Excommunication for non-voters: Nigerian bishop decrees

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As Jimmy Akin points out, this story is somewhat inaccurate, denying someone communion is not excommunicating them. Still, I wonder if this is an abuse of the Bishop’s office?

tinyurl.com/338o28

Excommunication for non-voters: Nigerian bishop decrees

A Nigerian bishop has issued a pastoral letter warning his flock that it is their “sacred duty” to vote in the upcoming national elections and those failing to register will not be allowed to receive holy communion.

Bishop Francis Okobo, who oversees the diocese of Nsukka in the south eastern state of Enugu, authorised the circulation of a bulletin in Catholic churches on Sunday telling the faithful that they had to make their vote count in this year’s elections, according to a report cited by Ekklesia.

“Whoever has not collected the voter’s card after February 7 has automatically alienated himself or herself from the community, the Church, the nation and will not be allowed to receive the holy communion,” the diocesan bulletin warned.
 
The Bishop has clearly exceeded his authority.
Some people cannot in good conscience vote for ANY candidate. Nigerian Catholics need to contact the Vatican about this, and FAST.

Jaypeeto4 (aka Jaypeeto3)
 
If this is supposed to be a democratic vote, then there is no way of proving that someone did vote. I can show up at my polling place and even take and hand back a ballot–but it doesn’t have to be filled out.

I can see the importance of encouraging people to register and to vote, but I don’t see how it can be considered sinful if they don’t. Presumably the government being elected is secular so there could indeed be a situation where I have no good candidate to vote for.

Pastoral encouragment, yes. Making things easy by allowing the church to be used as a registration or polling place, yes. But refusing communion? I just don’t agree there.
 
How desperate is the situation in Nigeria? If the situation is dire enough, I could see the Bishop needing to push his authority in order to keep a greater evil from happening. This really depends how bad things are over there, does anyone have any idea why he is doing this?
 
No matter of desperate the situation, an abuse of power is an abuse. I wouldnt think twice about taking communion in the face of his crazy edict if I didnt think there was anyone worth voting for. Next up if the Vatican lets him get away with this, is excommunication if Catholics dont vote “the correct way” BA-LONY.
 
Sounds like something the U.S. Bishops might have attempted in past decades.
 
Will they vote like they do in Chicago?: Vote early, and vote often.😃
 
Apherius said:
How desperate is the situation in Nigeria? If the situation is dire enough, I could see the Bishop needing to push his authority in order to keep a greater evil from happening. This really depends how bad things are over there, does anyone have any idea why he is doing this?
Click to expand...
NO. It is either an abuse of authority or I don’t know what it is. Do you think the pope is going to say something about this? I hope and pray he does.
 
It appears that the bishop is getting “too big” for his britches…

:heart:Blyss
 
I agree he has exceeded his authority but does anybody know his motivation behind this? I’m just curious as to why this is going on.

And yes, the Vatican needs to be contacted quickly.
 
Sr_Sally said:
Presumably the government being elected is secular so there could indeed be a situation where I have no good candidate to vote for.
Click to expand...
I think your hypothetical would apply regardless of whether the government is secular.
 
Whether you agree with the reverend bishop’s actions or not, he does indeed possess the power of binding and loosing given by Christ to the Apostles. Unless there is someting in canon law that explicitly prevents him from using his authority in this way…it is his perogative. He is a vicar of Christ. The faithful in his diocese are his flock and thus owe him their obedience.
Of course that’s one of the reasons Christ gave us Roman primacy…if a bishop abuses his divinely mandated authority of binding and loosing, the pope can intervene. 😉
God bless.
In Christ,
Tyler
 
Apherius said:
How desperate is the situation in Nigeria? If the situation is dire enough, I could see the Bishop needing to push his authority in order to keep a greater evil from happening. This really depends how bad things are over there, does anyone have any idea why he is doing this?
Click to expand...
Well, it looks like he situation is pretty messed up, these are only the second elections after years of military rule. According to this article their electoral commission is way behind on registering voters.
Althought the Archbishop is overstepping, he may want to press Catholic to register because they are the ones the Commission has “missed”. Also, if I remember right, Nigeria is roughly 50/50 Christian-Muslim.
 
twf said:
Whether you agree with the reverend bishop’s actions or not, he does indeed possess the power of binding and loosing given by Christ to the Apostles. Unless there is someting in canon law that explicitly prevents him from using his authority in this way…it is his perogative. He is a vicar of Christ. The faithful in his diocese are his flock and thus owe him their obedience.
Of course that’s one of the reasons Christ gave us Roman primacy…if a bishop abuses his divinely mandated authority of binding and loosing, the pope can intervene. 😉
God bless.
In Christ,
Tyler
Click to expand...
Canon law gives certain powers to the bishops…as well as certain rights to the faithful. The people have the right to vindicate their rights, including the right to Holy Communion unless restricted by the law of the Church. :mad::mad::mad:
 
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