Where Sr. Anastasia Got It Wrong!

By Dr jarlat Uche opara

Recently a clip of her interview with Gbam Podcast was sent to me by a friend who wanted my critical opinion on the interview already trending. Gbam interview was not of course the first bomb , rather one of the series in her highly explosive bombs detonated in a very sensitive and terribly dangerous manner.

The content of Sr. Anastasia message wasn’t new, she wasn’t trailing the blaze in that space. The story has been out there for ages. The Church previously had been attacked and smeared with such, even with more horrible storylines. At some point in the papacy of late Pope Francis he had to offer a public apology on the evil, attrocities etc the Church had commited to the innocent congregation.

So for me Sr. Anastasia wasn’t saying anything new, she was at best telling her own side of the story which of course was unique to her and her reality.

This however does not cast a blanket cover on everyone who is either a Rev. Fr. Or a Rev. Sr. There are exceptions in every situations and such exceptions make the rule.

The devil is often said to be in the details. Until one comes close to someone or an institution, the real fragrance or odour may not be either appreciated or aversed to.

It would be very infantile for anybody to dismiss these weighy accusations of Sr. Anastasia with a wave of hand .

It is possible that her story was real because we are dealing with human being, who are weak, foibles, with traces of their bloodline traits still strong on them, even in their status as priests or Rev. Srs.

The truth is, the grace of priesthood, Sisterhood or matrimony doesn’t not bleak nature entirely. It manages it. Being married won’t stop the tendencies of immorality if it runs in ones bloodline. What it does is to help to manage it.

Being a priest or a religious does not make one automatically a saint. Having vow of celibacy and chastity doesn’t not automatically numb sexual feelings in one. They are still human, with the feeling 💯 active. Only grace helps one to keep it without slipping off.

We have heard stories of priests who got down with ladies. We equally have heard stories of priests who had children outside, priests who left priesthood to get married. Same stories with some Rev. Sisters.

The first instinctive reaction could be, let them be allowed to marry. Being married isn’t the problem. If it were, there wouldn’t be anything like infidelity in marriage. Sadly we have such and the level of paternity test very high.

I sympathise with Sr. Anastasia of the Mother of Pepetual Help Of The Archangel Sisters congregation of Auch Diocese .

She isn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last. Her experience however shouldn’t be a yardstick to measure the authenticity and pruity of the Catholic priesthood/ religious vocations.

These are beautiful vocations, channels for one to express their love for God and humanity. There are many great and amazing priests and religious committed to their vows and commitment. In every twelve, a Judas may hang around. Even in that Judas, a lot abound to learn positively from him.

To my dear Rev. Sr. Anastasia. I don’t judge you. I neither condemn you. You wear the shoes and only you knows where it pinches. But the truth is, social media space isn’t a place to seek for comfort, healing, justice and listening ears. That space is very noisy and would end up compounding your unsettled mind.

I pray you find healing as we pray for the church.

We are all in it and together we would fight to ensure that the gates of hell does not prevail over it. The gates of hell of some Christian mothers’ financial Inducement and sexual exploitation on some Rev Fathers.The gates of hell of some Christian fathers’ financial enticement and sexual exploitation on some Rev. Sisters and the collapse of the sanctity of matrimonial beds with the weight and force of infidelity among couples. This isn’t peculiar to Catholics, the story isn’t different in the Pentecostal circle. All lizards are laying prostrate only God knows with stomach aches

Running to the social media for visibility and succor for me was a terrible shot on your leg. If you had met good psycho-spiritual counsellor, you would probably have had a rethink. It is not too late still. The mess already created by your social media viral interviews can still be scooped and mopped dried neatly. The God that sees (El-roe)will heal and give you calmness of the mind.

It can be fixed. But remember no institution is free from erro and mistakes. It may look greener the other side, until one crosses over.

I understand the trauma of being assaulted. I equally understand the shock of seeing what one never bargained for in a place of formation. It isn’t about the institution ( Sisterhood/ priesthood) Rather more of individual disposition and behavioural patterns and choices. Trust me you would be healed if you give counselling a chance and the joy of being a Reverend Sister would be renewed, refreshed and reinvigorated if actually you were called in the first place.

Kindly share this until it gets Sr. Anastasia Shako Kinse for proper counselling

Jarlathuche@gmail.com