Editorial

An Open Letter to the Editor, Cameroon Concord

Dear Mr. Editor,

Why I Still Believe In The Sinful Church

Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai (AMDG).

Recently I met a Cameroonian Catholic who expressed great worry and doubt about the Church. He referenced an editorial he had read from your paper, and asked me: is God still at work in the Church? I read that editorial myself, but did not give it much thought, because there was much on my plate at the time. However, looking at the number of unprecedented hits that editorial has had, and the feeling of doubt about the Church that it has generated and will likely continue to do so, I seek to offer a response that I hope will be helpful in shaping our understanding of the failures of the members of the Church.  

Firstly, some preliminary considerations. The hierarchy of the Church has the obligation to listen to the lay faithful. Catholicism is not a clerical club. The laity has the right and obligation to call the attention of the hierarchy to face the music, though it is advisable to do so respectfully. The crisis of priestly pedophilia in the Church has shown the damage that can plague the Church when you have a passive or an indifferent laity. As Newman once said, the Church will be a very awkward place without the laity! Thus, the question is certainly not that of priests opposed to lay voices. I think Vatican II has moved the Church pass a crippling clerical obscurantism of ecclesia life.

That said, it is helpful to recall that to say that the Church is sinful is to say what all Catholics say at the start of each mass, “I have sinned, through my fault, through my fault, through my most gracious fault.” It was Benedict XVI that said at the height of the sexual abuse scandal, “I am heading a sinful Church.” The reality is that the Church has been sinful from the time of the Acts of the Apostles to present. It will continue to be till the time when the Angel of the Apocalypse announces the completion of time, the end of history, when Jesus Christ will hand over the Church, his purified bride to the Father, so that God will be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28).

At the root of human sin is the greatest gift of creation, human freedom. Sometimes we wonder why God allows sin to flourish. Why does God also allow good and virtue to flourish? St. Augustine argues that without freedom, the human being cannot be held accountable for his or her actions. You cannot blame or praise one who is not free. It is precisely because we are free that we need to be held accountable for our actions.

The ordained need to be held accountable, precisely because of the gift of human freedom and the charisma of leadership bestowed on them. It can be abuse. It has been abused. It will be abuse. What is important is to remind ourselves of a distinction traceable to Augustine of Hippo and made more explicit by John Henry Newman: the difference between the holiness of the Church and the mystery of sin in her members. The objective realities of the Church are holy: her sacraments, her rites and rituals, her gospel message. Also, the Church will never be completely lacking in terms of holy persons who cooperate with the message of the gospel. There will always be holy persons in the Church. Consequently, we cannot let the failures and sins of some in the Church to cloud our conviction of God’s presence in the Church. God is in the Church, sinful as she might be. Precisely because the Church is sinful, the power and presence of God is all the more operative, for where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more (Rom. 5:20).

Also, we must remind ourselves that the Church is always on the way, always moving toward her eschatological fulfillment with Christ. The Church as it stands at this point in history is not the perfect one, the one that has already arrived. In the words of the Second Vatican Council, the Church is a piece of land to be cultivated  (Lumen Gentium, 6). Every farmer knows that the process of cultivation could be uncertain and difficult, but such difficulties do not deter us from farming. If anything, the challenges of farming should motivate us to intensify our efforts because we are aware of the good that comes with the harvest season. So it ought to be with our attitude toward the Church. We are patient with her, working hard at our own call to holiness, trusting that each little step cultivates the farm of the Church, trusting in God’s power to bring home a good harvest.

It is advisable to keep in mind that to love the Church is to be ready to suffer from her. Every lover of the Church must go through a time of Calvary, of rejection and pain, of even utter meaninglessness. How can we say we love if we have no suffering to show? A lover who cannot suffer cannot love. Ratzinger said as much: the uniqueness of the Christian God is that he loves and suffers. A God who does not love and suffer is a god of mathematics. Such a God cannot save, for to save the human being entails love and suffering. A love that does not suffer is a hired love. To love and to suffer always accompany the reform of the Church, that beloved Mother, old, slow, sinful, and yet bearing in her the hope of humanity, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the One who gives life its decisive meaning. Yes, because of Christ and not in spite of Christ, I still believe in the sinful, miserable Church, because with all her sinfulness, Christ is her head and we are the body of Christ, and without Christ, I do not know how to understand myself. And without the Church I will not know Christ, and without Christ, I will be more selfish and wretched. I will not know how to understand myself. Hence, I continue to believe in the sinful Church because I can still find Christ in the sinfulness of the Church.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

11.May.2015

Hits: 2480

Buea Diocese is indeed in tears following the death of Rev. Father Denis Ndang, former Chancellor of the Buea Diocese and Parish Priest of Manbanda. The late Rev. Father Denis Ndang went home to rest last Wednesday 15^th of April at the Mt. Mary Hospital in Buea after a protracted illness. Cameroon Concord’s cream of reporters answered present during the vigil masses and of course the requiem mass celebrated in loving memory of Father Denis Ndang. It was indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful to be there as a Roman Catholic Christian. We of this publication can now reveal to the world and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu is heading a sinful church.

The disorder and darkness that characterized the vigil masses painted a vivid picture of the division and alacrity that currently prevails in the Buea Diocese. All the 143 photos that our camera men took during the vigil masses came out blurred. There was no organization, no traffic control, no proper lighting system; no priest took responsibility, no proper co-ordination, to be sure, no nothing.  It was evident, the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang was a fly in an oilmen.  Our cream of reporters led by our Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, participated in three of the numerous vigil masses and we can proudly tell the world that the Buea Diocese was only interested in making money judging from the manner in which Christians were constantly reminded to offer mass intention for the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang.

What is the difference between Buea Diocese under the late Bishop Pius Suh Awa and Bishop Bushu? It has not defined itself in relation to the Holy Trinity and the mystery of faith. There is a complete and total absence of leadership and the Christian faith and these could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church in the South West region. Nobody, not even the clergy in the Buea Diocese has learned to be tolerant yet. So, during the requiem mass in loving memory of the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang, the Vicar of the Buea Diocese told mourners, the Bishop House was not aware that over a period of four years, Father Denis Ndang had been seriously ill. According to the Vicar, the Bishop House was also NOT aware that the late Father Denis Ndang had been moved to Mutenegene-where his family struggled to foot his medical bills.

During a private forum prior to the vigil orchestrated by some concerned Christians who paid a courtesy call at the Bishop’s House to expressed their condolence to Bishop Bushu, His Lordship recounted how he made so many attempts at getting to the late Father Denis Ndang to report to Buea and received treatment. Our intelligence officers could easily establish that the Vicar is saying one thing and the Bishop is saying another. You will find a truth only when you are looking for it. Such an artificial quest for the truth from the Bishop House is doomed to fail. The Homily delivered during the requiem mass will live in infamy. The Vicar left the subject of death and spoke lengthily on the fact that some Christians do not dress properly to attend Holy Masses!!  A frustrated Bishop Bushu had to intervene regularly to prevent the homily from going out of topic.

Cameroon Concord believes that there is only hierarchical power in the Buea Diocese and the absence of any real teaching or any religious culture. With too many Roman Catholic Christians in the Buea Diocese only interested in their jobs and personal gains at the Catholic University in Buea, it will take time for Bishop Bushu and his henchman Rev. Father George Nkeze to realise that the Buea Diocese is slowly but surely losing its spiritual authority over its parishioners. The Buea Diocese needs a new idea!! Not that of publishing books attacking other clergies who helped to make Buea Diocese what it is today, but a new idea that should evolve to express the realities and the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It wouldn’t be wrong to assert that Bishop Bushu needs a decent religious pragmatic adjustments-not the one that decrees transfer of priests every three months.   

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

Hits: 15364

Buea Diocese is indeed in tears following the death of Rev. Father Denis Ndang, former Chancellor of the Buea Diocese and Parish Priest of Manbanda. The late Rev. Father Denis Ndang went home to rest last Wednesday 15^th of April at the Mt. Mary Hospital in Buea after a protracted illness. Cameroon Concord’s cream of reporters answered present during the vigil masses and of course the requiem mass celebrated in loving memory of Father Denis Ndang. It was indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful to be there as a Roman Catholic Christian. We of this publication can now reveal to the world and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu is heading a sinful church.

The disorder and darkness that characterized the vigil masses painted a vivid picture of the division and alacrity that currently prevails in the Buea Diocese. All the 143 photos that our camera men took during the vigil masses came out blurred. There was no organization, no traffic control, no proper lighting system; no priest took responsibility, no proper co-ordination, to be sure, no nothing.  It was evident, the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang was a fly in an oilmen.  Our cream of reporters led by our Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, participated in three of the numerous vigil masses and we can proudly tell the world that the Buea Diocese was only interested in making money judging from the manner in which Christians were constantly reminded to offer mass intention for the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang.

What is the difference between Buea Diocese under the late Bishop Pius Suh Awa and Bishop Bushu? It has not defined itself in relation to the Holy Trinity and the mystery of faith. There is a complete and total absence of leadership and the Christian faith and these could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church in the South West region. Nobody, not even the clergy in the Buea Diocese has learned to be tolerant yet. So, during the requiem mass in loving memory of the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang, the Vicar of the Buea Diocese told mourners, the Bishop House was not aware that over a period of four years, Father Denis Ndang had been seriously ill. According to the Vicar, the Bishop House was also NOT aware that the late Father Denis Ndang had been moved to Mutenegene-where his family struggled to foot his medical bills.

During a private forum prior to the vigil orchestrated by some concerned Christians who paid a courtesy call at the Bishop’s House to expressed their condolence to Bishop Bushu, His Lordship recounted how he made so many attempts at getting to the late Father Denis Ndang to report to Buea and received treatment. Our intelligence officers could easily establish that the Vicar is saying one thing and the Bishop is saying another. You will find a truth only when you are looking for it. Such an artificial quest for the truth from the Bishop House is doomed to fail. The Homily delivered during the requiem mass will live in infamy. The Vicar left the subject of death and spoke lengthily on the fact that some Christians do not dress properly to attend Holy Masses!!  A frustrated Bishop Bushu had to intervene regularly to prevent the homily from going out of topic.

Cameroon Concord believes that there is only hierarchical power in the Buea Diocese and the absence of any real teaching or any religious culture. With too many Roman Catholic Christians in the Buea Diocese only interested in their jobs and personal gains at the Catholic University in Buea, it will take time for Bishop Bushu and his henchman Rev. Father George Nkeze to realise that the Buea Diocese is slowly but surely losing its spiritual authority over its parishioners. The Buea Diocese needs a new idea!! Not that of publishing books attacking other clergies who helped to make Buea Diocese what it is today, but a new idea that should evolve to express the realities and the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It wouldn’t be wrong to assert that Bishop Bushu needs a decent religious pragmatic adjustments-not the one that decrees transfer of priests every three months.   

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

Hits: 14525

Buea Diocese is indeed in tears following the death of Rev. Father Denis Ndang, former Chancellor of the Buea Diocese and Parish Priest of Manbanda. The late Rev. Father Denis Ndang went home to rest last Wednesday 15^th of April at the Mt. Mary Hospital in Buea after a protracted illness. Cameroon Concord’s cream of reporters answered present during the vigil masses and of course the requiem mass celebrated in loving memory of Father Denis Ndang. It was indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful to be there as a Roman Catholic Christian. We of this publication can now reveal to the world and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu is heading a sinful church.

The disorder and darkness that characterized the vigil masses painted a vivid picture of the division and alacrity that currently prevails in the Buea Diocese. All the 143 photos that our camera men took during the vigil masses came out blurred. There was no organization, no traffic control, no proper lighting system; no priest took responsibility, no proper co-ordination, to be sure, no nothing.  It was evident, the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang was a fly in an oilmen.  Our cream of reporters led by our Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, participated in three of the numerous vigil masses and we can proudly tell the world that the Buea Diocese was only interested in making money judging from the manner in which Christians were constantly reminded to offer mass intention for the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang.

What is the difference between Buea Diocese under the late Bishop Pius Suh Awa and Bishop Bushu? It has not defined itself in relation to the Holy Trinity and the mystery of faith. There is a complete and total absence of leadership and the Christian faith and these could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church in the South West region. Nobody, not even the clergy in the Buea Diocese has learned to be tolerant yet. So, during the requiem mass in loving memory of the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang, the Vicar of the Buea Diocese told mourners, the Bishop House was not aware that over a period of four years, Father Denis Ndang had been seriously ill. According to the Vicar, the Bishop House was also NOT aware that the late Father Denis Ndang had been moved to Mutenegene-where his family struggled to foot his medical bills.

During a private forum prior to the vigil orchestrated by some concerned Christians who paid a courtesy call at the Bishop’s House to expressed their condolence to Bishop Bushu, His Lordship recounted how he made so many attempts at getting to the late Father Denis Ndang to report to Buea and received treatment. Our intelligence officers could easily establish that the Vicar is saying one thing and the Bishop is saying another. You will find a truth only when you are looking for it. Such an artificial quest for the truth from the Bishop House is doomed to fail. The Homily delivered during the requiem mass will live in infamy. The Vicar left the subject of death and spoke lengthily on the fact that some Christians do not dress properly to attend Holy Masses!!  A frustrated Bishop Bushu had to intervene regularly to prevent the homily from going out of topic.

Cameroon Concord believes that there is only hierarchical power in the Buea Diocese and the absence of any real teaching or any religious culture. With too many Roman Catholic Christians in the Buea Diocese only interested in their jobs and personal gains at the Catholic University in Buea, it will take time for Bishop Bushu and his henchman Rev. Father George Nkeze to realise that the Buea Diocese is slowly but surely losing its spiritual authority over its parishioners. The Buea Diocese needs a new idea!! Not that of publishing books attacking other clergies who helped to make Buea Diocese what it is today, but a new idea that should evolve to express the realities and the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It wouldn’t be wrong to assert that Bishop Bushu needs a decent religious pragmatic adjustments-not the one that decrees transfer of priests every three months.   

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

Hits: 14212

Buea Diocese is indeed in tears following the death of Rev. Father Denis Ndang, former Chancellor of the Buea Diocese and Parish Priest of Manbanda. The late Rev. Father Denis Ndang went home to rest last Wednesday 15^th of April at the Mt. Mary Hospital in Buea after a protracted illness. Cameroon Concord’s cream of reporters answered present during the vigil masses and of course the requiem mass celebrated in loving memory of Father Denis Ndang. It was indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful to be there as a Roman Catholic Christian. We of this publication can now reveal to the world and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu is heading a sinful church.

The disorder and darkness that characterized the vigil masses painted a vivid picture of the division and alacrity that currently prevails in the Buea Diocese. All the 143 photos that our camera men took during the vigil masses came out blurred. There was no organization, no traffic control, no proper lighting system; no priest took responsibility, no proper co-ordination, to be sure, no nothing.  It was evident, the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang was a fly in an oilmen.  Our cream of reporters led by our Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, participated in three of the numerous vigil masses and we can proudly tell the world that the Buea Diocese was only interested in making money judging from the manner in which Christians were constantly reminded to offer mass intention for the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang.

What is the difference between Buea Diocese under the late Bishop Pius Suh Awa and Bishop Bushu? It has not defined itself in relation to the Holy Trinity and the mystery of faith. There is a complete and total absence of leadership and the Christian faith and these could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church in the South West region. Nobody, not even the clergy in the Buea Diocese has learned to be tolerant yet. So, during the requiem mass in loving memory of the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang, the Vicar of the Buea Diocese told mourners, the Bishop House was not aware that over a period of four years, Father Denis Ndang had been seriously ill. According to the Vicar, the Bishop House was also NOT aware that the late Father Denis Ndang had been moved to Mutenegene-where his family struggled to foot his medical bills.

During a private forum prior to the vigil orchestrated by some concerned Christians who paid a courtesy call at the Bishop’s House to expressed their condolence to Bishop Bushu, His Lordship recounted how he made so many attempts at getting to the late Father Denis Ndang to report to Buea and received treatment. Our intelligence officers could easily establish that the Vicar is saying one thing and the Bishop is saying another. You will find a truth only when you are looking for it. Such an artificial quest for the truth from the Bishop House is doomed to fail. The Homily delivered during the requiem mass will live in infamy. The Vicar left the subject of death and spoke lengthily on the fact that some Christians do not dress properly to attend Holy Masses!!  A frustrated Bishop Bushu had to intervene regularly to prevent the homily from going out of topic.

Cameroon Concord believes that there is only hierarchical power in the Buea Diocese and the absence of any real teaching or any religious culture. With too many Roman Catholic Christians in the Buea Diocese only interested in their jobs and personal gains at the Catholic University in Buea, it will take time for Bishop Bushu and his henchman Rev. Father George Nkeze to realise that the Buea Diocese is slowly but surely losing its spiritual authority over its parishioners. The Buea Diocese needs a new idea!! Not that of publishing books attacking other clergies who helped to make Buea Diocese what it is today, but a new idea that should evolve to express the realities and the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It wouldn’t be wrong to assert that Bishop Bushu needs a decent religious pragmatic adjustments-not the one that decrees transfer of priests every three months.   

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

Hits: 14535

Buea Diocese is indeed in tears following the death of Rev. Father Denis Ndang, former Chancellor of the Buea Diocese and Parish Priest of Manbanda. The late Rev. Father Denis Ndang went home to rest last Wednesday 15^th of April at the Mt. Mary Hospital in Buea after a protracted illness. Cameroon Concord’s cream of reporters answered present during the vigil masses and of course the requiem mass celebrated in loving memory of Father Denis Ndang. It was indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful to be there as a Roman Catholic Christian. We of this publication can now reveal to the world and to the Holy Father, Pope Francis that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu is heading a sinful church.

The disorder and darkness that characterized the vigil masses painted a vivid picture of the division and alacrity that currently prevails in the Buea Diocese. All the 143 photos that our camera men took during the vigil masses came out blurred. There was no organization, no traffic control, no proper lighting system; no priest took responsibility, no proper co-ordination, to be sure, no nothing.  It was evident, the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang was a fly in an oilmen.  Our cream of reporters led by our Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, participated in three of the numerous vigil masses and we can proudly tell the world that the Buea Diocese was only interested in making money judging from the manner in which Christians were constantly reminded to offer mass intention for the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang.

What is the difference between Buea Diocese under the late Bishop Pius Suh Awa and Bishop Bushu? It has not defined itself in relation to the Holy Trinity and the mystery of faith. There is a complete and total absence of leadership and the Christian faith and these could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church in the South West region. Nobody, not even the clergy in the Buea Diocese has learned to be tolerant yet. So, during the requiem mass in loving memory of the late Rev. Father Denis Ndang, the Vicar of the Buea Diocese told mourners, the Bishop House was not aware that over a period of four years, Father Denis Ndang had been seriously ill. According to the Vicar, the Bishop House was also NOT aware that the late Father Denis Ndang had been moved to Mutenegene-where his family struggled to foot his medical bills.

During a private forum prior to the vigil orchestrated by some concerned Christians who paid a courtesy call at the Bishop’s House to expressed their condolence to Bishop Bushu, His Lordship recounted how he made so many attempts at getting to the late Father Denis Ndang to report to Buea and received treatment. Our intelligence officers could easily establish that the Vicar is saying one thing and the Bishop is saying another. You will find a truth only when you are looking for it. Such an artificial quest for the truth from the Bishop House is doomed to fail. The Homily delivered during the requiem mass will live in infamy. The Vicar left the subject of death and spoke lengthily on the fact that some Christians do not dress properly to attend Holy Masses!!  A frustrated Bishop Bushu had to intervene regularly to prevent the homily from going out of topic.

Cameroon Concord believes that there is only hierarchical power in the Buea Diocese and the absence of any real teaching or any religious culture. With too many Roman Catholic Christians in the Buea Diocese only interested in their jobs and personal gains at the Catholic University in Buea, it will take time for Bishop Bushu and his henchman Rev. Father George Nkeze to realise that the Buea Diocese is slowly but surely losing its spiritual authority over its parishioners. The Buea Diocese needs a new idea!! Not that of publishing books attacking other clergies who helped to make Buea Diocese what it is today, but a new idea that should evolve to express the realities and the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It wouldn’t be wrong to assert that Bishop Bushu needs a decent religious pragmatic adjustments-not the one that decrees transfer of priests every three months.   

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

Hits: 13864