Suspended Nigerian Catholic Priest Apologizes, Denounces His Book Content as “contentious”

“I apologize for making public the contents of the following personal and confidential letters: my canonical suspension by Bishop Michael Okoro and my recourse against the suspension (pp. 437-438),” the Nigerian Catholic Priest says in his three-page apology letter.

He says that he regrets the fact he violated the pledge that forbids him from writing “anything against my Local Ordinary or against any Priest of the Diocese and distribute to the general public.”

Fr. Odey also apologizes for making public the “letters to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (p.464) and to the Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, Fernando Cardinal Filoni (p.466).”

He also apologizes for “renouncing the apology letters I had written and upon which my canonical suspension by Bishop Michael Okoro was lifted.”

The member of the Clergy of Abakaliki Diocese goes on to ask for forgiveness from Bishop Michael Okoro and Fr. Emmanuel Obuna among other Priests about whom he had written “unedifying and scandalous comments” in his published book.

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Above all, Fr. Odey says, “I apologize to the Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for disobeying the directives to undertake a path of true reconciliation with my Bishop and my brother priests in a spirit of humility" and to "change my way of thinking and acting" and ‘live in fraternal communion with my brother priests.”

In the apology letter, Fr. Odey denounces the content of his book that he describes as a “contentious publication which is replete with scathing attacks, self-serving subjective accounts (which I call the truth), half-truths and innuendos which are not only hurtful to, but also damaging of the good names of Bishop Michael Okoro, Fr. Emmanuel Obuna and other Priests.”

In conclusion, the Nigerian Catholic Priest pledges “to always abide by the guidance of the Holy Mother Church and her constituted authorities”.

In his July 8 letter, Fr. Odey expressed his willingness to “do whatever my Bishop asks me to do”.

“Anybody who makes any offensive remark against my Bishop or anybody after tomorrow’s event does not like me,” he said in his July 8 letter, adding, “The best way anybody can prove that he loves and cares for me this time is to encourage me to do what my Bishop asked to do, get reconciled with the Church and forget all about the bitterness of the past.”

Fr. Odey implored, “I pray that God in his infinite mercy will continue to guide us in all that we do.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.