The first 20yrs of my life, I seriously had this dream of being a
priest. I was overfed with an overdose of religion which has always been
a very
serious business in my family. You dare not be late for morning mass or else you get the whipping of your life, yes
my father was that strict, no nonsense when it came to going to church or anything spiritual. That’s where I’m
coming from, we were a family that prayed together and were very staunch Catholics for that matter.
When I turned 16 I became an altar boy, at that time that was the
coolest thing to be, considering years of going to bible classes and
regular confessions. Eight months into the spiritual things as an altar
boy, I made a big goof; I drank the priests wine and ate a bunch of Holy
Communion enough to fill me up. I figured I could be more spiritual by
that action, but I got expelled as an altar boy, needless to say how
scandalized and angry my father was then, OMG.
By the time I turned 20, I’ve had enough religion to last me two life
times. By 1974, I left to further my studies in the USA, I was
overjoyed because for the first time, I was going to be on my own. I was
really carried away with my new found independence. Being an
adventurous young man I started dabbling into not only the occult but
with metaphysics, Buddhism, astrology, magic and all that Jazz. However,
I still believe I was fundamentally a Catholic by birth, but the
catholic fate has suddenly become boring and old fashion for me.
When I read that controversial book, “In God’s Name”, all the
negativity I started to feel about the Catholic Church became magnified
in my mind. What about the sex
scandals about priests and little boys. Hummmmmmm! I am aware that the Catholic Church is not a
perfect body, and doesn’t claim to be one. Of course it is plagued with the same corruption, scandals and sin as any other organization.
Last night as I was watching CNN, the Pope’s visit to Brasil was
being beamed to the world and all of a sudden, there it was, “who am I
to judge as long as they walk in the light of Christ” Pope Francis on
Gays. As reflexes would have it, I jumped out of my seat and hugged my
TV, funny ha ha. Not because homosexuality has been part of my advocacy
through the years
but because I feel that every adult has a right to make their bed and
lie on it as they choose, and who the hell are we to judge. I have
always said that it is really not our place to judge those who do not
fit our view of normal. So once again the church is attempting to evolve
in order to keep up with the rest of civilization. That is how a
religion survives. Its belief has to be flexible enough to stay somewhat
relevant to current or the public will abandon it.
Ever since the Popes election, my man has taken actions that seem to
be very ‘unpopelike’. He even used public transport as a cardinal, he
lives in a smaller quarter, he asked for blessing before blessing the
crowd which gathered in St Peters square on the day of his election. But
my people, what is stranger than Pope France’s action have been
evangelicals’ reactions all over the world. Never before has a Pope
become so widely accepted by Protestants and evangelicals. It’s a proud
day for Catholics and all mankind.
Finally a Pope who doesn’t see himself as equal to God, unlike our
men of god down here. It is really amazing. Every Pope in the Catholic
Church’s past has had a mastery over catholic rhetoric, because
theoretically they always say the right things. But Pope Francis has
decided to lead with his actions. Before delivering his message at the
Holy Thursday Mass, Pope Francis spent time on his Knees washing the
feet of young women incarcerated at a nearby prison.
This is the first time a Pope has ever washed the feet of women, not
to mention that one of the women was a Muslim, which is another break in
papal tradition. In the holy book, the bible calls us to be the light
to the world if Christ is to be present to the world. This is why Pope
Francis’ way should be imitated for imitating him we make Christ visible
and that is what influences others to walk in the way of Christ.
So much to be said for our so called “men of god” in this neck of the
woods who strut around as if they are God’s gift to mankind, most of
them bunch of con men and fraud stars who are continually ripping off
unsuspecting Nigerians, living in fancy houses, building universities
their congregation can’t even afford for their children and buying
private jets because their God is not a poor God, as Nija’s hand over
their pay
checks in return for a miracle because they have bought into the Hocus-pocus that is Pentecostalism.
Just look at our churches today, tell me those priest, pastors or our
so called men of god, who makes Christ visible. Jesus needs us to make
him Visible and present in this troubled world. Blessed mother Teresa is
a perfect example of showing us the love and mercy of Christ in the
millions she cared for. The gospel calls us to imitate Christ and it is
in the way we live that the gospel of Jesus gets proclaimed, that is how
we
speak Christ to a world that does not know him.
I am very scared for this Pope, he is a little too Christ like for
his own good. There are still some die hard winches, vampires in the
Vatican. I fear assassination, probably by the very people who call
themselves “devout”. If any Pope can show us what Jesus was saying, I
think this one is the one. At least I hope so. I am impressed with this
Pope not for his Catholicism but for his Christianity. As I lay in the
comfort of my room watching the Pope’s visit to Brazil, it was clear to
me that Pope Francis will go down in history as the greatest Pope ever, I
just pray that he lives out his Pope ship for many years to come as to
spread his light and make our lord Jesus more visible in the world.
More than 3million people where at Copacabana beach for the
re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross and farewell mass. This world
Youths Day smashed previous attendance records and goes down in the
record books as one of the best attended papal events ever. In short, this Pope is a rock star. Here is a Pope who
speaks the language of the people; In fact in Rio he kicked his penchant for simplicity, humility and accessibility into high gear.
The security operatives were all overwhelmed by zealous pilgrims, he insisted on leaving the
windows
of his car down so he could extend his arm to those seeking his
blessings. Countless babies kissed, photo ups with adoring faithfuls
only added to the pontiff reputation for being a man of the people, and
all of this took place in the roughest side of town, a crime ridden zone
in Rio.
Pope Francis is now standing up to the Mafia. First the Vatican
honoured Rev Giuseppe Puglisi, killed 20yrs ago by mobsters for
preaching against the Mafia, as a martyr. Pope Francis himself demanded
that Mafia members abandon their “evil ways” especially those who
exploit their fellow humans via human trafficking, drug dealing and
prostitution. “They cannot make our brothers slaves; let us pray that
these Mafiosi convert to God”. Hummmmm na wa, if the Mafia decides to
take Pope Francis out in retaliation for his words against them, I pray
that there’s a Pope Francis army out there ready to
throw down.
If the Pope manages to mobilize all of Italian society against the
Mafia, his days maybe numbered, but he will be unable to do so, and as a
result I pray that the Mafia won’t remember him. They say the only
thing needed for Evil to exist is for good men to do nothing. I am glad
that he is doing something. He looks and sounds to me like he has a
beautiful spiritual light burning inside of him and is preaching
goodwill for all and trying to turn around the corrupt so they too can
walk in the sunlight of the spirit. I really admire him for standing up
to the Mafias. I recognize the Popes effort in trying to bring a better
image and name to Christianity.
Anyway you flip it, the Holy Father is full of surprises, born of
true and faithful humility, at another occasion, he declared that all
people, not just Catholics, are redeemed through Jesus, even atheists.
“Those people must still do good. Infact, it is in doing good that they
are led to the one who is the source of all that is good” In essence he
simply restated the hope of the church that all come to know God,
through his son Jesus Christ. Pope Francis is saying more than ever
before, that Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for everyone. That
has always been a Christian belief, but rarely do you hear it said by
Catholics so forcefully, and with such evident joy. And in this era of
religious controversies, it is a timely reminder that God cannot be
confined to our narrow categories. Thumbs up for my man Pope Francis,
nothing do you.
CULLED FROM VANGUARD NEWSPAPER
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