INSIDE OLD CATHOLIC

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. Introduction: A Tale of Two Errors In my last teaching, I warned about the claim that “if you don’t pay your tithe, you will go to hell.” I asked a simple but serious question: Can a person doomed for hell move to Heaven simply by paying his tithe, without knowing the message of the Cross and accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior? Preaching about tithing and condemning people to hell because they didn't pay is misleading and dangerous. Let me tell you, this is not a new problem in the life of the Church. A similar scenario has occurred before in history. This mandate to put a price tag on God’s grace happened at the center of one of the most pivotal moments in the Church’s story—the selling of indulgences in the 16th century. Just as then, so today: when money is preached louder than the Cross, the Gospel is obscured. More emphasis is placed on the message of money rather than the message of the Cross. Should we now get rid of the Cross that we all should...

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. Have you ever noticed a priest at Mass praying with his arms outstretched, palms open? Or perhaps someone praying in similar posture and gazing upwards? In the Catholic tradition, this isn't just a spontaneous expression of devotion; it's a specific, ancient posture known as the Orans posture. Far from being a modern innovation, this gesture of prayer has resonated across the Church for centuries, holding a profound spiritual significance that continues to enrich the sacred liturgy of the Mass today. But what exactly is the Orans posture, where did it come from, and why does it still hold such power for believers? Let's reach out and explore this beautiful and meaningful stance of prayer. What is the Orans Posture? Derived from the Latin word orare, meaning "to pray," the Orans posture is characterized by standing (or sometimes kneeling) with arms extended sideways, bent at the elbows, and palms open and facing upwards. It is a posture tha...

By MOST REV. DR. JOHN A. ADEYEMO, DD - PRESIDING ARCHBISHOP, ORCC-LR, SUI IURIS & PRESIDENT, INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s views and does not necessarily represent the official stance of INSIDE CATHOLIC Nigeria’s rich Christian landscape hosts a variety of denominations, among which the Old Catholic Churches and the Roman Catholic Church notably coexist. Despite sharing roots in the historic Catholic tradition, these two bodies face tensions and hostilities, primarily from the Roman Catholic side, related to issues of authority, doctrine, and influence. The Old Catholic Apostolic Church in Nigeria was formally established in approximately 2014 through the leadership of Bishop Raphael Fagbohun, as a movement devoted to upholding what it sees as the original Catholic teachings apart from the dogmatic innovations of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Despite this, both Churches coexist within Nigeria, managing a relationship cha...