Cardinal Okogie Speaks On Pastor Chris And Anita’s Divorce Drama

monjola sotubo

September 8, 2014 8:44 AM

He asked that when pastors refuse to honour the vows they took at the altar of God, what do they expect from the ordinary members of their congregation?

In a short chat with Vanguard, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, described the crash of the marriage of Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome as very disturbing, adding that it is indiscipline among ministers of God that make them wash their dirty linen in public.

“When the going was good, they took vows on the altar of God to stay together in sickness and in health, until death do them part. They promise to make one another faithful partner in the presence of God, their family and friends and vow to be each other’s faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. They promise to love one another unconditionally, to support each other, honor and respect and cherish themselves for as long as they both shall live,” Okogie said.

The cardinal lamented that once challenges arise, the ‘so-called pastors’ forget the vow and the spirit of forgiveness they preach to their congregations on daily basis and opt for divorce.

“It shows that they cannot live by what they preach. The Bible says: ‘What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.’ So why are they putting asunder what the good Lord has joined together if they are men of God as they claim?”

When he was asked what the development portrays for the Church of God, Okogie replied with a question: “What Church are you talking about?” He went on: “It is not good. Are they true pastors? Good shepherds of the Lord are expected to do everything to shepherd their flock including their spouses even when they err. If God forgave us in spite of our filth, why can any man who is truly called pastor not forgive any malfeasance?”

The Archbishop Emeritus also blamed the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, which registers every organization which goes about deceiving people in the name of church, noting that there are several “useless” institutions that have been registered churches which are currently painting the Church of God in bad light.

What are your thoughts on Cardinal Okogie’s opinion?

-----

monjola sotubo