A Nigerian-born Catholic priest has been ex-communicated for allegedly breaching rules of confession secrecy.
While excommunicated, Father Ezinwanne Igbo cannot participate in public worship, celebrate or receive sacraments and cannot exercise any office of ministry in the church.
Pope Francis ordered that Fr. Igbo of Stella Maris parish in Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia be axed after a two-year investigation.
The Archbishop of Mark Coleridge said in a statement Father Igbo was alleged to have breached rules of confession secrecy from 2016, which is a canonical (church) offence.
“The Archbishop then submitted the judgment to the Holy See, who subsequently requested that the communication be made public,” the Archbishop said.
“The excommunication will remain in force until Fr. Ezinwanne seeks and is granted remission by the Pope, who alone can grant it.”
Terry Boyce, the priest’s lawyer said 12 charges were brought against Fr. Igbo but all of them were “not proceeded with after Fr. Igbo defended them.”
The statement reads: “In 2016, the Archdiocese received a number of complaints concerning Fr.Ezinwanne Igbo.
“In one of those complaints, he was alleged to have committed a canonical offence which resulted in automatic excommunication.
“This was not a criminal offence under civil law. An investigative process was authorised by the Holy See and conducted by senior canon lawyers. The process confirmed the allegation unanimously.
“The Archbishop then submitted the judgment to the Holy See, who subsequently requested that the excommunication be made public.
“The excommunication will remain in force until Fr.Ezinwanne seeks and is granted remission by the Pope, who alone can grant it.
(NAIJ.com)
