A Catholic priest has questioned the practice of some African priests rejecting indigenous names during baptism, asking why African names are sometimes discouraged within the Church.
In a post shared on social media, the priest claimed that, based on reports he has received, European Catholic priests do not reject African names for baptism, adding that the objections he has encountered have come from African clergy.
“From all the reports I have received in recent times, no European priest has ever rejected the use of an African name for baptism. All the rejections so far have come from our own native priests,” he wrote.
The priest questioned the reasons behind the practice, suggesting it reflects a broader issue of cultural self-perception.
“That brings me to the question: who taught us to hate ourselves?” he added.
His comments have sparked discussions on social media about the place of indigenous African names within Christian baptism and the relationship between faith and cultural identity.