Finally, Embattled Ahiara Bishop, Peter Okpalaeke, Resigns

*As Bishop Lucius Ugorji of Umuahia Diocese oversees Ahiara

History was recorded in the Catholic Church on Monday as the eight years of standoff with Catholic priests and faithful of Mbaise extraction came to an end as the people erupted in ecstatic jubilation when information filtered in that the embattled Bishop of the Ahiara Catholic Diocese in Imo State, Bishop Peter Okpalaeke, has finally resigned his appointment as Bishop of the diocese.

It was also learnt that the Vatican which graciously accepted the resignation subsequently appointed the Bishop of Umuahia in Abia State, Bishop Lucius Ugorji, as Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara diocese until the appointment of a substantive bishop.

 Bishop Okpalaeke, who is from Awka Diocese in Anambra State, was appointed Bishop of Ahiara Diocese in 2012 after the death of Bishop Victor Chikwe, the first bishop of the diocese.

Okpalaeke’s appointment was viciously resisted by Catholic priests and laity from Mbaise, who insisted that the bishop must be appointed from among them, having produced the highest priests in West African sub-region.

It was gathered that Pope Francis, who was allegedly  piqued by the action of the priests, and threatened to take disciplinary action against them, later gave them ultimatum to write a letter of apology to the Vatican, which they complied.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples published in the National Catholic Register, the Vatican said although priests from the diocese wrote 200 letters to the Pope showing him “obedience and fidelity, some priests pointed out psychological difficulty in collaborating with the bishop after years of conflict.”

The statement added that “taking into account their repentance, the Holy Father decided not to proceed with the canonical sanctions and instructed the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples to respond to each of them.”

The Congregation also quoted the Pope to have urged each of the priest “to reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church of Christ and expressed hope that in the future, they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff.”

Meanwhile, the news of the resignation of the bishop was greeted with jubilation in the diocese. President of the Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Men Organisation, Chief Gerald Anyanwu, described it as “victory for the Catholic faithful in Ahiara diocese.”

He thanked the Pope for yielding to the genuine demands of the people, adding that peace has finally returned to the diocese.

Also thanking the Vatican, the Chairman of the Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Priests Association, Reverend Father Austin Ekechukwu, said the people are excited about the news.

 A member of laity, Sir Sabastine Ekeanyanwu, expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for giving his ear to the complaints of the priests and laity in the diocese.

He promised that they would support the administrator to reposition the diocese pending the appointment of a substantive bishop.

But other Catholic fFaithful who reacted to the development, criticised the diocese for setting a wrong precedence that will encourage other diocese to question the authority of the Vatican.

A Knight of St. John International, Sir Andrew Ukachukwu, stated that “Bishop Okpalaeke maybe out today but nobody knows whose turn it will be tomorrow. Ahiara diocese may have succeeded in intimidating the Vatican but they have set a precedence that is totally alien to the Catholic faith.

“No diocese has ever questioned or resisted the directives of the Pope. The development is really worrisome. They have brought tribalism into the running of the Catholic Church and it should be condemned by all genuine Catholic.”

In his reaction, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, said even though he had not confirmed the news, “its implication on the people of the diocese will be a very big dent on them. It will continue to create a negative image on our people. Though, this is a religious thing, Bishop Okpalaeke will continue to be a bishop but not of Ahiara diocese.”