Uromi is an average African city. It’s located in Nigeria. It’s economy is based on agriculture. In this average city is an average Pentecostal church. This is where we drop the average tag – the pastor, who drives a Mercedes Benz car, stands accused of raping a 12-year-old girl. The pastor calls rape, “carrying out deliverance.”
I will not go into the graphic details of this case. You can read the story for yourself. Let’s look a case of cognitive dissonance instead.
The Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Esan North East Local Government Area chapter, Rev. Francis Okhai, confirmed that the matter had been reported to the PFN, to which the alleged rapist pastor belongs.
The pastor belongs to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. That’s a good thing since being a member implies some governance. But…
He said several cases of misconduct had earlier been reported against the pastor, but that it was the first time that allegation of rape was reported.
There have been other misconduct allegations, so – that should count for something, right?
Okhai added that disciplinary action would be taken against the pastor if found wanting “in the abominable act, because the PFN does not condone any misconduct from its members”.
The PFN does not tolerate misconduct. WTF? I think he means that the PFN tolerates misconduct unless it’s in public and involves raping little girls.
When I read these cases, and there are a lot of them, I find a few common elements. In a poor country he pastor has the trappings of wealth and power. In this case, wealth is depicted by his choice of a Mercedes Benz and power by his dominance of a child. It’s Christianity at its best.
