There is serious tension in the Umuagu community, Umuchu town in Aguata Local government Area of Anambra State, after a Catholic Priest excommunicated hundreds of faithfuls in the area for not attending their kinsman’s burial, late Luke Ikesinachi.
According to P.M.EXPRESS, apart from that, they were barred from receiving Holy Communion and mandatorily ordered to make public confession for the atonement of their perceived sins for not attending the burial and equally pay a fine of N20, 000 before they will be readmitted back to the church.
This was reportedly announced by the Parish Priest, Rev Father Lawrence Okeke of St Patrick Church, Ibughubu Umuchu, during the Sunday mass service to the congregation.
It was gathered that the late Ikesinachi had a protracted legal battle with his kinsmen from Umuagu kindred over community land and various meetings held to resolve the matter were not successful.
The matter later moved to the Police and High Court. The late Ikesinachi was sanctioned and Umuagu community severed every relationship with him before death struck. It was learnt that Umuagu placed a fine on anyone including members of his St. Michael’s zone seen at his funeral.
But the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Lawrence, ordered otherwise and made it compulsory that all Umuagu Catholics must attend the funeral mass in deviance to the Umuagu Community’s standing order. A battle line was then drawn between Rev. Fr. Lawrence and the Umuagu community.
During the burial, majority of Umuagu people including women shunned the burial except close family relations. The church took the roll call of attendance and last Sunday the sledge hammer came falling.
“All the absentees have been excommunicated from the Church; no Holy Communion, they must step down from all offices held at the zonal/parish levels and are required to pay N20,000. In addition they must observe an indulgence through a public confession in the open church before the congregation.”
The decision by the Parish Priest has thrown up more confusion as some of the faithfuls lived abroad and in cities across Nigeria and were not able to attend the burial.
Since the ban, there have been reactions from some indigenes who expressed shock over the decision adding that the church ought to have resolved the matter before death struck. Effort to reach the Parish Priest was unsuccessful as members of the Catholic faith in Umuagu were in dilemma on the next step to take. It was gathered that some were contemplating to leave the Church for other churches around.
