A Nigerian Parish Priest has been forced to abandon his German congregation after series of racist attacks and death threats.
Priest Patrick Asomugha endured racist remarks from his congregation, had his tyres slashed on numerous occasions, and suffered break- ins in the small German town of Queidersbach where he led a small congregation.
The death threats was the final straw as the Nigerian priest had to leave the parish for his own safety.
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Speyer Parish and local church officials announced that Asomugha received death threats last month which forced the diocesan authorities to remove him.
According to Andreas Sturm, vicar general for the Speyer diocese’s bishop:
“Concerns for the safety and wellbeing of pastor Asomugha makes this step unavoidable.
It would be irresponsible to continue exposing pastor Asomugha to the threat.”
Patrick Asomugha took over the parish in Western Germany in 2017 and trouble started in 2019 after a couple of break-ins at the parish house where he lived. His property was damaged during the attacks and Church members became increasingly hostile towards the African Priest.
Racist remarks were being uttered during services and a local radio station quoted some Church members as saying;
“I won’t let my child be baptized by a black man. I’m not taking anything from those dirty black hands.”
His car tyres were slashed last year while some people shattered bottles of alcohol at the entrance to the parish house where the Nigerian Priest lives.
The church rallied around the priest, organising a solidarity mass which had 600 congregants in support of the Nigerian priest and against racism in the community.
The racist attacks however intensified after the solidarity mass.
Asomugha in a statement said the continued attacks made it impossible for him to continue his parish work.
“Under these circumstances, I can no longer fulfil my duties as a pastor in Queidersbach.
“The attacks against my person make it almost impossible to lead a normal parish life in Queidersbach.”
The Nigerian Priest is expected to leave the parish on Monday for an undisclosed position within the diocese.
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