Controversial Sermon: Catholic Secretariat Asks Enugu Bishop To Warn Mbaka

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) expressed concern over the strong criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan by Rev Father Ejike Mbaka of Adoration Ministries in Enugu, accusing him of double-speaking.

Bishop Callistus Onaga though asking the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese to caution the priest, the CSN said Mbaka’s statements about Jonathan and the February elections were his personal opinion and had no connections with Catholic Church.

Rev Fr. Ralph Madu, secretary-General of CSN, said there were better means for Mbaka to deliver his message across “considering the explosive nature of this country.”

Madu said: “With the way the Catholic Church operates, he (Mbaka) belongs to a Diocese and it is the responsibility of his Bishop to draw his attention to that; the name of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese is Bishop Callistus Onaga. The Bishop of Enugu Diocese should draw his attention to it; the (Catholic) Church doesn’t ignore such excesses because there is a procedure.

“If I get a vision to go and kill somebody, will I go and kill? That is what I am telling you, that people like him (Mbaka) have many followers and all over the world, they are the same. When they claim that the spirit is telling them something, who are you to question the spirit? But if the Holy Spirit is telling you something, you must say it in a manner that will forestall confusion and trouble. That is how things are done, it is not the Catholic Church that is speaking; it is just an individual, just one priest. I think if it is taken that way, it will be properly understood.”

According to him, some charismatic leaders “say so many things and most times, they claim they are getting their inspiration from the Holy Spirit or from God.”

“Fr. Mbaka is a popular guy and not like the rest of us and what makes him popular are these prophecies and that is why people are following them. So, I think his Bishop can draw his attention to it,” he continued.

“You know people like him have many followers and they celebrate them and they visit them for healing and many other spiritual pilgrimages. That is why they attract such type of crowd. Even though he doesn’t make much noise like us, they are the people who have their own followers, and that is why everybody is concerned.”

When answered what the Catholic Church says about visions and prophecies and whether the priest has not been differing from the Catholic doctrine, the CSN scribe said there were better ways of passing across such messages.

He said, “People get messages in visions but if you are talking of the sensitivity of what you are saying, that is the issue. Most times, even when people have the truth, you don’t open your mouth wide. You can be saying something that is true, but there are some ways of passing across that message in a way that it will be acceptable, considering the explosive nature of this country and many other factors.”

Fr. Mbaka has come under strong criticism following his sermon last week, lampooning Jonathan’s administration for poor performance.

His comments had elicited public outcry, especially, among the teeming Catholic population in South-east and South-south parts of the country where President Jonathan has a strong support base.