Anglican Priest Deroped Over Homosexuality

An Anglican Priest, Rev Onyeka Mbachu, attached to Amichi Diocese, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has been deroped by the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor for allegedly being involved in homosexual practices.

According to the Bishop, the action is contrary to the norms of the Anglican Church and Christian Faith, and the deroping which was announced on the last day of the Diocesan Synod held at Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Amichi, would serve as a deterrent to would-be future offenders.

To the faithfuls who were gathered during a full Sunday service when the announcement was made, the Diocese’s action did not come as a surprise as they had pre-knowledge of the dastardly act.

Bishop Ikeakor said further that his action became necessary in view of the speculation in some quarters that he was protecting and supporting the priest.

He pointed out that from Sunday June 13, 2010; the said priest ceased to be an Anglican priest.

The Bishop had earlier refused to disclose the offence describing it was an in-house matter which he didn’t want to make public. However, he admitted that the priest did not conform to what was expected of him as an Anglican Priest.

It was revealed that he committed the offence at Ebenezer Church, Unubi, where he was serving. An investigation also showed that the priest had been in this unholy act until the matter came to light in December last year. Subsequently, the Bishop first suspended Mbachu but later recalled him. This did not in anyway deter the priest from continuing in his shameful act.

The continuation forced many of the faithfuls to petition the Bishop demanding that he be sanctioned, and sequel to delay in carrying out action against the priest, they had no other option except to believe that the Bishop was protecting him.

Buttressing their point, they cited a case of a deacon of the Diocese allegedly dismissed by the Bishop for impregnating and aborting the pregnancy of a teenager.

The deroped priest was ordained two years ago by the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. G.I.N Okpala. He joined the priesthood of the Diocese when it was created last year.

Married with a child, the priest has also served at Abubor, Nnewi prior to being transferred to Amichi.