Private Ministries ; Call For Moderation

PRIVATE “MINISTRIES”  

The proliferation of private “ministries” by some priests and lay faithful in our Church is a matter of great concern. These ministries often tend towards unorthodox practices, causing scandal among the faithful, thereby hurting the unity of the Church. Additionally, many of the priests involved in this trend become too distracted from their primary duty as pastors of souls. We reaffirm the teaching of the Church, that there is no other ministry than that of Jesus Christ entrusted to and guarded by the Holy Mother Church. We equally remind all, priests, religious, and lay faithful alike, that charisms are given to individuals in the Church in order to build up the body of Christ. They are not to be used for selfish and self-serving glorification (cf. I Corinthians 12: 7-18).  As pastors vested with the oversight function over the pastoral life of the Church, we call on all who want to use their charisms for the Church and not against her, to submit themselves to the competent authority, abiding by the rules and regulations established by the Church and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in this regard. The faithful are further advised to be wary of those who while claiming to be Catholics set up “ministries” that are not under the pastoral or spiritual guidance of any competent ecclesiastical authority. In fact no ministry, association or institution can bear the name Catholic without the express permission of the competent authority (Cf Can 216).