Rev. Fr. Prince Chidi Philip, a Catholic priest, has clarified that Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue remains a Catholic priest by ordination despite his involvement in partisan politics.
Philip made the clarification on his verified facebook page while responding to questions surrounding Alia’s status in the Catholic Church and whether he could return to priestly ministry after leaving political office.
He explained that the sacrament of Holy Orders conferred on a validly ordained priest was permanent and could not simply be erased because the priest had ceased to exercise public ministry.
According to him, Canon 290 of the Code of Canon Law provides that sacred ordination, once validly received, never becomes invalid.
He added that Canon 1008 also teaches that through Holy Orders, a person was marked with an indelible character and constituted as a sacred minister.
“Therefore, a priest may be prohibited from exercising some or all acts of priestly ministry, but such restriction does not mean that he has ceased to be a priest by ordination,” he said.
Philip said the Church’s law also placed restrictions on clerics holding political offices.
He cited Canon 285 §3, which provides that clerics are forbidden from assuming public offices involving participation in the exercise of civil power.
He said Alia’s decision to pursue elective political office therefore raised canonical issues concerning the exercise of his priestly ministry.
The priest, however, stressed the need to distinguish between Alia’s identity as a Catholic priest and his present role as a political office holder.
According to him, Alia’s actions and decisions as governor should be assessed primarily within the context of his political responsibilities and the Nigerian constitutional system.
“Governor Hyacinth Alia, as governor, is not under the political authority of the Catholic bishops.
“His authority to govern Benue comes from the Nigerian civil and political system, not from the Catholic Church,” he said.
Philip noted that a bishop could exercise canonical authority concerning a priest’s relationship with the Church but could not dictate how a democratically elected governor should administer a state.
He said such matters as government policies, political alliances, political disagreements and interactions with political opponents fell within the sphere of civil governance.
The cleric also addressed questions about whether Alia could return to priestly ministry after his tenure as governor.
He said such a possibility would depend on the relevant canonical processes and the Church’s decision regarding his status and any request to resume active ministry.
“Once he leaves politics, asks for reinstatement and fulfils the necessary canonical requirements, the competent Church authority can consider his return to priestly ministry,” he said.
Philip therefore urged members of the public to distinguish between Alia’s former or continuing clerical identity and his present political responsibilities.
He said political disagreements involving Alia, including his reported disagreements with former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, should not automatically be interpreted as positions of the Catholic Church.
“Whatever Gov. Alia does today in his capacity as governor should be assessed in the context of his political office.
“His political battles and disagreements are political matters and should not be presented as representing the voice or position of the Catholic Church,” he said.
Philip called for fairness in public discourse concerning Alia, urging Nigerians to scrutinise his policies, statements and decisions based on his performance as a public office holder.
He said Alia should be held accountable as a political leader while his priestly identity remained a matter governed by Catholic canon law.
“The Church remains a sacred space for spiritual guidance, unity and healing, while politics is a sphere of public debate, competing interests, policies and political responsibility.
“Gov. Alia has chosen to serve in the political arena, and it is in that capacity that his public actions should be evaluated,” he said.
The clarification comes amid public debate over whether Alia remains a Catholic priest, the extent of the Church’s authority over him as governor and whether he could resume priestly ministry after leaving political office.
