Formerly identified as Reverend Father Patrick Henry Edet while he was with the Catholic church, Reverend Edet finally opened up on why he decided to end what was supposed to be a lifetime of service to the church.
Reverend Edet who hosts a weekly Christian programmed titled “Grace and Inspiration” in Planet 1010.1FM, Akwa Ibom state, spoke at length while the programme aired on August 2, saying there was no need for him to continue with the Catholic church because peace deserted him while he was there.
He said after 11 long years, he strongly felt the need to leave, because he was feeling boxed in and it was affecting his personal relationship with God. He said leaving was the best thing, as he is now finally free.
Reverend Father Patrick Edet said he left the Catholic church because it was affecting his personal relationship with God.
Speaking during the live programme, he gave his reasons for resigning as thus: “On 31st of July, I resigned from my services, my duties and obligations as a Catholic priest. I ceased to be a Catholic priest in my thinking, in my spirit, in my soul, (and) in my body.
Yesterday, the 1st of August, was my first day outside the laws, the regulations, (and) the authority of the Catholic church. In my mind, every law that bound me, bound me because I submitted myself to the Catholic Church as an institution. Having submitted my resignation letter to my authorities in the Catholic Church, in my spirit, soul and body, I am free from every law that guided me.
I submit myself to one authority – God. Peace has been taken away from me for years. I live in fear and in doubt. Sometimes I doubt myself – am I really right, am I in the right place.”
Reverend Edet said being with the Catholic church made him feel like something was missing in his relationship with God. He likened it to being in a box.
He said: “A box is already made for you and you cannot go outside that box. You cannot know God beyond that box. You cannot express God beyond that box, and any attempt for you to go beyond that box brings you label. The God that I have discovered in life is a God that cannot be fully known. That God is a God that cannot be fully predicted and cannot be fully captured in human expression otherwise he will cease to be a mystery.
That is a God I have come to accept as my God. I have come to realise that serving that God you need freedom. When that freedom is limited you cannot fully serve that God. Each time I tried to cross the line, the thing I meet crushes me on the inside and makes me feel guilty. But I cannot stop doing it. There’s a pull inside of me telling me there is more, and life was meant to be more and that more is found in freedom in God.”
On the repercussions of leaving church, he is precise about an anticipated end for himself. “The reason I am doing this is that I want to be right with God first. I want to go to heaven when I die. It is not the Church that called me, it is God who called me that is above the Church, and my interest is to be right with Him first and have peace with Him first.”
from Abujareporters
Reverend Edet who hosts a weekly Christian programmed titled “Grace and Inspiration” in Planet 1010.1FM, Akwa Ibom state, spoke at length while the programme aired on August 2, saying there was no need for him to continue with the Catholic church because peace deserted him while he was there.
He said after 11 long years, he strongly felt the need to leave, because he was feeling boxed in and it was affecting his personal relationship with God. He said leaving was the best thing, as he is now finally free.
Reverend Father Patrick Edet said he left the Catholic church because it was affecting his personal relationship with God.
Speaking during the live programme, he gave his reasons for resigning as thus: “On 31st of July, I resigned from my services, my duties and obligations as a Catholic priest. I ceased to be a Catholic priest in my thinking, in my spirit, in my soul, (and) in my body.
Yesterday, the 1st of August, was my first day outside the laws, the regulations, (and) the authority of the Catholic church. In my mind, every law that bound me, bound me because I submitted myself to the Catholic Church as an institution. Having submitted my resignation letter to my authorities in the Catholic Church, in my spirit, soul and body, I am free from every law that guided me.
I submit myself to one authority – God. Peace has been taken away from me for years. I live in fear and in doubt. Sometimes I doubt myself – am I really right, am I in the right place.”
Reverend Edet said being with the Catholic church made him feel like something was missing in his relationship with God. He likened it to being in a box.
He said: “A box is already made for you and you cannot go outside that box. You cannot know God beyond that box. You cannot express God beyond that box, and any attempt for you to go beyond that box brings you label. The God that I have discovered in life is a God that cannot be fully known. That God is a God that cannot be fully predicted and cannot be fully captured in human expression otherwise he will cease to be a mystery.
That is a God I have come to accept as my God. I have come to realise that serving that God you need freedom. When that freedom is limited you cannot fully serve that God. Each time I tried to cross the line, the thing I meet crushes me on the inside and makes me feel guilty. But I cannot stop doing it. There’s a pull inside of me telling me there is more, and life was meant to be more and that more is found in freedom in God.”
On the repercussions of leaving church, he is precise about an anticipated end for himself. “The reason I am doing this is that I want to be right with God first. I want to go to heaven when I die. It is not the Church that called me, it is God who called me that is above the Church, and my interest is to be right with Him first and have peace with Him first.”
from Abujareporters
*if he is at peace with his decision then so be it
Well! Good for him. He alone knows what he wants.
ReplyDeleteSir, you haven't said the truth. Spill it all.
DeleteWhat truth are u looking for? That he wants to fuck women or what?
Delete@Cynhams, truth or not, it's his life and his business. He is an adult and can do as he pleases. He is accountable to God only.
DeleteI'm happy you are happy.
DeleteThat's what life is all about.
But I think you were coerced into
joining the preisthood.
Those who have the yearning for priesthood feel grateful to serve God.
Priesthood wasn't really your call.
I'm happy your are *in your words* 'free...
I concur. Salvation is personal. God called him not the church.
DeleteA box is already made for you and you cannot go outside that box. You cannot know God beyond that box. You cannot express God beyond that box, and any attempt for you to go beyond that box brings you label. The God that I have discovered in life is a God that cannot be fully known. That God is a God that cannot be fully predicted and cannot be fully captured in human expression otherwise he will cease to be a mystery.
ReplyDelete^^ that up there is Word!! I have also felt exactly the same way.
May God be with you and strengthen your path!
Once you attempt leaving the Catholic Church, that's when you will know the truth about those who knelt down and prayed the rosary with you especially their thoughts towards your joy. It's like they are saying you have missed the way, come back let us be bound together. Christianity without liberty is rubbish Abeg. No body should now start insinuating that this one has fallen. He didn't fall, he rose and will keep rising.
DeleteThey should let him be! Not easy being a priest! Preaching same thing every 3 years! Truly should feel like a box
ReplyDeleteMost time when we want fire branded prayers n deliverance, we go to other churches, sonny one should blame the priest.
Sorry to say but you have a dead brain if you think same thing is preached every 3years. Same things might be read but not preached.
Delete"Think outside the box".Story for the Gods.
ReplyDeleteAbeg tell us the real story?Which woman do you want to marry? How many children do you already have? Which miracle performing church do you want to open with powers from only God knows where. We have seen plenty like you. Second bass jare. This is a typical case of Chimamandas Adichies "Danger of a single story.I HAVE SPOKEN!
Same thing I said below.
DeleteHe was tired of committing fornication, he wants to be free from sin..what you'll hear next is that he is getting married. Whatever rocks his boat.
ReplyDeleteIs it not better than living in hypocrisy. Anon move back abeg
DeleteGoodluck Priest Edet. Like i said before you alone know what made you took that decision. Goodluck to your new found faith Amen
ReplyDeleteHe is better off than living in hypocrisy and at the end land in hell. Personal relationships supercede all others.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Reverend Edet
The things is, there are some matters one shouldn't just immediately being to freely comment without knowing the intricacies. Especially one delicate as this. But one things is clear - the fact that he has chosen to be free and not entangle his spirit with the chains of doctrinal and religious laws.
ReplyDeleteI wish him well. He seems to be a good man.
Alright. So he switching faith now? I pray he finds what he seeks
ReplyDeleteIf this makes him sleep well at night then who am I to question his decision.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Mr Edet.
He revealed this same day na. He was talking for more than 20 minutes the day he made his announcement. It's his life and nobody can live it for him
ReplyDeleteWow!I have listen to this Rev preaching and I think he ve got the world.A very good preacher.What ever makes you happy sir!
ReplyDeleteEach time I tried to cross the line, the thing I meet crushes me on the inside and makes me feel guilty.
ReplyDeleteThis excerpt caught my attention,the Catholic church is like a military.
The line you just quoted and him saying he feels he's in a "box" is what makes the Holy mother church what it is. You're correct about the church being like military...cause you're to obey your superiors in priesthood. They rules were made to checkmate excesses. There are so many charismatic, powerful ,prayerful priests in the Catholic church yet they do what they do within the confines of the rules.
DeleteThat being said, I still wish Mr Edet well.
Kelly thank you for this comment
DeleteWe are not to judge that's one thing I'm trying not to regarding this matter but it's between him and God
The Catholic will not come to an end cos he left.No man is bigger than the church.
I wish him well.
He alone knows what made him become a priest in rhe first and lasted for 11years.
Most management gurus propounded theories baser on the management and organization of the Church. ..
DeleteThe Church is everything in one.
It's always about your personal relationship with God. I don't think God would ask you what church you attended.
ReplyDeleteAbeg go siddon. Just come and plain and tell the world you have being furnicating as a priest and you want to be free. I pray Rev Henry Opara of st Mary catholic church, umuawuka Emii Owerri will follow suit. He is not fit to be a Rev fr. Sending me his nude pix and sleeping around. May God expose him. I wish I had slapped him when I had the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteOnye ebe kanyi iri kpole? Some of them aren't fit to be priests.
DeleteWhy do you catholics think everything is about fornication ,women or making babies when a priest resigns? Only God can erase the stupidity in your hakf dead brain.
DeleteIs this not the same priest that they said got 100m naira in donations and instead of using it for the Catholic Church, went to buy a land to open his ministry against the Bishop's wishes. Guy man don see money, im brain don reset, talking shit about a box. The Catholic church has been in existence for over 2000 years. It was there long before you and will be there long after you, till the end of time. Yes, it loses it's focus sometimes but at least it resets itself. Doesn't change its authority that Jesus gave to it from Saint Peter. Oga ex priest carry go. You became greedy. As long as you make peace with God, we wish you all the best. No hard feelings.
ReplyDeleteYou must be one of those Hypocrite found in the church every sunday, insulting someone because he left the catholic faith, May God punish you for the insults in ten folds.
Delete"Over 2000 years"?! Exaggerate with small fear abeg. "They said" who's the they referred to here? Ndi rumour peddlers. If you've got no proof and you're not the Catholic spokesman, don't insult anybody. Is Christianity about a place of worship or about worshipping God and walking right to make heaven? Spiricoco amebo
DeleteWhatever!
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is making heaven.
It's all about salvation.
Through the Catholic church or via other Pentecostal churches, whichever route you take doesn't matter.
Destination point is all that matters.
Talking about the Catholic church using words like "You felt boxed or whatever" is like you painting the church in a negative light and opening grounds for criticisms.
Stop it reverend!
Everything is beautiful depending on the Situation. A School bell sounds irritating at 9 am. But, the same sounds melodious at 4 pm.
The same Catholic church you feel boxed in and you feel will prevent you from connecting with God and making heaven, others have been faithful and made heaven through the doctrine and their faith.
Go in peace.
In order words, open your church and make more money for not just an institution but for yourself, I am happy you left, after all we are expected to do what makes us happy it's time to own your private jet,
ReplyDeleteA native doctor in my village who use to be a man servant in the church once told me if I know what he saw while serving in the Catholic I will fear...it made him turn to a native doctor..U there not tell him about all dis priest
ReplyDeleteAnd what were u doing with a native doctor?
DeleteIts a good thing u left idolatry. God wants us to cone to him only thru Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteThe anoiting you are enjoying today is from the same idolatry church. From catholic to Anglican to baptist, etc. if the foundation is wrong, then all is wrong.
DeleteLeave this man to go buy his own private jet.
Anonymous 14:23, the anointing we are enjoying today is from GOD NOT a church. See why the anonymous above spoke about idolatry? You, in particular, worship the buildings rather than the actual Head of the Church
DeleteWhat else truth do you need to know, he has made his decision so be it, let God be the judge if he is right or wrong
ReplyDeleteWhatever Mr Edet. But wen u were in d seminary u learnt all dis, y didn't u leave d seminary school instead of waiting for 11 years after ur ordination. Anyway only God knows his true worshippers
ReplyDeleteListening to him preach was like being in a pentecostal church. I am not surprised he is leaving. Now he wants to go make some money like all the other fake pastors.
ReplyDeleteSo as he leave catholic, make all the Pentecostal church pastors fake. Make God help una.
DeleteThis Reverend's story has exposed a lot of lapses in Christians. Most of those castigating the man are not offended about any other thing but that he left the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the main purpose of going to church is worshipping and serving the Almighty God. The first people to be called Christians weren't called that because they worshipped in a particular building/church. They were called that because they were seen as exhibiting Christlike characteristics.
ReplyDeleteCatholic church or not God is one. Edet leaving Catholic church does not change anything. Let us leave dis criticism and focus on God. Catholics worship God and not church.
ReplyDelete