For Banning Igbo Songs in His Parish, Catholic Priest Gets SuspendedYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. The Catholic Church has suspended Reverend Father James Anelu, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos state. The Punch reports that Rev. Fr. Anelu was suspended by the church leadership for banning Igbo songs and choruses in his parish. In a disclaimer, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Martins, directed Rev. Fr. Anelu to proceed on "an indefinite leave of absence'. Recommended for you No old notes yet from CBN, banks begin ration of old notes, Supreme Court s... The catholic priest was said to have allegedly argued that the excesses of the Igbo people must be contained as a reason for his banning of Igbo songs and choruses. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! It was gathered that Anelu had also stopped a soul-lifting chorus during a second collection angrily. He also argued that the Igbo people cannot continue to dominate other people in his parish with their songs, choruses and other activities. Sources said Anelu cited a case in his Benin Diocese where Igbos dominated the activities of the church to the extent of securing a seat as Bishop of the diocese. He reportedly claimed that the spirit of God recognises only the geographical languages of the parish. However, in a letter dated February 7, Archbishop of the Lagos diocese, Martins said Anelu it has come to the notice of the church that Anelu made some completely unacceptable comments about Igbo songs being sung in the Church. Recommended for you CBN stops banks agents from using PoS terminals for transactions, along wit... Martins said that the unsavoury remarks by Rev. Fr. Anelu do not represent the Catholic church’s position on the common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religions. He said: The Archbishop further urged all Catholic faithful to continue to hold on to their faith in God while worshipping the Almighty as one big and happy family that cannot be separated by race, language or culture. A Catholic Church in Abuja has triggered massive reactions online after it made use of African traditional materials in celebrating mass. Recommended for you Banks slash travel allowance, reduce foreign school fees over dollar scarci... The traditional materials seen in the viral photos are clay pots, clay trays, traditional baskets, beads, wrappers as well as white chalk locally called "nzu". This is probably the first time this is happening because many people think of these items as not only fetishes but also tied to some African gods. In a related story previously reported by Legit.ng, a Catholic Church built and donated a mosque to Muslims in Yola. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Revd. Fr. Stephen Mamza spear-headed the kind gesture. Mamza said he faced some opposition when he revealed his intention to embark on the project. He said he donated the mosque to the Internally Displaced Persons taking shelter in his church adding that they were treated as humans who need help. He said it was a matter of justice for the church to provide a place of worship for the Muslims among the displaced persons. Source: Legit.ng A Catholic priest has been sent on an indefinite leave of absence by the leadership of the church over some discriminatory remarks The priest was said to have banned the use of Igbo songs and choruses in any of the church's activities at the Holy Trinity Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos state Reverend Father James Anelu was said to have argued that the Igbo people tend to dominate the church everywhere you find them and as such must be contained Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! Legit.ng “For this reason, he has been asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence to give an opportunity for a thorough investigation of all the matters relating to his ministry on the parish. "The leave of absence takes effect from Tuesday, February 8, 2021, till further notice."