Catholic church may bar Father Mbaka from preaching – Archbishop Adewale Martins

Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos has revealed that Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, might be banned from preaching over continous violation of the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Archbishop said this while reacting to the prophecy of the Spiritual Director of Enugu-based Adoration Ministry about Hope Uzodinma becoming the Governor of Imo State, days before the Supreme Court declared him winner of the 2019 governorship election. 

Martins who stated that he can only imagine the headache Father Mbaka might be giving the Bishop of Enugu Diocese in the interview with BBC Igbo, added that he hopes he finds a way of dealing with the matter that has been recurring. 

He said; 

 “Fr. Mbaka falls under the authority of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese and therefore he has the responsibility of cautioning him. I can imagine that this must be giving the bishop some challenges.

“It must be giving him a bit of a headache and I feel sorry for him and I hope he will find some way of dealing with this matter that has been recurring. Of course, what could be done in the end is either to say, ok you receive the sanction of being stopped from public ministry. That is a possibility. If it is not done, there must be a reason.

“It is utterly surprising that Fr Mbaka would go as far as naming one person as governor against another. It is embarrassing when you hear of priests or people in position of authority making statements that are clearly partisan.

“The position of the Catholic Church on matters that have to do with politics is not to be partisan. Of course, we as a church cannot be oblivious to political events and happenings in the country or the world at large and therefore we must speak from the point of view of principles.

“The priest who believes he has a gift of prophecy has to test whatever has been told to him in the light of the scriptures, in the light of the teachings of the church and in terms of the authority that has been given to leaders in the church.”