en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en ru en en en en en en en fr en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en fr en en en en en nl en en en en en en en en en en en en en de en sv en en de en en en en en de en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en
The Archdiocese of Lagos has announced that Father James Anelu, who was accused of making "unacceptable comments about Igbo songs", can return to ministry
Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, Nigeria.
By Guy Aimé Eblotié | Nigeria
Father James Anelu was accused of fomenting tribalism during Sunday Mass on February 6 when he forced the parish choir to stop singing a hymn in the Igbo language.
The incident was filmed and posted on social media, and two days later the archbishop suspended the priest "until further notice".
But this past Wednesday the Archdiocese of Lago announced that a "thorough investigation, conducted in consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council, the Parish Council of the Laity and the Ad Hoc Committee set up by the archbishop" concluded that "the social media post that led to the administrative leave did not give a full picture of the incident".
Archbishop Martins reinstated Father Anelu and urged him to "remedy the situation created by the social media publication and bring reconciliation and unity to the parish".
The unfortunate events of February 6
During the second collection at the Eucharist liturgy on February 6, the parish choir began a song in the native language of the Igbo (or Ibo) peoples, which is spoken by about 18 million Nigerians, particularly in the southeast.
But Father Anelu immediately ordered them to stop and angrily explained that the widespread use of the Igbo language in the country of some 206 million people must be contained.
He said Igbos already dominated the Archdiocese of Benin City in southern Nigeria, noting that even the archbishop is an Igbo even though only 18% of all Nigerians are members of this ethnic group.
In front of a stunned congregation, the priest then questioned why Igbos are singing Igbo songs in a church in Lagos and wondered if the plan is to drive other tribes out of the church.
Father Anelu's attitude and words deeply shocked the congregation who started walking out of the church.
But some stayed to film the incident and then posted their videos on social media.
"The spirit of Lent"
Archbishop Martins denounced the priest's "unsavory comments" and opened an investigation to shed light on the shocking case.
But that investigation concluded that the video did not paint an accurate and complete picture of what actually happened.
The archdiocese on Wednesday said that, "in the spirit of Lent", Martins was now asking "all parishioners to work together in collaboration with the parish priest for the greater glory of God and the good of the community".
The archbishop also called on "all God's children to remember Father Anelu and his parishioners in their prayers".
Tribalism in the clergy and among the laity
Anelu's outburst against his parish choir last month was initially met with a counterattack from a priest who is a member of the Igbo peoples.
Magnus Ebere, a priest in the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), actually advocated for Igbo domination.
"Igbos are Igbos. Wherever we are, we are the power," Father Ebere said in a video posted on social media in mid-February.
"If you take the Igbos out of the Catholic Church in Lagos, there will be no more Church," the priest claimed.
Tribalism is often present among both the clergy and the laity in Nigeria.
An incident of tribalism back in 2017 shocked the world and even required the intervention of Pope Francis.
Bishop Peter Okpaleke, an Igbo who had been appointed bishop of the Diocese of Ahiara in 2012, was still unable to carry out his mission there five years later.
The priests and laity of the diocese, most of whom belonged to Mbaise majority ethnic group, refused to accept him.
Even the Nigerian bishops' conference and the pope tried to mediate, but to no avail. The bishop had to resign in 2018, as the situation was untenable.
Two years later the Vatican created a brand new diocese (the Diocese of Ekwulobia) and Francis named Okpaleke, 59, its very first bishop.
Get the latest from La Croix International. Sign up to receive our daily newsletter.
You may also like
Spanish lawmakers set up commission on clergy sex abuse
“Orthodox theology must be de-Putinized,” says leading Church scholar
Ukraine, "just war" and legitimate defense
Transfiguration and seeing more clearly
Pope’s visiting emissary prays for peace in Ukraine
SUPPORT LA CROIX INTERNATIONAL’S COMMUNITY OF READERS
Support La Croix International's unique blend of international Catholic journalism by making it available to people in Asia and Africa who can't afford a subscription and often don't have credit cards to pay for it either.
Synodal virtues: valuing and extending theological education
Recently ordained Congolese bishop is big on synodality
Church leaders should engage social media’s Catholic influencers
The business of simply living a normal social life
Celebrating gay relationships in church is actually quite Catholic
Why Pope Francis did not attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Celebrating gay relationships in church is actually quite Catholic
The elderly pope's patience is put to the test
Elizabeth II, the “last Christian monarch”, has died
A challenge for Europe
Shaking up the economy
Peace, our common good
For 70 years she “was” the United Kingdom
Cooperation rather than competition
The elderly pope's patience is put to the test
Francis continues his push for a humbler, more open Church
The pope and the praying menace
What was the August meeting of cardinals really about?
Is Christian hospitality enough?
"What fraternity does assisted suicide build?"
Live, learn, forget, repeat
When timing is paramount
The pandemic, Christian faith and the perils of kids living in the digital world
"It’s been powerful to watch people enunciate a theology of care for creation"
Laudato si’ guides Indian archdiocese to help fisherfolk
Brazilian bishops stand up for the Yanomami people
The Gaia Man, James Lovelock
Pope calls for a new relationship with God, others and Creation
| Catholic Digest | UCAN | Living in faith | La Croix Africa | La Croix español
About Us | Contact Us| Newsletter Sign-up| Donate| Terms and Conditions| FAQ| La Croix| Confidentiality Policy| Sitemap