MAN (CôTE D'IVOIRE)
La Croix International [France]
January 8, 2024
By Guy Aimé Eblotié
Catholic bishop in Ivory Coast calls on people to report priests who have “a wife or children,” as well as those suspected of “sexual abuse or economic crimes.”
Bishop Gaspard Béby Gneba has called on the people of his diocese in western Ivory Coast to report priests who secretly have wives and families, as well as those who commit sexual or financial abuse.
“Any lay believer who knows that a priest is not faithful to his celibacy, has a wife or child, or has committed sexual abuse or economic crimes, must have the courage to report it to the bishop, otherwise, they commit a sin of complicity before God, the pope, and the Church,” Bishop Gneba said in an open letter to people of the Diocese of Man, which he read January 4 on diocesan radio.
“The pope speaks of zero tolerance for these priests,” said the 61-year-old bishop, a former seminary professor of spirituality and liturgy who has led the diocese since early 2008.
He said his message was “urgent, important, and necessary” and aimed at helping him in”the fight against sexual abuse, economic crimes within the clergy of Man, and the treatment of priests who have wives or children.”
After extensively reiterating these directives, he went on to discuss the “specific measures taken to transparently handle cases of sexual abuse or economic crimes committed by priests” in the diocese during his nearly 16 years at the helm.
Bishop Gneba also called on all priests with wives or children to resign immediately.
“They must come to see me as soon as possible to submit their resignation,” he insisted, while deploring the behavior of some who “give the impression that priestly celibacy has been abolished or that continence is optional.”
“Is this the best way to handle these issues?”
The priests and people of the diocese were reportedly “quite surprised by the tone and content” of the bishop’s letter, especially since it was published shortly after various meetings he had with his presbyterate regarding their sometimes tense relationships.
Bishop Gneba has been accused numerous times of abuse of authority in how he manages the diocese. Recent meetings with the clergy were aimed at resolving tensions.
The bishop convened all the priests to an initial meeting on December 6to have an “openhearted” dialogue with a team of facilitators.
“On that day, almost all the priests said they were disappointed with him because he does not behave like a father,” one of the presbyters told La Croix Africa. “We were asked to speak openly, so we all denounced his inhumanity and economic crimes since 2008,” said the priests, who asked not to be named.
Bishop Gneba followed up that group meeting with a series of “individual and confidential” meetings with each priest on December 27 and 28.
The priest who spoke to La Croix Africa said expressed concerns about the bishop’s call to for Catholics to report clerics who are committing abuses or not keeping their promise to live celibate lives. “He is the bishop, he certainly has information,” the priest said, while voicing perplexity with his bishop’s methods.
“Is this the best way to handle them?” he wondered.”I think the priest is a human being, among human beings.”