A Catholic priest in Nigeria has been suspended from his duties because he got married in the United States. Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, who served in the Warri Diocese of Delta State, married Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at a church in Dallas.
The church made this announcement on Sunday through an official notice dated January 16, 2025. Videos of the wedding spread across social media, which brought attention to the situation.
Catholic priests are not allowed to marry. The Bishop of Warri, Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, stated: “By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1, and I, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, do hereby officially decree that he is suspended from the exercise of sacred ministry.”
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Before getting married, Fr. Oghenerukevwe had actually asked to be released from his duties as a priest on November 30, 2024. However, the church says he didn’t wait for the proper paperwork to be completed before getting married.
Because of this, he can no longer work as a priest or present himself as one from the Warri Diocese. However, the church says he can ask for this decision to be changed if he shows he wants to make things right.
The church ended its statement with a prayer: “May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation.”
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