Bishop Kukah Goes Hard Oil Peddlars In the Church
By Matthews Otalike in Sokoto
Those who hawk all kinds of oil as supposedly quick-fix first aid boxes are charlatans and fraudsters.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah said this in a homily during Chrism Mass at the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral, Sokoto on Tuesday.
The only oils the Catholic Church blesses every year for use in the Church are Oil of Chrism, Oil of Catechumens and Oil of the Sick. All others being peddled for different purposes are not connected with the Church.
He expressed sadness that those pushing all manners of oil are only taking advantage of people's ignorance in the difficult times in Nigeria.
Bishop Kukah said he had to be brutal in his position on the oil dupes to drive the message home as those into it are in a hurry and want God to serve them rather than serving God.
Such practice he stressed, undermine the sacramental presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacraments. He likened individuals and ministers who encourage and engage in such unholy practice with Simon Magus in the Acts of the Apostles who sought to bribe Peter and his companion to obtain the power of the Holy Spirit to further his magical powers.
He urged the lay faithful to seek the proper guidance of older priests on such matters or contact the Diocesan Secretariat for çlarification.
During the Mass, all priests in the Diocese renewed their priestly vow of obedience and respect to the Bishop. He committed all of them to abiding by and implementing the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
At the end of the Mass the lay faithful and priests and religious from all Parishes, outstations, chaplaincies and institutions in the Diocese of Sokoto, presented their support to the Bishop in the Cathedraticum.
