Catholics Banned From Attending Fr Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry

Bishop Calistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, has ordered that Catholics no longer attend Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry.

This follows Mbaka’s recent vitriol directed towards the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

During his mid-week prayer services, Mbaka announced that Peter Obi, who he described as “a stingy man,” could not be Nigeria’s president. He also claimed to be “cursed.”

Mbaka’s attack on Obi violated Canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming a person’s good name, according to the Catholic Diocese of Enugu which disassociated itself from Mbaka.

In a letter addressed to ‘All the Clery, Religious, and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu,’ Bishop Onaga personally signed, he forbade them from participating in the Adoration Ministry.

According to the bishop, Mbaka had refused to heed the Church’s repeated directives “and in fulfilment 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 stating that his verdict was based on Mbaka’s teachings and utterances not being consistent with Catholic Church doctrine, he enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”

The letter prohibiting Catholics from attending 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.”