By Agunwa Uzendu
The Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, has been “suspended” for banning Igbo songs and choruses in his parish.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Alfred Martins, in a “disclaimer”, directed the priest to proceed on “an indefinite leave of absence”.
Anelu was reported to have furiously banned the singing of Igbo songs and choruses in his parish, saying that the excesses of Ndigbo must be contained.
It was gathered that he had angrily and decisively stopped a soul-lifting chorus during the second collection, saying that Ndigbo cannot keep dominating other people in his Catholic parish.
He was said to have cited the case of what he claimed is the case in his Benin Diocese where Igbo dominate to the point of becoming the Bishop.
He blasphemously claimed that “the spirit of God recognises only geographical languages of the parish”.
In announcing the suspension of the priest, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Martins, in a letter of suspension dated February 7, said: “It has been brought to our notice that Rev Fr James Anelu, the priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa, Ikorodu, made some completely unacceptable comments about Igbo songs being sung in the Church and unsavoury remarks that do not represent the Catholic church’s position on the common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religions.
“For this reason, he has been asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence to give an opportunity for a thorough investigation of all the matters relating to his ministry on the parish.
“The leave of absence takes effect from Tuesday, February 8, 2021, till further notice.
“We, therefore, urge all Catholic faithful to hold on to the faith and continue in worship of God as one big family united and not separated by language, culture, or race.”