Priesthood! A White Eagle, My Concern For Fr. Kelvin Ugwu

By Dr. jalarth Uche Opara

Priesthood as an institution is very sacred. It comes to me by way of analogy like a white Eagle, very spotless, attracting spotlight, a cynosure of eyes that commands an unusual grace, aura and respect.

I have been around to know this. However, the advent of social media, the traffic it generates and the attention it creates has made some Priests shelve this qualities and begin to dance a dance very unbeffiting of this sacred call.

Social media comes with its glamour and attention. It equally comes with its dents and disgrace. An open place, anybody who knows their onions, walks carefully. A lot happens, both the good, the bad and the despicable. Many have met their breakthroughs, others their waterloo, a mix grill, it takes the wise to pick what would be beneficial without being consumed in what many wish to call the perfait of social media.

It is very commendable that some priests have taken a great liking to social media evangelization. A pulpit that transcends their local church, reaching out to a wider congregation for positive and transformational impact. However, it becomes very worrisome and irreconcilable to basic reasoning how a priest would find comfort stiring hornet’s nest, spewing violence and engaging in trolls very characteristic of content creators.

Fr. Kelvin Ugwu’ serial confrontation with the founder of Zion ministry Evang. Ebuka is very avoidable and uncalled for, except otherwise there are other hidden reasons unknown to us. His approach in correcting what he sees as doctrinal errors is in itself very uncharitable, suggestive of one on a mission other than correcting.

Catholic Church has a lot to deal with than get distracted by the operations of one man. Marriages are failing by day, children deviating from the basic Christain principles, embracing philosophies very contradictory to Christain faith. Ebuka Obi is the least of the challenges the church is presently dealing with. If you have enough energy, channel it to great teachings on families- good parenting, fidelity in marriage, honesty and transparency in Christain living.

You may think you are dancing a good dance by your scathing criticisms of his ministry by the validation of your online members. However you are doing more harm to souls, especially those souls that are addicted to his ministry. With your style of criticism, not a single soul from his fold you would convert, rather you are at best provoking obstinacy and haters. Even those that are not his followers, you are beginning to sound irritating.

Leave Ebuka Obi to his God and the Holy Spirit. He isn’t the first and would certainly not be the last. The counsel of Gamalie in Act of the Apostles 5: 33-39 would be useful to you if you can pay heed to it.

For the records, I am not a member of Zion Ministry, not his fan, I may not like his approach to certain things but that doesn’t mean he isn’t making impact however insignificant.

If you have enough energy and the depth of knowledge on doctrinal and biblical matters, considering having a podcast would be apt. With such platform you would seamlessly without being unnecessarily pugnacious teach and correct without sounding personal. If I must say it without pandering, your approach however good intentioned is uncatholic and demeaning of the esteemed glamour and respect Catholic priesthood commands.

Your recent analysis of his prophecy on Gregory was needless. You are ransacking the haysack of an old woman, certainly you must find something.

*Jarlath Uche Opara is a creative writer. A social justice analyst,a columnist, an author and a Catholic unapologetically*.

@ Facebook Jarlath Uche Jarlathuche@gmail.com