The Catholic Church is against priest participating in Politics.
The Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Benue State announced the suspension of the Priest, Reverend Father Hycainth Alia, for his interest in the governorship contest.
Catholic Priest Suspended over Joining governorship Race in Benue
Hycainth Alia, is among the 12 governorship aspirants who purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to participate in the party’s primary election in Benue state.
The suspension letter addressed to all priests, religion and laity’s of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, signed by the Bishop William Avenya, who is also Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Dioceses of Kastina-Ala, dated May 20, 2022.the affected Priest was had earlier been warned in line with the church’s rule one partisan politics.
Catholic Priest suspended over Joining Governorship Race in Benue
The letter read, “I write to communicate to you the suspension of my
priest, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Iornem Alia from public ministry after series of admonition to him.
“The mother church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own can. 285, 3 CIC. You are aware that my son, your brother and priest has purchased the party’s form to contest for the office of the governor of Benue State under the All progressive congress which is usually against our vocation.
“Therefore, to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the church in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, I have suspended him from exercise of sacred ministry. This canonical suspension takes effect from the moment it is communicated to him and last ceases from contumely.”
Reacting to the suspension, ahead of Media and publicity, Alia 3023 Gubernatorial Organization, Kula Tersoo, said it was a normal practice of the church.
Tersoo said that the governorship aspirant will resume public masses and ministry once his tenure in public civil service comes to an end.
He recalled that similar incident involving the formal governor of the state, late Rev. Fr . Moses Orshio Adasu, who went through the same process.
He explained clearly in the suspension latter, that Alia still remains a priest of the Catholic Church only suspended him celebrating public Eucharist Masses.
