I am Still Human

By Dr jarlat Uche opara

Often times priests get over rated by the imagination of human minds. We think they are demi gods who are above the temptation of the flesh. The truth is, they are still humans and their bodies react to emotions too.

The white garment they wear may give one an image of flawlessness, self discipline but the truth is they still feel human.

I am saying all these for you to be intentionally responsible whenever you find yourself in their space.

I had a young man in my office days ago. In his early forties, frustrated by what he called the delibrate ploy of his female colleague to lure him into an inordinate relationship.

He has tried all the tricks he knew to discourage such, it seems the young lady is desperate and wouldn’t stop until she gets to her destination.

He came asking for an advice. I could see in his eyes sincerity of purpose to keep his matrimonial bed undefiled and his helplessness to the craving of his flesh to yield very obvious too.

I wouldn’t bore you with the story line and how it ended, the truth is priests get such signs and overture daily. That they stand firm isn’t that they have not been tempted and their bodies not craving to yield to it, is the grace of God which has been immensely helpful.

Not everybody that comes to the parish office comes with genuine intentions and not every person hanging around the parish house is looking for spiritual help.

It may sound very bizarre but the truth that isn’t contestable is that many young ladies have it as their project to get down with priests. They do it with pride and brandish it as great trophies of Olympics.

I have deliberately harped on the need for our ladies to dress decently coming to church. Exposure of bodies, wearing of revealing and skimpy dresses and making a spectacle of ones clevages may be fashionable, but the church isn’t the best place to showcase and flaunt such. Wear them to parties not to church.

Soon, I would instruct the hospitality ministers to stop those with such indecent dresses from approaching the altar for communion.

Same should be enforced during my office hours. For those who would dress scantily in a revealing manner to my office, you may be stopped from accessing my office very soon.

We should be very responsible in our dress. We can’t be confronting what we are running away from Facebook, Instagram, telegram etc right inside the church. The oddities and infiltration of the social media are much and we cannot afford to have our Parish as an extention of social media where nudity trends with likes, views and shares.

To those who are becoming too intentional to bring me to the mud of immorality, if you continue on this track of temptation( calling me at odd hours, sending me compromising pictures etc) I would from this altar call you out.

I hold very dear my priestly vocation and vows and wouldn’t want to dent and stain them through the desires of the flesh which you provoke daily. I am still human and my feelings still intact. Help us to serve you better!

FrBlunt