencies and other forms of trouble fomented by members of the church, stressing that these were lowering the growth of the family, education and economy, among others.
He said, “I must warn the people of God against disobedience to the church’s constituted authorities. You must not take the laws into their hands as followers of Jesus Christ.
“This brings to mind the protest that took place at the Adoration Ministry Enugu. I was surprised to see an online video where a protester threatened to kill Bishop Callistus Onaga, Bishop of Enugu. This is unacceptable in the church of God.
“The people of God must be mindful of the abuse of the social media to cause the church scandals. You must bear in mind that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic and not a place where people take laws into their hands.”
He urged the Catholic faithful to be conscious of their relationship with their Bishop and respect the laws of the church.
Filipazzi urged the Catholic clergy to always proclaim the undiluted gospel and stand by the doctrine of the church.
The Papal Nuncio, who decried the violence and killings in the land, used the occasion to pray for peace to return to Nigeria.
KanyiDaily recalls that Father Ejike Mbaka had distanced himself from those who protested at the adoration ground, urging his followers to remain calm and desist from attacking or insulting Bishop Callistus Onaga.
