Cardinal Bunmi Okogie Speaks On Oyakhilomes’ Divorce Case - "Are They True Pastors? Its Smacks Of Indiscipline"

The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has described the recent matrimonial debacle involving Nigeria’s charismatic preacher Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Rev. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome - as very disturbing, arguing that when ministers of God begin to wash their dirty linen in the public, it smacks of indiscipline.

According to the ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church, 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?Okogie told Vanguard:


“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,”
 The cardinal argued that as soon as little 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?”

Asked what the development portrays for the Church of God, the cardinal 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?”

Okogie blamed the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, which registers every organisation 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.