By Ovie Okpare
More details have emerged on why the now suspended Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, dumped his celibacy vows and renounced his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob in Dallas, United States of America.
The priest tie the knot with his wife at Dora Chichah at the Stream of Joy Church in Dallas, USA on December 2024, without waiting to be release from his canonical obligations and responsibility by the universal Church.
Fr Oghenerukevwe, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri in Delta State, went viral when pictures of his marriage to his partner went viral on social media.
Following the development, NIGER DELTA TODAY Online reports that the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Warri, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, announced immediate suspension of the priest from the Holy Order.
But giving insight to why Fr. Oghenerukevwe left his priestly calling for to tie the knot, a woman who claimed to be the biological sister of the suspended Catholic priest, Mary Okanatotor, said “it was the best decision” for his brother.
Mary Okanatotor disclosed that Fr. Oghenerukevwe suffered mental health for a long time and could not handle the loneness as a priest.
She stated this while clarifying that her brother (Fr Oghenerukevwe) secretly her partner on social media on Sunday.
Mary added that her family was not physically present to support him when the priest 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 dioceses to inform them of his decision. once again thank you. For the sponsor of this post, may God bless you and award you accordingly.”
Fr Oghenerukevwe, who hails from one of the communities in Ewu Kingdom of Delta State, was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 21, 2008, into the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
