Catholic Priest End’s Marriages With Fake Birth Certificates

The Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Rev. Fr. Donsteve Nnagha in Imo State,has annulled 30 marriages said to have ben contracted with fake certificate.

The priest lamented the rate at which people get married with fake birth certificates.

Addressing the faithful during a Holy Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Owerri-Ebiri in Orlu council area of the state, Nnagha, lamented that marriages are being annulled based on acts of deceits by spouses.

He noted that deceits by spouse, which the other partner deems non-acceptable soon after wedding, had been a major cause of broken marriages in recent times.

According to the priest, the acts of forging documents, has caused serious troubles in the family, and were identified mostly with women.

“In this situation, the man has the legitimate right to file for annulment and this would a long way in bringing peace to both parties”, the Vicar is quoted as saying.

He added that birth certificate is equal to West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate, which cannot be altered, irrespective of the situation.

Nnagha also spoke on the importance of baptism, which he said Christ himself participated in, adding that is every baptism made in the Catholic Church, was always recorded and documented for future references.

He warned those involved in the acts of rewriting their age with a view of retaining their public offices to desist and retire from the civil service when they are due, so the younger could get jobs.

The priest described such acts as bad omen and injustice in the law of the church and society.