The bishop and the five priests of St. Martin of Tours, Ihiala, reportedly engaged in an ongoing argument over who should live in the parish. The issue reportedly began when the bishop expelled the priests from the church's parsonage after an organizational restructuring intended to establish a new parish nearby.
The bishop's order for the priests to leave the parish so that new priests could be sent to the church was reportedly rebuffed by the priests, who allegedly stated that their order had been in charge of the parish for more than 100 years. Their canonical faculties were revoked by the Bishop in a letter when they refused to leave their parish (authorities to perform acts or function in the parish)
Reverend Father Hyginus Aghaulo, a former director of communication for the Nnewi Diocese, revealed this while addressing reporters in Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo local government area.
The Spiritans claim that Archbishop Heerey gave it (parish) to them in 1967. That was under 1917 Code but Canon 6 of 1983 Code abrogated 1917 Code unless such matters are renewed in 1983 Code but there is no evidence that such happened.
Thirdly, 1983 Code abolished making a moral person now juridic person a pastor. Now to be appointed a pastor, the person must be a physical person and be in priesthood.
Even if a parish is given to a juridic person even in soliduum, the diocesan Bishop must appoint one of them the proper pastor. Fourthly, under 1917 Code, when such grant was instituted, there was an express need for apostolic indult in order to have the character of perpetuity.
The 1983 Code gives the discretion and right of free conferral on diocesan bishops and those equivalent to them in law in line with canons 368 and 381, in the spiritual task of appointing pastors.
Thus, the diocesan can freely appoint and freely fire. He can freely create and freely suppress parishes without recourse to existing customs, grants and centennial or immemorial bequests and grants.
In contrast to diocesan or secular priests, Aghaulo argued that religious institutes, by virtue of their juridic identity, were not particularly and naturally suited for parish administration but rather for the practice of evangelical counsel in their communities and convents.
In the Ihiala case, he claimed that because Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye is the successor to Archbishop Heerey and "salvation of souls is the supreme law," he has the authority to interpret or modify the perpetuity provision in such a convention.
Aghaulo revealed that the Superior General, whose responsibility it is to oversee the priests, had been informed of the development.
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