Saturday, January 16, 2010

BIZARRE! Man ordains himself Catholic priest

Despite not being ordained a priest by a bishop like these decons taking their last vows into priesthood, 'Fr Robert' of Dowa went on to offer high mass as a trickster. Pic exclusively by Malawi Digest.

By Eliah Nthara

A man who decided to ordain himself and later transformed into a Roman Catholic priest in the central region district of Dowa is currently behind bars serving a stiffer prison sentence.

The Mponela Second Grade Magistrate’s Court sentenced the 28-year-old man to three years imprisonment with hard labour for impersonation.

The court recently heard that Emmanuel Robert, dressed as a Roman Catholic priest, went to Simbi Catholic Church which is under Madisi Parish where he conducted prayers.

Mponela Police spokesperson Kondwani Kandiado said after the prayers, 'Fr Robert' collected the church offering of the day.

'Fr Robert' also told the church’s choir that it was nominated to sing at an ordination of a priest in Mangochi Diocese; hence, each member was told to contribute MK600 to buy uniform in preparation for the trip.

Kandiado said the man went further to ask the congregation to contribute towards the trip, something that raised people’s suspicions.

The matter was reported to Madisi Parish Priest Father Zikomankhani who said he did not know ‘Fr Robert.’

Kandiado said the man was handed over to Mponela Police where he confessed that he was not a priest.

In court, Police prosecutor Patrick Chipote told the court that the accused deserved a stiff penalty for denting the image of the Catholic Church.

'Fr Robert' comes from Galikavi Village, Traditional Authority Lukwa in the central religion’s tobacco growing district of Kasungu-The Nation/Malawi Digest.

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