PRIESTS AND FAITHFUL OF AHIARA IN NIGERIA SUCCESSFUL IN REJECTING POPE FRANCIS' ULTIMATUM

In the Diocese of Ahiara in southwestern Nigeria, a test of wills between Pope Francis and many Priests and faithful had been unfolding ever since Bishop Okpaleke had been appointed Bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. 

Many Clergy and laity refused to accept the Bishop because he is not from Mbaise.

Protests prevented the Bishop from taking possession of his diocese.  His installation ceremony took place in another area of Nigeria because the doors of the Ahiara cathedral had been locked and barred so that the Bishop could not enter.

Last June, the crisis came to a head when Pope Francis demanded that all Priests in the diocese write him a letter within 30 days pledging their acceptance of Bishop Okpaleke and by so doing honor the supreme authority of the Papacy to appoint Bishops.  

The Pope insisted that those Priests who did not write such a letter would be suspended from the practice of their Priesthood (a divinis).  Pope Francis likewise demanded that rebellious Priests write a letter of apology to the Bishop.

In the intervening period of time, some 200 Priests had succumbed to the Pope’s threatened sanctions and wrote to the Holy See indicating their acceptance of the Bishop’s appointment.  But many Priests indicated that they themselves and the faithful had “psychological difficulty in collaborating with the Bishop after years of conflict.

Now comes word that the Pope has accepted the resignation of Peter Ebere Okpaleke as Bishop of the Diocese of Ahiara. 

It said the position had been declared vacant and that a Papal Administrator would govern it for the time being.  

In announcing the acceptance of the Bishop’s resignation, the Vatican said that the rebellious Priests should “reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church” through their “unreasonable actions opposing a Bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff”.

In his resignation letter, Bishop Okpaleke said remaining Bishop would not be beneficial to the Church.

Whether or not this instance will set a precedent for other dioceses reluctant to accept legitimately appointed Bishops remains to be seen.