An Australian priest is excommunicated for violating the sacrament of Reconciliation

The British Daily Mail reported that after two years of careful investigation, the Vatican has just decided to excommunicate a priest in Australia. The investigation found that Father Ezinwanne Igbo had broken the sacrament of Reconciliation, which prohibits any priest from revealing anything he hears from the confessional.

Father Igbo, originally from Nigeria, was a parish priest at Stella Maris parish, in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In 2016, criticism arose against Igbo that he had violated Church law regarding the sacrament of Reconciliation, leading to an investigation by the Holy See at the request of the Archdiocese. On February 7, the Archdiocese of Brisbane announced the decision of the Holy See to excommunicate Father Ezinwanne Igbo. From now on this priest is not allowed to participate in any public worship, nor to perform any more sacraments. This case can only be lifted by the Pope himself when the victim has a petition submitted to the Holy See.

In a statement from the Archbishop of Brisbane, it reads: “This is not a crime before civil law. The investigation is appointed by the Holy See and conducted by senior canon lawyers. The investigation confirms that the presumptive charges against Igbo's father are real."