Cardinal Francis Arinze
On Guard: All Men of Good-Will Expect no Surprise on a Tactical Withdrawal from Doing the Papal Assignment in Ahiara. His reason, “Pressured by bishops.”
By Mel Igbokwe
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) involved in using derogatory demonstrative determiner - “those,” in their communiqué at the Double K Resort, GRA, Otukpo, Benue State, September 5-13, 2013 are definitely due for circumcision over their misjudgments and provocative declaration on Ahiara priests. A good recommendation is for them to be either circumsized or be uncircumsized, publicly or privately, depending on each level of support and utterances for the hard-done injustice to the laity and priests in Ahiara. Why would any of them think that crude action will not be met with rough and ready reaction? This is a fact: nothing can be more insulting than the phrase, which semantics holds to be a hidden way of understanding concealed and hateful comments by an adversary. Human hatred through his choice of words has never been so obvious— as in “those priests in Ahiara Diocese.”
People of the world, all churches and atheists, don’t be surprised about how the outcome of their secret communications, meetings, and then their communiqué, would cast its shadow on our Catholic church. The first shadow is seen in their duplication of number four (4) in two separate slices, illustrating one out of their many cursors of desperation. My reference is on their first number 4-paragraph which they title: Renewal of Priestly Commitment).
Who would have ever believed that such a crushing phraseology: those priests in Ahiara would find its shelter among a sect of religious leaders as CBCN? Even if the world was going down the drains, the Bishops should standby the truth, even if the truth would cost them their lives. Instead, they team up, whispering against a people? God’s words are never hidden; they are spoken loud and clear, from the mountain tops, not through secret negotiations.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, whose secret industry in securing bishopric positions for his kinsmen has been busted, caught; sneaking in and out from one bishop’s house to another, negotiating face-saving deals. He, who feels he is above the law, thinks he’s right 100% of the time. Even after Pope Francis had laid down his recommendation for “a pastor close to the people,” CBCN - his sympathizers’ aims and objectives is masked with ferocious gossip against Ahiara diocese. Their communiqué ignores due process in favor of discrimination. In their number of years and training in the seminary does it mean they can’t distinguish between right and wrong? If the answer is yes, then, they have failed to meet their consecrated expectations. Then, what guts would any of the bishops have to criticize the mounting corruption in Nigerian government that holds up the nation from having improved electricity, good network of transportation, water supply, and lack of industries?
For petitioning among themselves, as I stated in one of my articles, His father, who art in Rome claims, was cause for condemning and denying a continuum of priests in Mbaise their God-given rights for advancement and promotion. Let’s take that for granted. They wouldn’t let people know how Peter Okpalake, who is not incardinated in Ahiara (incardination, meaning a member of the clergy placed under the control of a particular ecclesiastical diocese or province) was irreligious and discourteously superimposed on Ahiara See. For Arinze to get what he wants, he tossed the Biblical ingredient on how He - God has the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Now, the priests are together 99th-percentile, as Cardinal Onaiyekan declared, yet Arinze is caught meandering from one bishop’s house to another, discussing what he is afraid to preach to men and women of good will. Nigerian bishops, these questions are for you. Does God whom you serve not command the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the sinners’?
Not following the Cannon law, he smuggled his kinsman through the back door of Ahiara diocese, a pastor neither known, nor close to Ahiara. Yet, Nigerian bishops give him a pass? This is unethical, this is unlawful, and inhumane treatment to Ahiara priests and the laity. How else would you define fraud in your best of judgments? Is punishment the right approach to human dignity and how does that cast its shadow on Roman Catholic’s loyalty in Nigeria? Theologians this is yours to answer?
Think through this analogy: not long ago, in America, we witnessed Senator Hillary Clinton’s political fight with Barrack Obama. Next, the world witnessed Mitt Romney’s face off with Obama for presidency; yet the American ethos didn’t make provision to illegally sneak in a Canadian, a British, or an Israeli - none of their closest allies, to take over the White House. But, someone, in a fraudulent process carried Okpalake, head-and-shoulder to takeover Ahiara Diocese; thus, transported coal to Newcastle. Bad idea, our school of thought said no! Why would CBCN support evil? Tell the world why your position on Okpalake are not contrary to your voices on the altar about righteousness and fairness to all? You better stop the wheeling, dealing, and reeling. Our church is bigger than you think.
For whatever reason, there is no evidence that “those priests in Ahiara” you castigate, used chemical weapons against anyone; not to themselves, and therefore they committed no atrocity in the eyes of God and man. Today, you observed, they are 99% united. So, upon what guidelines are you, the CBN breathe, if the Canon Law has any meaning to you? When would you apply either the cannon law or the scriptures to demonstrate your marriage with truth and love for one another? Of all things said and done, if Ahiara had just one Bishop anywhere in Nigeria your mutiny and whispering against Ahiara would not be. It is therefore necessary Ahiara had Abraham for her father - a reprehensive, a bishop for their ears. That’s a fair demand that adds up in the present circumstance. It is unfortunate the CBCN is so trapped and looking into space - defying God's words, acting against the Living Pope’s directives, to honor our demand by justifiably giving us a pastor close to us. Instead of highlighting the unbalanced appointment of bishops, what they’ve chosen to emphasize and publish is disobedience to Rome. One wonders if they know about natural justice - live-and-let-live.
The world can’t wait for the overdue confessions to manifest in aiding, and abating the deed that put Ahiara community in such a distressed position of dealing with religious corruption from that layer, linking the Nuncio in Abuja and to the age-long cronyism and nepotism. What a shame! Historically, when the appointer and the beneficiary made a deal, the beneficiary is found inadequate and often rejected. Which has pushed Ahiara people off the edge in the religious organization they are overpoweringly devoted.
Overall, we’re aware some of the bishops have privately stated that they want to “save face.” Pope Francis must hear this part too. They have sent numerous delegations to cover up the fraud, as they bribe along. Their plan, suggests that Mbaise gives them any priest, who would be ordained a bishop along with Okpalaeke and then have Okpalaeke stay in Mbaise for a while and later be transferred elsewhere. Note, another act of desperation we ever dreamt of. Logically, if Ahiara priests allowed the persuasions go through, it then meant Ahiara shares the same characteristics of fraud which they are against. The only difference then would be that one fraud was born in Rome and the second, manufactured in Mbaise. All counterfeits should and must not be accepted because the practice jumps the rules and regulations instituted by the Vatican. Mbaise would have been as guilty as the person that smuggled Okpaleke into a place he didn’t belong. Wise enough, Mbaise refused. The Pope neither likes whispering nor “Mago-mago.” Let’s sit and watch how long it takes CBCN organized task force campaign to disengage in what many of them have secretly declared to be digging themselves into deeper holes. It’s never too late to come out of the hole in a barely audible conduct. We’re not in a hurry. If Onaiyekan fails, we’ll stick around for second, third, fourth, or more and better missionary journeys.
What would the bishops likely do about Pope Francis’ point of view and recommendation; to throw it away? The answer may yet come from the seat of wisdom in Rome; not Ulakwo. Isn’t winning on the exposed fraud remote as all of us - the lay-faithful watch the developments expand and extend to a level where one may draw some strength in stating, thank God, it’s Rome indeed, and not room enough for one man. Comparing and contrasting the overall circumstances, isn’t it surprising that the popular axiom that every day is for the thief, but one day for the owner of the house, was lavishly disregarded? He dwelled long, in the practices of Man-know-man and thought things won’t fall apart? The details of the case have surprised Americans, who now know the story and so ask if the leaders of the Catholic community in Nigeria don’t care about the angry spot they have grown on people’s brows?
All men of good-will expect no surprise on a tactical withdrawal from doing the Papal assignment in Ahiara-Mbaise, for reasons of pressure from the Nigerian bishops. Recently, in Otukpo, Benue State, September 5-13, 2013, Cardinal Onaiyekan, stated that 99% of Ahiara are united in their demand to have one of theirs ordained the bishop of Ahiara and that he is “concerned” about our determination and unity and added the unflinching support Ahiara gets from Owerri Arch-diocese. We’re also told he has commented on the three (3) bishops from Onitsha and the one from Awka, pushed to Okigwe. The undertone - why put obstacle on Ahiara having its own bishop?
Let me refer to this analogy: “Rape is a rape;” was at the center of debate in the 2012 United States election; controversies that arose against the statements by Todd Akin - Republican Party candidate. From the same stand point, the thoughts and declarations of the Nigerian bishops about Ahiara are nothing short of Rape and for that reason we denounce their stand and comments about Ahiara priests. They may likely persuade Cardinal Onaiyekan to give in to pressure, than do Pope’s assignment. It’s about time the bishops asked themselves if their range of motion matches with the earth’s movement. When the potential for bias exists, then, trustworthiness of the church leaders comes into grave question.
The accusation by Cardinal Onaiyekan that Ahiara priests are misleading the lay faithful, is not only insulting to us, it lays foundation for the intent toward their dream dissolution. Don’t forget, this is after he had orally stated in the conference that he has concern that 99% of Ahiara are united. Who has ever heard or seen anything like this, a man saying two different things from either side of his mouth?
Any way, you must have heard the latest from Pope Francis: "The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials." Why wouldn’t anyone in this face-saving enterprise realise that prayers begin by talking to God and ends by listening to Him. How much simpler would CBCN expect the Pope to be before they pay attention to the elements of salvation? To save face is mechanical; God’s words take precedence over the face-saving drive.
Hear it one, hear it all: Ahiara priest are my uncles, brothers, cousins, and nephews; they are friends and families, classmates, created equal under the same sun; if you condemn them, you have indirectly condemned yourselves; for they are not less of humans among you. If you prick them, they bleed. If you tickle them and give them love, certainly they would double the delight. The particular bishops in Nigeria, who have idolized the corruption and are obsessed with their masters’ deeds, you have enough time to backtrack your ostracized position on the titular bishop, whose out-of-order selection raised so much dust that set even the unborn, coughing and gasping for air. Reactively, it was our chance, 99% of us to thwart the iniquity and gloriously, we did in a resounding style. If we let it go, the chooser of bishops in Rome, the commissioner for appointments of bishops would do it again, for such has been his manner of representing us, decade after another. Next, in the Nigerian bishop’s chart, it’s been revealed that pressure on Cardinal Onaiyekan is to present Ahiara to the Pope in a very bad light so that the Pope would, (in their dreams) melt our diocese and fuse it to Owerri Archdiocese. We wish them good luck on that.
* Igbokwe writes from the USA.