Catholic Church cuts Mbaka’s influence, converts adoration ministry to chaplaincy

Father Ejike Mbaka

Catholic bishop of Enugu diocese Callistus Onaga has banned his subject Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka the spiritual director of Adoration Ministries from commenting on partisan politics.

Onaga, in a letter dated June 3 and obtained by the news media on Friday, also converted the adoration ministries to chaplaincy.

His letter contained directives and guidelines for the conduct of the chaplaincy.

Although the bishop said Mbaka still leads the chaplaincy, he added that he (bishop) can appoint any ministerial officer “to assist the chaplains to oversee the pastoral activities of the ministry.”

Onaga added, “There shall be no partisan politics either by way of active engagement or by prophetic naming of candidates for position of power.”

The bishop gave the directives just as Mbaka was preparing to reopen the ministry after it was suspended for 30 days.

Onaga’s actions followed the destruction of the cathedral in Enugu and the bishop’s residence by suspected supporters of Mbaka after it was rumoured that the cleric went missing following his scathing criticism of the Buhari administration.

Mbaka had apologised, saying those who destroyed the church’s assets were not his supporters but hooligans who hijack a protest over his rumoured disappearance.