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Rev. Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, a Gambia-based Nigerian priest has said there was nothing secret about the marriage of Fr. Daniel Oghenerukevwe, the Catholic priest that was suspended recently.
Oghenerukevwe was suspended by the Catholic Diocese of Warri, Delta State, after getting married in the US.
However, in a post on Facebook, Fr. Ugwu stated the priest got married publicly and not secretly as alleged.
He cautioned against misleading headlines surrounding the issue and clarified that suspended priest had previously expressed his intention to leave the Catholic priesthood and had initiated the process of laicisation.
However, he could not wait for the process to run its full course before he got married.
According to Ugwu, no one is forced to be a priest, and there are procedures in place for those who wish to leave the priesthood.
He explained that the process of laicisation involves several steps, including a request from the priest, an investigation, approval from the superior general, and ultimately, approval from the Pope.
He also stated that even after laicisation, a priest remains a priest, but is no longer obligated to function as a cleric.
Furthermore, Ugwu clarified that Oghenerukevwe was suspended for getting married the process of laicisation was completed.
According to Canon law, a cleric who attempts marriage, even if only civilly, is to be suspended.
Ugwu opined that Oghenerukevwe should have acted honourable by waiting for the laicisation process to be completed before getting married.
He also disclosed that Oghenerukevwe married a single mother with three children, and wished him well.
