Catholic Church suspend Reverend Father for banning traditional songs during service

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins

A statement by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos says that Reverend Father, James Anelu has been suspended for banning the singing of traditional Igbo songs during a Sunday service.

The Reverend Father who is the priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa, Ikorodu halted the choir from singing Igbo song saying "We are here to evangelise everybody, we are not here to dominate and to suppress. If you sing Igbo, will the Yoruba person come to this church?

“Will other tribes come to this church? If all other tribes start to sing their song, how many people will remain in church?

“If you are aggrieved, see me after Mass, not during the Mass. If you know you have arguments to put forward before the altar of God, see me after Mass,” Mr Anelu told the choir.

However, a statement by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos complete condemned Anelu's statement and declared that the Church will thoroughly investigate the incident any other actions of the Reverend Father.

Anelu made “some completely unacceptable comments about Igbo songs being sung in the church and unsavoury remarks that do not represent the Catholic Church’s position on the common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religions,

“We, therefore, urge all Catholic faithful to hold on to the faith and continue in our worship of God as one big family united in love and not separated by language, culture, or race, the statement released by the Archbishop of Lagos read.