The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was denounced by Rev. Fr. Cajethan Obiekezie, a priest in the Awka Catholic Diocese, during his homily last Sunday.
In his homily, the priest criticized the governor for opposing Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party.
Also, the priest urged the members of his flock to vote against all APGA candidates, of which Soludo is the party’s national leader.
However, the Awka Catholic Diocese disowned the priest in a press release by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Charles Ndubuisi, claiming that he lacked the authority from the diocese to make such statements.
“He some utterances against the governor of the State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and other politicians within and outside the State. The Catholic diocese of Awka wishes to disassociate herself completely from those utterances. Rev. Fr. Cajethan Obiekezie has no mandate of the diocese of Awka, to do so.
“The diocese will take the necessary steps to continue to teach her priests the sanctity of the pulpit and will not hesitate to apply sanctions where necessary.
“The Church has inherent right, independent of any human authority to preach the gospel to all people, for it is the Church that Christ the Lord has entrusted the deposit of faith(can.747).
“However, this inherent right must be exercised within the laid down rules and regulations. In the context of Mass, the rules of homiletics should necessarily apply(cann.768 &1,2, 769, 772&1).
“Therefore, the platform offered by the pulpit cannot be used for personal sentiments and verbal attack, capable of destroying anybody’s good name,” the diocese stated.
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