The Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA based in Accra, the political capital of Ghana has recently reported that a Catholic Priest in this country has been Suspended “immediately, indeterminately”. His local ordinary, who is a renowned member of RECOWA-CERAO, IS Seeking “clear evidence of reform.” This article is worth our news because the problem in one diocese or one episcopal conference resonates in so many other countries and conferences.
The news has it that Archbishop Philip Naameh of Ghana’s Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale has “immediately and indeterminately” suspended Fr. Kelvin Minnow.
In a suspension letter addressed to Fr. Minnow, Archbishop Naameh highlights the reasons behind the punitive measure and seeks “clear evidence of reform” on the part of the suspended priest to lift the suspension.
According to the Ghanaian Catholic Archbishop, Fr. Minnow failed to respond to multiple summons to defend himself, and his suspension is based on Canon 1333 §§ 1 and 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
“I hereby SUSPEND you IMMEDIATELY and INDETERMINATELY. In this regard, the penalties mentioned in canon 1333 §§ 1 & 2 of the revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law are hereby applied to you until you return to the diocese and manifest clear evidence of reform.” Archbishop Naameh says in the two-page letter.
The Ghanaian Archbishop explains that the Priest’s suspension is based on the fact that he has failed to avail himself “to an administrative process” to defend himself, particularly on the many allegations” levelled against him.
He says among the allegations is “vacation of post for some time now (since January 2025) without due recourse to your parish Priest or to me, which is a grave violation of law as stipulated in canon 1396”.
“A person who gravely violates the obligation of residence to which he is bound by reason of an ecclesiastical office is to be punished with a just penalty, not excluding, after a warning, deprivation of the office,” he explains about canon 1396.
Archbishop Naameh explains further that the suspension is based on his observation that, despite all attempts and proceedings to make amends, the Priest has remained adamant about his instructions and chosen to do what pleases him.
In remaining adamant, the Ghanaian Archbishop says the Priest has manifested “his gross disrespect, disregard, and disobedience to me, your competent and legitimate superior, which are clear external manifestations of a deliberate attempt to disobey me, which are considered grave and punishable.”
The archbishop says that the Priest has also not been responding to corrections thereby aggravating his situation.
He says that he has “made several fruitless attempts through admonishment, fraternal corrections and other means stipulated in canons 1339 and 1341 of the revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law” to initiate reforms in Priest’s ways and avoid scandal to the community in the conduct of his life and ministry.
Archbishop Naameh further applies “indeterminately the expiatory penalties mentioned in canon 1336 § 3, nos. 2-7” to the Priest.
Based on canon 1336 § 4, the archbishop also places sanctions to the Priest that includes deprivation of “all offices, duties, ministries or functions; of the faculty of hearing confessions or of preaching; of a delegated power of governance; and of some right or privilege or insignia or title.”
Deprivation of “all ecclesiastical remuneration or part of it, by the guidelines established by the Episcopal Conference, without prejudice to the provision of can. 1350 § 1,” is also among the sanctions placed upon the Priest.
“If after six (6) months continuously, I do not receive any information of your whereabouts or of your return to the diocese, I shall proceed to initiate other stiffer penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state as indicated in canon 1392,” the Archbishop warns, adding, “You have the right to appeal within fifteen (15) days to me.”
He further directs that the information concerning the suspension of Fr. Minnow be published “in all platforms of priests and religious, all diocesan platforms and in all media houses. This penalty takes effect from today, the 3rd day of April 2025.”
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