Lay Catholics in the
troubled Ahiara diocese in Nigeria have said they will not accept the
leadership of Bishop Peter Okpaleke, even if the priests of the diocese adhere
to a papal demand for obedience.
Early in June, Pope
Francis issued a stern directive to priests of the Ahiara diocese, warning that
if they did not accept the leadership of Bishop Okpaleke within 30 days, they
would be suspended from ministry. Bishop Okplaleke, a priest of a neighboring diocese,
was appointed by the Pontiff in December 2012. The Catholics of Ahiara, angered
that the bishop was not a native of their own diocese and that he was a member
of another tribal group, had refused to accept the appointment.
Although the priests
of Ahiara are apparently prepared to accept the Pope’s demand for obedience,
lay Catholics have vowed to continue their resistance. A massive protest
against Bishop Okpaleke was held at the diocesan cathedral on July 2.
Governor Rochas
Okorocha of Imo, the state in which the diocese is located, visited the
cathedral on July 2 and made an appeal for an end to the stalemate. The
governor urged Catholics to accept the Pope’s appointment.
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