Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Kumasi Archdiocese, has advised the Accra Archdiocese’s two newly ordained auxiliary bishops to obey their Diocesan Bishop.
The Archbishop gave this advice during a homily at the ordination of Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare and Most Rev. John Kobina Louis at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
According to Archbishop Anokye, the role and need for Auxiliary Bishops are enshrined in Church Documents, especially in the Vatican I Decree on the Pastoral Office of the Bishops in the Church, “Christus Dominus”, par. 25&26 (28/10/1965), and in The Code of Canon Law, Canons 403-411, of 1983 edition. He emphasized that the highest and objective good of the Lord’s Flock or the Diocese can demand the appointment of Auxiliary Bishops to assist the Diocesan Bishop in his pastoral administration.
Archbishop Anokye further stated that the Venerable Auxiliary Bishops of Accra Archdiocese, like any other Auxiliary Bishops, do not have the right of succession. “Only the Coadjutor Bishop has that right” he said.
He also reminded the newly ordained bishops that they are legally forbidden to act against the will and mind of their Diocesan Bishop.
The Archbishop advised the new bishops to focus on their duties and avoid administrative incongruities and ambiguities as well as pastoral tentacles and obstacles. He cautioned them against expressing themselves as though they had their own Dioceses, stating that they are seconded from their Titular Dioceses to the Accra Archdiocese. He urged them to keep in mind that the Accra Archdiocese is not theirs and that they are just Assistants or Helpers.
Archbishop Anokye also admonished the new bishops to put the Diocesan Bishop’s Vision and Strategic Planning Initiatives first, notwithstanding their lofty ideas.
He encouraged them to always report to the Diocesan Bishop about more important pastoral matters they have dealt with or about to be attended to.
