A Nigerian nurse identified as Ella has sparked intense reactions on social media after revealing why she stopped attending the Catholic Church, following what she described as a humiliating and emotionally painful experience during Mass.
In a now-viral Facebook post, Ella recounted that she attended an early 7 a.m. Catholic Mass on a day she was battling depression and desperately seeking comfort through prayer.
According to her, she arrived early and was dressed in a long, non-revealing maxi gown, believing her outfit was modest and appropriate for church. However, shortly after she entered, she noticed some elderly women whispering among themselves before approaching her to complain that her dress was “too tight.”
Ella said she ignored them and quietly took a seat in the front row, where she began praying with tears, hoping to find peace. Moments later, she alleged that an elderly woman who served as a church warden signalled her to stand up and informed her that she was not allowed to sit there because of what she was wearing.
The incident, she said, left her deeply embarrassed and emotionally shattered.
“At that moment, I didn’t feel like a sinner seeking God anymore,” she wrote. “I felt like an offender in God’s house.”
Unable to hold herself together, Ella said she stood up and walked out of the church, feeling judged, broken, and rejected.
“That day, I didn’t leave God,” she added. “But I left a place where humans had replaced compassion with control.”
To address criticisms, Ella shared photos of the outfit she wore that day, explaining that although the gown showed her natural curves, it was fully covered. She added that she had covered her chest with a long scarf and her head, yet was still deemed inappropriate.
According to her, church officials insisted she should only wear flowing gowns because her outfit revealed her figure.
Ella ended her post with a message to religious leaders and church workers, urging them to show empathy rather than judgment.
“If someone comes to church heavy-hearted and broken, let them meet God,” she wrote. “Not gatekeepers.”
Her story has since triggered widespread debate online, with many Nigerians sharing similar experiences and questioning how churches balance modesty, compassion, and inclusion.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
