JUST IN; Catholic Priest flogs Choir members inside Church
A Catholic priest from the Enugu Diocese, Reverend Father Linus Okwu, has come under fire for physically punishing choir members at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Agbani, Enugu State.
The incident occurred when Okwu, visibly upset, interrupted a choir practice to confront the members about their failure to clear the church grounds.
Armed with canes, Father Okwu demanded explanations from the choir members, which included mothers, young men, and teenagers. Dissatisfied with their responses, he ordered them to kneel and began to whip them harshly.
One victim, who chose to remain anonymous, reported leaving the church with visible bruises and expressed that the traumatic experience would haunt her for years. She recounted that the priest, in his anger, stated that since the choir members often disregarded church teachings, he felt compelled to resort to physical discipline to enforce compliance.
The victim described her attempt to avoid punishment by moving to the back of the group, hoping to escape his wrath. However, Father Okwu proceeded to strike everyone present, regardless of age or status.
When she resisted, he justified his actions by comparing his authority as a priest to that of a father at home, asserting his right to discipline his congregation when they falter.
