Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) has retracted and apologised to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) for remarks he made about the church’s first General Evangelist, the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
In a viral video, Fatoyinbo described Babalola as “anointed…so anointed” but stated that “all the grace just went like that” since he “had no money.”
The CAC accused Fatoyinbo of propagating a false link between ministerial achievement and financial prosperity in a strongly written statement signed on Thursday by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode.
In response, Fatoyinbo published a statement on Thursday, acknowledging the CAC’s concerns and apologising for any harm caused.
He emphasised that he did not speak ill of Babalola’s children and maintained that his church was “a place of honour”.
“Let me state, however, that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of Faith in a bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online, and this can be verified.
“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of same,” he said.
Fatoyinbo described Babalola as a “highly revered father of faith” whose ministry had shaped many churches, including his own, and prayed that the late evangelist’s legacy “continues to grow in leaps and bounds.”
“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates.
“I will never disrespect or speak of them in that manner either publicly or privately.
“I pray that this puts to rest the entire episode, and we pray that the CAC and the legacy of our father, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, continue to grow in leaps and bounds,” he concluded.
In the recent sermon, he had recounted an incident in which a python allegedly dried up after crossing Babalola’s leg.
He said, “I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed.
“Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So all the grace just went like that.”
The statement issued by CAC to respond to the clergy partly read, “Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.
“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’—a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” — Luke 12:15.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
