Catholic church suspends Lagos priest who banned Igbo songs in his parish.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos has suspended the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos, for banning Igbo songs in his parish.

Rev. Fr. James Anelu, has been known to chastise choristers who sing Igbo songs when he is officiating Mass in any parish in the South-South and South-West.

The reason he gives at these Masses is that Igbos are not the only ones who attend Catholic churches and the excesses of the Igbos must be contained.

Most recently, he angrily stopped choristers who were singing an Igbo chorus during the second collection, noting that Igbos cannot keep dominating other people in Catholic churches in non-eastern states (see next post for the video).

He reportedly cited the case of his Benin Diocese where Igbos dominate to the point of an Igbo cleric becoming the Bishop.

It is alleged that he defended his viewpoint by claiming that the spirit of God recognizes only the geographical languages of the parish.

Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos, has now issued a “disclaimer”, directing Rev. Fr. James Anelu to proceed on “an indefinite leave of absence”, starting today, February 8.

Swipe for the suspension letter dated February 7.