Brisbane: Pope Francis has excommunicated a Catholic priest for breaching confessional secret, according to the Archdiocese of Brisbane in Australia where Father Ezinwanne Igbo had worked.
Father Igbo, originally from Nigeria, was punished after a Vatican authorized investigation confirmed numerous allegations against the priest, including breaching confessional rules, while he served the Stella Maris parish, Maroochydore.
The website of Brisbane diocese published on February 7 the news about the excommunication as “an important announcement.”
“In 2016, the Archdiocese received a number of complaints concerning Fr Ezinwanne Igbo. In one of those complaints, he was alleged to have committed a canonical offence which resulted in automatic excommunication,” the archdiocese said.
Senior canon lawyers conducted the investigative process confirmed the allegation unanimously. “The Archbishop then submitted the judgment to the Holy See, who subsequently requested that the excommunication be made public. Therefore, the Archdiocese now informs you that Fr Ezinwanne Igbo has been excommunicated.”
The archdiocese further says the excommunicated priest cannot take part in celebration of Mary or any public worship. He cannot celebrate or receive the Sacraments and exercise any “office of ministry in the Church.”
The excommunication will remain in force until the former priest seeks and is granted remission by the Pope, “who alone can grant it,” the archdiocese clarified.
“This situation has been painful for the parish of Maroochydore. You are asked now to pray for all who have suffered as a result of what has happened. May Mary, Stella Maris, guide the parish in the way of peace,” the announcement says.
Lawyer Terry Boyce, a Stella Maris parishioner who acted as Fr Igbo’s support person through the canonical process, confirmed the priest had been excommunicated after a complaint he breached the rules of confessional secrecy after a complaint in June 2017.
Despite being found guilty by the church, Fr Igbo denies the allegations, Boyce said.
Complaints against Fr Igbo’s conduct were received by the church as far back as 2016 and then investigated under authorization from the office of Pope Francis.
Boyce said 12 charges were brought against Fr Igbo between 2016 and May 2017, “all of which were not proceeded with after Fr Igbo defended them.” He refused to detail the nature of the complaints or how many complainants were involved.