![]() ![]() Margaret Ifediba and her family lost interest in the Catholic faith after the funeral of their brother, Chidiebere, in 2017. Catholics, especially bereaved families, are becoming indifferent about attending church activities. "During burial, most people are not crying for the dead but for the financial pressure that comes with it, including this clearance." ![]() "I am not happy with this practice because they know that not everyone has the money to pay, especially at that difficult time," said Anyibgo. He told NCR that because of this practice, many Catholics who have lost their loved ones have had to call pastors from other churches, mostly Pentecostal denominations, to pray for their dead. His mother, Sabina, was once the vice-president of the women's group and lived up to her financial obligations.Īnyibgo says he was surprised with the financial demands. While studying at the university, Anyibgo, 35, was the head of the youth group at his parish for three years. Families of the bereaved are not only going through the pain of losing a loved one, but also the financial demands of a parish that insists the clearance certificate must be up to date - showing that the dead person was active and financially committed to any groups they belonged to, and that there are no outstanding dues. This clearance certificate has been generating controversy for many years. When someone dies and is to be buried, a clearance certificate that testifies that the person and his or her relatives are not in debt to parish groups (such as men's or women's groups), is often requested before a priest will come and celebrate the Mass. In Nigeria, especially in the southeastern region, the Catholic Church can deny funeral rites over unpaid dues or levies. On the vigil before the burial, Anyibgo had to make the remaining payment of 36,000 naira ($95) so the priest would come the next day and celebrate the funeral Mass for his father.Īnyibgo's case is not isolated. But the parish insisted that the complete debt had to be cleared before a priest would be assigned to come and pray for their dead. When Paschal Anyibgo's family contributed around 50,000 naira ($132), they paid so the funeral plans would proceed. "I was surprised because my father was not owing, and I asked how the debt came about, and they started showing me details, telling me that some projects are going on in the church and some dues are required to complete them." ![]() "When my family went … to the parish, they said he was owing 86,000 naira (US$200) and that the money must be paid before he is buried," said Anyibgo. Benedict, located in Uli, a rustic village in Nigeria's southeastern Anambra state. When Paschal Anyibgo's father, John, passed away in November 2019, his family was devastated. John was 93 when he died after a protracted illness and was loved by his family and community.īefore the funeral of their patriarch, Paschal's family was not only thinking about the vacuum John had left, but also how to face the financial demands for burying the dead from their local parish, St. ![]()
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