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Pope backs down, OKs resignation of divisive Nigerian bishop
Source: Associated Press
Pope backs down, OKs resignation of divisive Nigerian bishop
By NICOLE WINFIELD, ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY — Feb 19, 2018, 8:25 AM ET
Pope Francis backed down Monday and accepted the resignation of Nigerian bishop who had been rejected for years by the priests of his diocese, setting a precedent that could have repercussions in Chile and elsewhere when papal authority is challenged
The announcement came after Francis in June issued a harsh ultimatum to the priests of Nigeria's southern Ahiara diocese, warning they would lose their jobs if they didn't obey him and accept Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as their bishop. Francis gave each priest 30 days to pledge their obedience.
The Vatican said Monday that 200 priests obeyed, but some still expressed problems in working with Okpaleke.
Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Okpaleke to Ahiara in 2012, but the local clergy rejected him. Ahiara is in the Mbaise region, and its faithful objected to the appointment of an outsider from the Anambra region to lead them. In protest, the Mbaise blocked access to the cathedral when Okpaleke was to be formally installed, and he was installed outside the diocese.
The Vatican's mission office said Monday the pope took the priests' "repentance" into account in deciding not to sanction them for "the grave damage" they had inflicted on the church by rejecting Okpaleke. But the Vatican said it hoped "in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff."
-snip-
By NICOLE WINFIELD, ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY — Feb 19, 2018, 8:25 AM ET
Pope Francis backed down Monday and accepted the resignation of Nigerian bishop who had been rejected for years by the priests of his diocese, setting a precedent that could have repercussions in Chile and elsewhere when papal authority is challenged
The announcement came after Francis in June issued a harsh ultimatum to the priests of Nigeria's southern Ahiara diocese, warning they would lose their jobs if they didn't obey him and accept Monsignor Peter Okpaleke as their bishop. Francis gave each priest 30 days to pledge their obedience.
The Vatican said Monday that 200 priests obeyed, but some still expressed problems in working with Okpaleke.
Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Okpaleke to Ahiara in 2012, but the local clergy rejected him. Ahiara is in the Mbaise region, and its faithful objected to the appointment of an outsider from the Anambra region to lead them. In protest, the Mbaise blocked access to the cathedral when Okpaleke was to be formally installed, and he was installed outside the diocese.
The Vatican's mission office said Monday the pope took the priests' "repentance" into account in deciding not to sanction them for "the grave damage" they had inflicted on the church by rejecting Okpaleke. But the Vatican said it hoped "in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff."
-snip-
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-backs-oks-resignation-divisive-nigerian-bishop-53193154
