Priest Suspended For Banning Igbo Songs In Lagos Catholic Church Parish

The Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Enu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, has been placed on suspension for banning Igbo songs and choruses in his parish.

The priest reportedly had angrily stopped a soul-lifting chorus during the second collection, noting that Igbos could not keep dominating other people even in his parish reports Sahara Reporters.

According to witnesses, he cited the case of his Benin Diocese where Igbos dominated to the point of becoming the bishop, adding that the spirit of God in any place recognised only languages indigenous to that geographical location.

The utterance by the Priest was said not to sit down well with the members as the entire congregation went up in a tumultuous uproar, staging a massive walk out of the mass.

However, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Alfred Martins, in a “disclaimer”, directed the priest to proceed on “an indefinite leave of absence”.

While announcing the suspension, Martins in the letter 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 unsavory 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.”