Catholic Bishops warn against ‘divergent practices’ in worship

Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have warned the faithful against allowing what they described as “divergent practices” they said they had noticed  was infiltrating the Catholic Mass and mode of worship.

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, gave the warning at the end of their first meeting in 2017.

In a communique at the end of the meeting, the Bishops said: “we restate our concern for divergent practices creeping into Catholic worship and liturgy in the church, especially within our province.”

They  expressed concern that “such practices are often introduced without consultation with or approval of competent Ecclesiastical authority.”

In the communique entitled: “Restoring Cinfidence in Nigeria,” and signed by their President, Most Reverend Gabriel Abegunrin, and Secretary, Most Reverend John Oyejola, the clerics charged bishops to pay close attention to the clergy in their dioceses with the aim of correcting such anomalies.

They said: “We hereby remind bishops to pay close attention and correct such anomalies. While our liturgical committee prepares measures to help regulate some of these issues we urge all our priests, religious, and other agents of evangelisation to follow the rubrics and approved practices of the church during worship and liturgical gatherings.”