Pope Francis representative in Nigeria has condemned the social media attack on the bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga by followers of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
It will be recalled that Fr. Mbaka had said that Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will not win the 2023 presidential elections because he is stingy. The cleric’s comment caused uproar on social media which made the Enugu bishop to ban Catholic faithful from attending Fr. Mbaka’s church.
Meanwhile, followers of Fr. Mbaka protested the decision of the Bishop and called him unprintable names. One of the followers, identified as Elijah, threatened to kill the bishop anywhere he saw him.
Papal Nuncio, Anthonio Guido Filipazzi, Pope Francis’ representative in Nigeria, condemned the attack on the Enugu bishop during the installation of Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji as the new metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province in Owerri, Imo State, which was monitored by Sahara Reporters.
He also asked the people to be mindful of the kind of statements they make on social media, and that they should not take laws into their own hands.
In his words: "I must warn the people of God against disobedience to the church’s constituted authorities. You must not take the laws into their hands as followers of Jesus Christ.
"This brings to mind the protest that took place at the Adoration Ministry Enugu. I was surprised to see an online video where a protester threatened to kill Bishop Callistus Onaga, Bishop of Enugu. This is unacceptable in the church of God.
"The people of God must be mindful of the abuse of social media to cause church scandals. You must bear in mind that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic and not a place where people take laws into their hands."
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