Catholic Church explained that the priest was suspended for his aspiration to contest for the Benue State governorship election
The Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Benue State has suspended Rev. Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia from discharging priestly functions.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by William Avenya, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Gboko and Apostolic Administrator, See Vacante.
The statement explained that Rev. Fr. Alia’s suspension was on account of his involvement in partisan politics to contest for the Benue State governorship election. The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own.
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The suspended clergy man was reportedly said to have purchased the governorship form of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement reads: “May I begin by acknowledging and appreciating you for your commitment and dedication to the work of spreading the Good News of Christ.
“I wrote to communicate to you the suspension of my priest, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia from public ministry after series of admonitions to him Ex can. 1371, 2° CIC.
“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own Ex can, 285, 3 CIC.
“You are aware that my son, your brother and your priest has purchased the party forms to contest for the Office of the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is totally against our vocation.
“Therefore, to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, I have suspended him from the exercise of sacred ministry”.
The Catholic Bishop noted that the canonical suspension takes effect from the moment it is communicated to him and lasts until he ceases from contumacy.
This is not the first time a Catholic Priest would be engaging in politics in Benue. During the Ibrahim Babangida political transition programme, a priest, Rev Fr. Moses Adasu, ran for the governorship on the ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
