The Catholic Men Organization of Our Lady of Perpetual Light, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has raised an alarm over some of the policies implemented by some Dioceses when it comes to the burial of Catholic members who died outside their home parishes/dioceses.  This was pointed out during the bimonthly meeting of the parish’s C.M.O. at the Upper Room Chamber of the Parish on Sunday, 9th March, 2025.

This issue (which was referred to as disturbing) was particularly raised by members, who argued that before now  such practice was not known in the Catholic Faith, which has encouraged universality. Analyzing the issue, it was submitted that currently, when deceased Catholic faithful are taken home by their loved ones for burial, the home church(es) would insist they pay up all dues/debt which they claim accrued over the years they were away.

The Chairman of the Parish’s CMO, Prof. Oladimeji, particularly cited cases of discrimination even within Ondo Diocese, where those who had lived all their lives and functioned in Akure are denied burial rites in their home church in Akoko or Oka on the excuse that they have not been paying their dues to their home parish. Some other members pointed to the case in the eastern part of the country, where such practice is fast becoming the order of the day. This in the view of members, does not augur well for the unity of the church.

At the end of the day, a committee was set up by the CMO to interact with other members of the parish as well as find ways of reaching out to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria to see how this can be resolved once and for all. The membership of the committee included Prof. F.A. Oladimeji, Prof. A.O. Isichei, Engr. S.U.B. Ezekpo, Prof. J.I. Nwachukwu, Dr. P.O. Aduma, and E.O. Akubor.