+WHY CATHOLIC PRIEST REFUSED TO SAY MASS FOR LATE SENATOR OKORO
It was drama all through on Friday during the burial of late Senator Fidelis Okoro as the Priest, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Isife, refused to say the Requiem mass for the departed politician.
The crowd who had gathered for the burial mass at the residence of the late Senator at Iheagu Nru Nsukka on Friday, were shocked when the Priest vehemently refused to conduct the service but asked the Catechist to do say the mass.
Those at the event on Friday said the Catechist who was not used to such duties, struggled throughout the mass.
The drama entered it’s second part when towards the end of the Mass, Rev. Fr. Isife, the Parish Priest picked up the microphone and told the gathering that he would not even say the homily as the life of Senator Okoro, “is enough homily for everyone.”
The late Senator Okoro was said to be in the bad book of his constituents following several of his anti-human policies which he held on to while he was still active in politics.
The drama witnessed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker Enugu House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, Simon Atigwe, member House of Rep, Dr. Pat Asadu, member House of Rep, and several others, entered the third part when the Senator representing the Enugu North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator. Chukwuka Utazi and former Anambra State Governor, Sen. Jim Nwobodo turned emergency Pastors at the event.
Senator Utazi who was embittered by what the parish priest did stood up and took the position of a man of God. He told the congregation that it was not in the powers of the living(referring to the Priest) to judge the dead.
He drew his opinion from the biblical story of the two thieves who died at both sides of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He insinuated that despite the judgements people held against the late Senator Okoro, that God might still give him a last and valid chance.
Speaking in the same vein, the former Governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo urged the entire congregation to help pray for a peaceful rest of the soul of the deceased instead of condemning him for his shortcomings on Earth. He said it’s only Jesus Christ that can judge the late Senator and not human beings.
