Nsukka, 16 June, 2021 / 4:32 pm (ACI Africa).
The Bishop of Nigeria’s Nsukka Diocese has cautioned Clerics, women and men Religious against owning and operating personal projects saying conflicts have often resulted from such engagement.
In his message during the 10th Anniversary celebration of Mario Institute of Hospitality and Entrepreneurship Education, Bishop Godfrey Onah said that while all projects started by Catholic Priests require the Local Ordinary’s consent, some Clerics might be tempted to believe that the Bishop has given them permission to pursue personal programs.
“We have many Priests who have personal businesses even though they know it is not allowed, personal ministries, though they know it is wrong,” Bishop Onah said Tuesday, June 15.
He noted that Catholic Priests and women and men Religious tempted to engage in personal enterprises forget the fact that “primarily the Church owns you.”
“If you are a Sister, Father, or Brother in the Catholic Church, you have no official offspring that will inherit and once you die, whatever was attributed to you and not owned by the Diocese or Congregation becomes an object of controversy and conflict,” Bishop Onah explained.
