Since Saturday, August 19, 2023, an unusual circumstance occurred in a parish in Yopougon during a baby’s baptism ceremony, causing significant turmoil in the city.
According to Fraternité Matin, a purported priest was apprehended during a mass where a parishioner’s baby was being baptized. Before the arrival of the police, the priest of Sainte-Rita de Cascia Parish in Niangon Nord was forced to interrupt the ceremony to address the allegations made by the parishioners. The family that presented the fake priest had a strong belief in their bishop’s capabilities, to the extent that they issued explicit threats.
According to the family, the action of the priest in alerting the police would only lead to the humiliation of their priest. “You’re sending him to the police to humiliate him. When you have proof that he’s a real priest, you should come before all the parishioners to clear his name and apologize,” they said, while threatening the priest.
Furthermore, a vocal witness reported during the arrest of the purported priest: “He came to Sainte-Rita Parish, introducing himself to Father Bioffot as a priest. He presided over the baptism of a child and then celebrated a mass. However, his liturgical errors caught my attention. After the mass, I talked to him and he admitted that he wasn’t a priest but rather ordained as a deacon in Cameroon.”
Additionally, Father François, who had a good understanding of the fake priest, confirmed that he had indeed undergone some clerical training but had not successfully completed it. “Since arriving in Côte d’Ivoire for vacation, Joseph Kouadio claims to have been ordained as a deacon in Cameroon, even though he was dismissed from the seminary in Abidjan. Testimonies converge to classify his actions as invalid on a liturgical level. This incident raises questions about the necessary vigilance in the religious context and underscores the importance of ensuring the authenticity of individuals playing key roles in religious ceremonies.”
Currently, Kouamé Joseph, the suspected priest, is at the police station in the 17th district of Niangon. An investigation has been launched to clarify the facts and shed light on this matter.
