MBAKA'S TRANSFER NORMAL PROCEDURE:CATHOLIC CHURCH

Sequel to reactions that trailed the transfer of Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish of the Enugu Diocese, the Secretary- General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, yesterday said the transfer of priests within the Catholic Church is a “normal church procedure.” In an interview with an online medium, Premium Times, Madu said: “Mbaka’s own is not an exception. The bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.” Reactions had trailed the Enugu Diocese’s recent decision to transfer Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish, GRA, where he had served for over a decade and had established a popular prayer ministry, the Adoration Prayer Ministry. Mbaka is to resume immediately at his new post at the Our Lady Parish, Emene. The embattled priest was quoted to have described his re-posting by the church as a ‘calculated move’ to make him suffer. “I know we are going to suffer within now and few months to come,” the priest said. I am going to suffer and suffer; I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer,” he said. Similarly, the South- East zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that Bishop Callistus Onaga, was manipulated by external forces into effecting Father Mbaka’s transfer. According to Father Madu, “His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment, which the bishop can do because he has the power. “If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing, a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years, it depends on the discretion of the bishop. “That ministry (Adoration Ministry) is his private ministry; it does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full-time job. Overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.” The Catholic scribe said Father Mbaka had done things that were unacceptable to the church in the past but received no punishments for them. “He is supposed to be a missionary. What if the bishop had closed down the ministry, which is within his power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong, which he might not be aware of. The bishop is free to move any priest at any time; it is his prerogative,” Madu said.