The Catholic Church has suspended a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for engaging in partisan politics.
This is contained in a letter to all Priests, Religious, and Laity dated May 20, 2022 and signed by the Catholic Bishop of Gboko, His Lordship, Most Reverend William Avenya.
Father Alia is one of the 12 gubernatorial aspirants who have bought APC intent and nomination forms to run for governor of Benue State.
According to the letter, the church does not allow its clerics to engage in partisan politics on their own.
“Greetings from The Chancery, Gboko, for the Paschal Season.” Let me begin by thanking you for your commitment and dedication to the work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m writing to inform you that my priest, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth Lornem ALIA, has been suspended from public ministry following a series of admonitions from Ex can. 1371, 2° CIC.
“Ex can. 285, 3 CIC, the Mother Church forbids her clerics from engaging in partisan politics on their own.” “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.” As you are aware, my son, your brother, and your priest have purchased party forms to run for Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), which is completely contrary to our vocation.
“This canonical suspension begins the moment it is communicated to him and continues until he is no longer in contumacy. In part, the letter read, “Be assured of my prayerful best wishes.”
However, Alia 2023 Gubernatorial Organization responded to the suspension by claiming that the suspension had only freed Alia to continue his efforts to save Benue from total collapse.
According to a statement from Kula Tersoo, the Head of Media and Publicity for the Alia 2023 Gubernatorial Organization, the gubernatorial aspirant is only barred from celebrating public Eucharistic Masses, but he will always be a priest of the Catholic Church.
“Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Benue APC frontline gubernatorial aspirant for the 2023 general elections, wishes to inform members, stakeholders, and leaders of the APC family in BENUE state that the suspension order pronounced on him by His Lordship, the Bishop of Gboko Catholic Diocese, William Avenya, is a normal practice of the church.” He has been given implicit permission to continue his efforts to save Benue from total collapse.
“Recall that Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu, the second Executive Governor of BENUE State, went through the same thing.” His footprints can be seen by anyone.”
“He said that as stated clearly in the letter of suspension, he is only suspended from celebrating public Eucharistic Masses, but he remains a priest of the Catholic Church forever,” Tersoo said of Fr. Alia’s suspension. He will resume his public Masses and ministry after his public civil service term ends.
“I was fully aware of the sacrifice I was about to make the day I decided to respond to the overwhelming calls of my people to run for Governor of Benue in order to free our people from the shackles of maladministration,” he said. And I am convinced that the cause I am fighting for the souls of the people of Benue and the state is worthwhile. I now have more flexibility to devote more time to this goal.
“I am steadfast, and please don’t be concerned; I am well prepared and focused.” More importantly, I am more energized because I have witnessed the sincerity of the agitations for me to intervene and help salvage the state’s already dire situation.”
“As stated in the last paragraph of the suspension letter, I will return to the pulpit after I have completed my term as Governor of Benue State.”
Tersoo urged all of Fr. Alia’s many supporters, fans, and admirers to remain steadfast, pray, and work to make the Alialization 2023 project a reality.
