By TIMOTHY NGUTOR UTIM*
No fewer than 14 seminarians have been expelled by the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi because they’re using iPhones. Many people feel uncomfortable with the decision of the church. But I was present at the event that triggered the expulsion of the said seminarians. It was the 2026 priestly ordination of the diocese.
Before I give my take on the issue, I want to let you know that I was also withdrawn from pursing my desire to become a priest. About four of the ordinands (now priests) were my classmates; we started the journey together. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the end but I was present to witness it by the mercies of God.
I stand with the church, the bishop and the formators of those guys. I’m in full support of the decision to send the guys back to their parents. They should go and explore other walks of life.
There are professions (vocations) that no single warning sign should ever be ignored no matter how infinitesimal. Examples of such professions or vocations are teaching, medicine, and priesthood. This is because they deal directly with humans, and one single mistake from the professional is capable of ruining millions of lives.
I don’t even know why social media must read meaning into everything without thinking deeper about its future implications. The seminarians, future priests, supposedly attended an ordination that is full of liturgy yet refused to kneel down even when the congregation, including all priests and the two bishops, were kneeling during the chanting of the Litany of the Saints. Which Catholic sees a bishop kneeling during a liturgy and they’re busy sitting? As who? God? We could excuse that for other faithful, but certainly not for seminarians who ought to be very much knowledgeable about the church doctrine.
With the way some of those boys in the seminary behave nowadays, one begins to wonder whether or not the discipline and training Catholic seminaries were known for are no longer in place. I personally saw some of them “gisting” and operating their phones during the Mass on that day, yet some uninformed folks are critical of the church for their expulsion.
Don’t you think those folks will change the liturgy to soothe them when they become priests?
I keep telling people: if you can’t abide by the rules of an organization or system, leave it. But if you see that the rules need reformation, follow the right process to reform them instead of doing as you want. Seminarians and priests now compete on who uses the most expensive gadgets. Shame!
It’s funny how some of the people who criticize some modern priests for their liturgical abuse still criticize the church now for being rigid. What kind of confusion is this?
Dear you, if you’re not comfortable with the decision of Bishop Anagbe and his team of formators, go and establish your own seminary and make those guys the formators.
*Timothy Ngutor Utim is a quality education advocate, moral character coach, and withdrawn seminarian.
