- Information filtered through on divulging why the now suspended Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, reneged on his celibacy vows and recanted his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob
More details have come to light regarding the suspended Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe of the Catholic Church of Warri Diocese, who ditched his priestly calling to tie the nuptial knot.
Recall that Oghenerukevwe married his heartthrob Dora Chichah, at the Stream of Joy Church in Dallas, USA on December 29, 2024 after years in ecumenical business.
The church, however, disclosed that he did not wait to be released from his canonical obligations and responsibility by the universal Church before going ahead with the wedding.
Consequently, the church Diocesan authorities suspended him from priestly duties noting that “by this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1.”
The suspension, which was contained in a statement titled, ‘Decree of Suspension’, dated, Thursday, January 16, 2025, jointly signed by the Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido and the Chancellor/Notary, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo had alleged that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA.”
“By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1, and I, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, do hereby officially decree that he is suspended from the exercise of sacred ministry,” the statement partly read.
The Diocese, however, remarked that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe retains the right to petition for the revocation or amendment of the decree but must demonstrate a willingness to reform.”
However, information filtered through on divulging why the now suspended Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, reneged on his celibacy vows and recanted his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob in Dallas, USA.
A woman who claimed to be the biological sister of the suspended Catholic priest, Mary Okanatotor, maintained that “it was the best decision” for her brother.
Mary, in a social media comment over the reports that her brother (Fr Oghenerukevwe) secretly married her partner in America, attributed his decision to “loneliness.”
She disclosed that Fr. Oghenerukevwe battled l mental health challenges for a long time and could not handle the “loneliness” as a priest.
She added that the family was not physically present to support the priest when he was undergoing difficult challenges.
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. Thank you for your encouraging words.
“This is a trying time for our family, but he who finds a wife finds a good thing.
“Secondly, he did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the Diocese to inform them of his decision.
“Once again, thank you. For the sponsor of this post, may God bless you and reward you accordingly.”
Fr. Oghenerukevwe, who hails from one of the communities in Ewu Kingdom of Delta State, was ordained as a priest on June 21, 2008, into the Catholic Diocese of Warri
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