Speaking at the opening of the twelfth Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) Rectors’ Conference in Accra, Bishop Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum of Koforidua emphasised that liturgy belongs to the Church, not the individual celebrant, warning that celebration without proper preparation “becomes mere performance”.
Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum, who also serves as RECOWA’s first vice president, called for the correction of practices that resemble concerts and cautioned against the use of commercialised sacramental items, insisting that proper guidelines and a deep respect for Church authority must be instilled in seminarians from the outset of their formation.
“The seminary is a special place of formation where seminarians are equipped academically and spiritually for service in the Church,” he said, insisting that priests pray according to the requirements of the Church.
“We can’t celebrate the sacraments without reverence. We can’t celebrate the sacraments without preparation. You just don’t get up and stand behind the altar and celebrate the Mass, otherwise, it becomes like a performance.”
The bishop decried liturgical abuses, such as improvised rituals and commercialised sacraments, warning that practices like using inferior hosts and unauthorised wine compromise the integrity of Church celebrations
“We see priests performing liturgy in ways that resemble concerts or theatrical performances. These practices must be corrected, and the proper guidelines must be taught from the seminary,” he said.
Speaking at the same conference, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie of Accra condemned the alleged the rise of “homosexuality” and “gay culture” among seminarians in West Africa.
“Please do your best to weed out people of such orientation from our seminaries because it is not only an abomination to priestly attitude but also does not make the gifts of celibacy worth living. It is homosexuality and gay culture,” he said.
He called for the robust formation of seminarians, emphasising that “the norms regarding sexuality and the gay culture in the seminaries have not changed” and that rectors have “an onerous task” in forming future priests.