Ahiara Catholic Priests React To Bishop Okpaleke’s Resignation

Leader of the Indigenous Catholic Priests in the crisis ridden Ahiara Diocese, Reverend Father Austin Ekechukwu, has been speaking on the sudden resignation of Bishop Peter Ebele Okpaleke, whose appointment was rejected by both the priests and laity in the Mbaise church.

Ekechukwu described Bishop Okpalaeke’s stepping down from the Episcopal seat of the Ahiara Diocese as God’s answered prayers that will end the nearly six years-old crisis and restore peace to the Catholic community in the area.

Reverend Father Ekechukwu, who is the President of Mbaise Priests Association, commended Pope Francis for the appointment of the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Lucius Ugorji, as the apostolic administrator of Ahiara Diocese but said the faithful in Ahiara urgently need a substantive bishop.

Since the crisis broke out in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, following the rejection of the appointment of Peter Okpalaeke as Bishop in 2012, the church in Mbaise, Imo State, South-East Nigeria has been denied such spiritual rites as priestly ordination and sacrament of confirmation, among others.