Homosexuality Scandal in Catholic Church: Altar Boy Speaks Out on Alleged Affair with Rev Father
- A homosexuality scandal emerged in the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode as whistleblower Bayo alleged sexual abuse of minors by Father Kenneth
- Bayo claimed he and at least nine others were coerced into sexual acts, while the priest allegedly introduced them to homosexuality and favoured participants
- Following investigations, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith imposed a canonical rebuke on Father Kenneth
Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state - A homosexuality scandal has rocked the Catholic Church in Nigeria following investigations into allegations of sexual abuse against a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state.
Reverend Father Kenneth (not real name) was allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with minors, according to the whistleblower, Bayo (not real name).
Source: Twitter
In an in-depth interview with Punch, the case saw conflicting verdicts of guilty and not-guilty, with the church ultimately issuing a formal warning to Father Kenneth to avoid future scandals.
Bayo tells his encounter with Rev Father Kenneth
Bayo, now 33, claimed that he and at least nine other “brothers” were sexually abused by Father Kenneth, who also allegedly introduced them to homosexuality.
He expressed concerns that some of those involved have since become priests and might continue similar acts.
“My ordeal began when I was barely 14. Father Kenneth appeared as a saviour to me, helping my family through difficult times, and I trusted him completely. I never imagined he would exploit that trust," Bayo said.
He added:
“Following this event, I got close to the church and Father Kenneth; it was from here that I developed the call to priesthood. As I was getting better gradually, the diocese of Ijebu Ode offered me a scholarship to one of their best schools in Ijebu-Ode, Sacred Heart Catholic College.
“Moved by Father Kenneth’s kindness and care, I decided to live with him in the mission house, giving myself in whole to him to be formed in gratitude for the part he has played in my life. This was towards the end of 2005 when I was 13,” he added.
Bayo recounted being coerced into sexual acts, describing months of abuse while living with the priest at the mission house.
Source: Getty Images
“At first, I found it unpleasant, but I didn’t know how to say no. I was afraid, and I trusted him like a father,” he added.
While at the mission house in Ogun state, Bayo encountered four ‘senior brothers.’
“I and Father shared a bond like that of a father and son. He sometimes referred to me as his legally adopted son, as he had gone to court with my father in an effort to assist me and my mother.
"As I was told, he won the case and gained my trust completely. He ensured I never lacked the necessities of life or guidance in my spiritual journey. Through him, I grew to love and desire God profoundly. He seemed like the perfect father to me,” Bayo recalled.
Bayo: How Rev Father allegedly introduced me to homosexuality
One such weekend when he was about 15, Father Kenneth saw him on the same bed with one Bro Seyi, said to be about 24 years old.
The priest was said to have frowned on this.
Bayo said later that day, Father Kenneth warned him against lying on the same bed with any of the brothers. But no reason was given.
He said when he confronted Bro Seyi, the latter told him it was because he (Bro Seyi) was ‘sexually aroused’ when Bayo rested his head on his chest.
“All these events I kept in mind, waiting for further enlightenment from Father Kenneth, since he was the closest friend I had.
“One afternoon, Father Kenneth called me into his room to massage his body. I was surprised that he called me to massage him, because it was only the four senior brothers that were inclined to do that at that time.
“Alone in his room with him, I was expecting many questions about the recent happening between me and Bro Seyi. But he talked about himself and told me he was still a virgin. I was happy to hear that and I told myself he must be a faithful priest.
“He asked me again, do I know why God answers his prayer when he prays for people? I answered no, he said it was because he did not fornicate around with women.”
Bayo said he was surprised when the priest said he sometimes saw him (Bayo) being aroused while talking to the opposite gender.
He claimed the priest promised to teach him how to control such sexual urges publicly.
The priest allegedly asked him to undress and engaged him in a sexual act until he climaxed.
“Although I enjoyed the sensation, I did not like the whole affair but I didn’t have the mind to tell him how I felt because at that time, I took him like my God. This activity with Father Kenneth was repeated for several weeks after that day and then it went into months and then into years. This act occurred at least three times in a week,” he added.
After the act, Bayo said he was encouraged to take a lot of proteinous food, particularly milk.
He explained that while he felt bad about the sexual act, he did not see anything wrong with it at the time because all he knew was that priests were not supposed to have romantic relationships with women.
Bayo recounts other attempts
According to Bayo, there was no sexual entry at this time; just ma$turbati0n.
However, after two years, when he was close to 18, the priest allegedly proposed to have a real sexual act with him.
The request, he said, he turned down.
“I was still young and very afraid. As I became a bit older, he brought it up again and said he would ma$turbate me, while I entered into him.”
Bayo said he agreed to it, though he believed it was a plot by the priest to do the same to him.
“This new behaviour happened from that time until I left the community. When we both climaxed the first time, he asked me to tell him the difference between my s3men and his; I said his was whiter than mine; mine was just colourless like water. He said it was because I was still young. That time will come when mine will be like his. I did not know how to respond to this. I kept thinking about everything and I felt it was all wrong, but still I could not say anything.”
The sexual act, according to him, happened at least twice a week.
He explained that after completing secondary education, he joined a group formed by Father Kenneth and was assigned to live close to the priest’s room.
Bayo alleged that this gave the priest unfettered access to him.
“I was also put in charge of the livestock. This was the time I began to notice that I was not the only person with whom Father Kenneth had sexual activities. I remember Father Kenneth listed to me all the people he does it with.
“I was surprised to hear that out of the 13 brothers who had finished postulancy, seven were performing homosexual acts. We were about 28 in the community just before I left and nine of them were on Father Kenneth’s list of people he had sexual activities with.
“It got to a stage when two of Father Kenneth’s sex partners wanted me to share my sexual feeling with them; they tried every way to win me to themselves by showing concern for me and assisting in getting things done and even buying me things. I am not sure what they thought my sexual orientation was, but they just kept coming for me. I was surprised when Father Kenneth drew my attention to these same brothers and asked if I could practise it with them.
“I told him I couldn’t do it with any person except him. He didn’t insist against my will, but he advised me saying it was better to have one of the brothers as a sex partner so that if he was away on a journey, I would have someone to practise it with. I never liked this way of life in the first place, so why would I? His persistence was adding more to my problems.”
Soon after, reports of the alleged homosexual activities in the mission house began to spread in the community.
Bayo claimed that those with such p3rversions enjoyed more favour in the church than others.
He also noted that he was caught in the middle and did not know how to escape the grasp of the sexual abuse, insisting that he had feelings for women and was not a homosexual.
Church investigation and response
Following the allegations, the former Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Father Albert Fasina, established an investigative commission.
The case was subsequently reviewed by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in Rome, which ultimately imposed a canonical rebuke and instructed Father Kenneth to avoid situations that could lead to scandal.
Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Most Rev. Francis Adesina, stated:
“The DDF acknowledged the validity of the previous proceedings but, considering the seriousness of the accusations, instructed Father Kenneth to prudently avoid any persons or situations that could compromise his obligations.”
Concerns over accountability
Bayo expressed frustration that much of the evidence he submitted was reportedly not forwarded to the DDF, and he alleged collusion by church officials to protect the priest.
“I feel that the diocese facilitated my departure from Nigeria to conceal the deeper secrets within the church,” he said.
The whistleblower also detailed receiving threats after attempting to report the abuse.
“Make u carry ur evidence o… after 12 hours you go be past tense. They were monitoring my calls and texts,” Bayo claimed.
Bayo urged the church to take stronger measures to protect children and ensure accountability.
“The faithful deserve transparency. Priests must be held to the highest standards. Silence or inaction will only endanger more lives,” he said.
Kano govt warns against homosexuality
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Kano governor, Abba Yusuf, has declared a firm stance against any groups suspected of promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights within the state.
Yusuf's directive follows heightened tensions over alleged activities advocating for same-sex marriage.
Source: Legit.ng
