Catholic Church Suspends Parish Priest For Three Years
The Catholic Diocese of Bungoma has suspended Lwanya Parish Priest Fr Maurice Langiri for three years with effect from 23rd February 2024.
In a letter addressed to the affected priest, other priests, religious and all people of God of the Diocese of Bungoma, Bishop Rt.Rev. Mark Kadima said the suspension was in accordance with Canon 1395 of the code of Canon Law.
” I deeply regret to inform you that I have suspended you from the priestly ministry for a period of three years with effect from 23rd February 2024 in accordance with Canon 1395 of the code Canon Law,” he said.
” Please keep him in your prayers,” Bishop Kadima said in the letter copied to Apostolic Nuncio and all the Ar bishops.
The Bishop didn’t give the reason behind Fr Langiri’s suspension.
The priest served in Nangina, Port Victoria, Mundika and Lwanya where he was serving until his suspension.
In 2008, according to media reports, a row erupted at Nangina Catholic Parish following the appointment of the Fr Langiri, the priest in charge as Constituency Development Fund chairman.
Father Langiri had taken over from Mr Amstrong Kasuku, but his appointment rubbed area residents and Catholic faithful the wrong way.
In December 2013, Fr Langiri presided over free weddingfor over 50 spouses in Busia County sponsored by Mundika Catholic Parish.
Fr Langiri said the church hosted the wedding ceremony because majority of its members could not afford costs involved.
“I am calling upon other churches in Busia and its environs to emulate the gesture and organise free wedding ceremonies for the married members of their churches who are not financially endowed as a Christmas gift,” he was quoted as saying.
He said spouses should respect their marital status through faithfulness, adding that
polygamy is a major challenge to the church.
“You should remain faithful to each other not only as a precaution against HIV-Aids but in line with the biblical principles of holiness,” he noted.
In 2020, through the inspiration of Fr Langiri, a Nation journalist, Vincent Opiyo, abandoned the newsroom to pursue Catholic priesthood.
At a tender age of 12 years, Opiyo became an altar boy in his home parish, Nangina Catholic Church, to realize his dream of emulating Parish Priest Fr Langiri,
whom he described as a friend and a father figure.
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