According to Punch, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, a priest from the Catholic Diocese of Warri, has been suspended after renouncing his celibacy vows and marrying his partner, Dora Chichah, on December 29, 2024, in Dallas, United States. The suspension, announced by the diocesan authorities, was prompted by his marriage, which took place without the completion of the necessary canonical processes....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
The church’s official statement, issued on January 16, 2025, declared that Fr. Oghenerukevwe had incurred a “Latae Sententiae suspension” under Canon 1394 S1 for his actions. This suspension bars him from performing priestly duties, and the church emphasized that the priest’s marriage was done without the required canonical permission. Although Fr. Oghenerukevwe had expressed a desire to be released from his priestly obligations in late November 2024, the Diocese noted that he proceeded with his marriage before completing the proper procedures.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A video of the marriage ceremony circulated on social media, further prompting the church to take action. The Diocese also revealed that it had reached out to Fr. Oghenerukevwe to begin the formal process of releasing him from his vows, but he married without waiting for the necessary approval.
Despite the suspension, the Diocese stated that Fr. Oghenerukevwe could petition for the revocation of the decree if he demonstrated a willingness to reform. “May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation,” the statement concluded.
Fr. Oghenerukevwe’s sister, Mary Okanatotor, responded to the suspension and explained her brother’s decision on social media. According to Mary, the decision to marry was “the best decision” for her brother, attributing it to his long-standing struggles with mental health and loneliness. She explained that the priest had been battling these issues for a long time, and his family was not physically present to offer him support during his difficult times.
She wrote, “Thank you all for the comments, the said priest is my brother and it was the best decision for him because he had a lot of issues with his mental health for a long time and couldn’t deal with the loneliness. We, his family members, are not with him to give him support physically.”
Mary also clarified that the marriage was not a secret, as her brother had informed the Diocese of his decision before proceeding. “He did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the Diocese to inform them of his decision,” she added.
Fr. Oghenerukevwe, originally from Ewu Kingdom in Delta State, was ordained a priest on June 21, 2008, in the Catholic Diocese of Warri. His decision to marry has sparked significant attention, and the situation remains a deeply emotional one for both his family and the Church.…..For More READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
