Politics

I wish to congratulate your bold article “Bishop Bushu is heading a Sinful church” that sought to throw light on the urgent situation of the spiritual crisis of the Diocese of Buea that rampages the clerical fold and scatters the sheep. I also wish to add a lay voice to Fr Maurice Ebai’s response, since we now have a public forum to discuss these pertinent matters. On my visit home in Buea 2011-2013 spiritual chaos was clear to me in the number of Catholics who get their teachings from TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV, procure his picture and holy water and suggest it to their neighbors, as well as sing the songs of his musical ministry during the Catholic Mass, not being able to discern the conflicting theologies in the words of the songs. Chaos was also clear in the increase of the number of offertory runs, and contribution cards for building projects, in the midst of economic hardship and unemployment of parishioners. Your critique, as much as no Catholic would want to hear it in public, is well-founded. Catholics are hungry for God, hungry for God’s word and hungry for the teachings of the Catholic Church to resolve 21^st century problems in Cameroon and this is clearly the malnourished child of the Buea Diocese

On my part, I can testify to being rejected to join the theological teaching team in the diocese of Buea, neither at JOPASIT, UIDB nor the parishes, for being a Catholic lay woman theologian. “So you studied theology to come and compete with us priests, go back to where you came from, we don’t need you,” was one of the kindest remarks I got from an influential Diocesan priest. Meanwhile Université de St Jerome in Douala welcomed me with open arms and I gave lectures there. Hence Fr Maurice Agbaw-Ebai’s response alluding to “passive and indifferent laity” in the case of Buea diocese is out of play here. Several invested Christians have intervened through offering prayers and masses, studying at JOPASIT, engaging at the parish level, and reporting cases needing attention to clerical authority but have met deaf ears at best and retaliation at worst.
First, some preliminary considerations. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church! The death of Fr Denis Ndang has been the catalyst for your article and lets us discuss the economic, health, educational and well-being of the priests of the diocese of Buea. How much is the stipend for a priest? 10000frs per month? 15000frs per month? Who can live on that for basic personal needs considering that they still must pay the kilometers used on the parish car they drive? Most priests are left at the level of a first degree in philosophy and theology largely insufficient to address the crisis of today’s Christians; let alone to interpret and implement the developments demanded by the Vatican II council. Further probing must also be made into clerical formation in Bambui Seminary, do they read Jean Marc Ela, Eboussi Boulaga, Engelbert Mveng, Meinrad Hebga, John Mbiti and other Cameroonian Catholic theologians whose theological work of liberation, floruishing and reconstruction from an African mindset and the Cameroonian reality is recognized internationally? How many of our priests are trained in Systematic theology, the branch of study in charge of methods for using Scripture and the Catholic Tradition to address present day issues, or Spiritual direction that enhances the Christian’s productive capacity? The focus is on management, journalism, canon law, philosophy and others, which are not directly geared to pastoral enhancement. This puts us at the proverbial “a blind person being sent to lead another blind person.” The plight of catechists is even more deplorable. What about the religious sisters and brothers, how educated are they in Catholic tradition and scripture implementation? What about healthcare insurance, retirement insurance, holidays? This deplorable situation is responsible for ministerial burnouts that lead priests either to join or form cliques to survive or end the frustration in sexual and extortion scandals or worse neglect leads to untimely deaths. The Vatican II decree on the ministry and life of priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis demands these of the bishop for every priest: equitable remuneration, healthcare insurance, continuous study, holidays, and extra to assist the poor. As regards higher formation for fraternity among priests and efficiency in ministry it says:

“Moreover, let bishops, either individually or united in groups, see to it that all their priests at established intervals, especially a few years after their ordination,(59) may be able to frequent courses in which they will be given the opportunity to acquire a fuller knowledge of pastoral methods and theological science, both in order that they may strengthen their spiritual life and mutually communicate their apostolic experiences with their brothers.(60)

It is high time the minimum be set at a Master of Divinity or Master of Pastoral Theology for all priests and religious sisters and brothers as well as first degree for catechists. Grace perfects the nature that is trained through study and exposure. It is high time their human needs be assessed and their rights provided them, so that they may be equipped to build up the people of God, temporally and spiritually.

Second, the education of the laity. The graduates of JOPASIT can testify over the years both to the replacement of highly experienced priests and laity (religious sisters) who teach them theology with lesser educated teachers who teach them oftentimes outdated catechism. The first equips them to handle the tools of faith for economic and socio-political transformation while the latter teaches them to repeat pre-Vatican II and even colonial faith expressions of the Catholic church that the church has moved forward from having grown in wisdom and knowledge. The word “competition” instead of “collaboration” is the clerical buzz word on hearing lay Catholic formation in theology. Vatican II is the first council to address the laity and give directives based off the demands that the sacrament of confirmation places on us to transform our economic, political and social situations for a just and better future. The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem, declares that learning theology – Scripture and Church Tradition – is not the sole preserve of the clergy but of every baptized and confirmed Catholic Christian. As ministers of the sacrament of matrimony, spouses are to guide their home – the domestic church- and bring up children, in public testimony in the world as well as in private prayer in the gathering of the church on Sunday. Youth are to learn of God to develop their abilities and change the country through ethical leadership and wealth creation. This calls for us, the laity, to invest in our own theological education, through catholic sites online, short courses and doing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in divinity, theology, spiritual direction and pastoral care. Such graduates have become permanent deacons, hospital and prison chaplains, non-profit organizers, theology teachers, catechetical formators, authors of books blending spirituality and wealth creation, retreat directors, revivalists, educators, parish organizers, musicians and lay preachers shaping policy both of the state and of the church.

To conclude, I believe the priests of Buea diocese themselves, of which the bishop is their head, must be true to their clerical office and choose to be accountable, make amends and restructure, lest these issues move from newspaper articles to court cases and to the many sanctions allocated for priests in the book of Canon Law. For there is nothing hidden that will not be exposed. We Christians of Buea Diocese, must also pursue knowledge of our rich Catholic tradition, for as Scripture says, “for lack of knowledge the people are destroyed” (Hosea 4:6) remembering that neither bishop nor priest will answer for how you lived your public engagement, marital vows and Christian mission on judgment day. The cow’s milk has dried up! Beating it will not make milk flow; only better care in terms of nutrition and grooming. As today May 15 we begin the novena for Pentecost, we have space to present our assessments to the Father, with Mary in this her holy month, for a renewed Pentecost by the Holy Spirit through Jesus who promises that whatever we ask of the Father he will give. That way the death of Fr Denis Ndang will serve the transformation he worked so hard to bring.

Sincerely
Etchi Besem Oben (Doctoral Student in Catholic Systematic Theology, Duquesne University, PA, USA).

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

19.May.2015

Hits: 1711

I wish to congratulate your bold article “Bishop Bushu is heading a Sinful church” that sought to throw light on the urgent situation of the spiritual crisis of the Diocese of Buea that rampages the clerical fold and scatters the sheep. I also wish to add a lay voice to Fr Maurice Ebai’s response, since we now have a public forum to discuss these pertinent matters. On my visit home in Buea 2011-2013 spiritual chaos was clear to me in the number of Catholics who get their teachings from TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV, procure his picture and holy water and suggest it to their neighbors, as well as sing the songs of his musical ministry during the Catholic Mass, not being able to discern the conflicting theologies in the words of the songs. Chaos was also clear in the increase of the number of offertory runs, and contribution cards for building projects, in the midst of economic hardship and unemployment of parishioners. Your critique, as much as no Catholic would want to hear it in public, is well-founded. Catholics are hungry for God, hungry for God’s word and hungry for the teachings of the Catholic Church to resolve 21^st century problems in Cameroon and this is clearly the malnourished child of the Buea Diocese

On my part, I can testify to being rejected to join the theological teaching team in the diocese of Buea, neither at JOPASIT, UIDB nor the parishes, for being a Catholic lay woman theologian. “So you studied theology to come and compete with us priests, go back to where you came from, we don’t need you,” was one of the kindest remarks I got from an influential Diocesan priest. Meanwhile Université de St Jerome in Douala welcomed me with open arms and I gave lectures there. Hence Fr Maurice Agbaw-Ebai’s response alluding to “passive and indifferent laity” in the case of Buea diocese is out of play here. Several invested Christians have intervened through offering prayers and masses, studying at JOPASIT, engaging at the parish level, and reporting cases needing attention to clerical authority but have met deaf ears at best and retaliation at worst.
First, some preliminary considerations. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church! The death of Fr Denis Ndang has been the catalyst for your article and lets us discuss the economic, health, educational and well-being of the priests of the diocese of Buea. How much is the stipend for a priest? 10000frs per month? 15000frs per month? Who can live on that for basic personal needs considering that they still must pay the kilometers used on the parish car they drive? Most priests are left at the level of a first degree in philosophy and theology largely insufficient to address the crisis of today’s Christians; let alone to interpret and implement the developments demanded by the Vatican II council. Further probing must also be made into clerical formation in Bambui Seminary, do they read Jean Marc Ela, Eboussi Boulaga, Engelbert Mveng, Meinrad Hebga, John Mbiti and other Cameroonian Catholic theologians whose theological work of liberation, floruishing and reconstruction from an African mindset and the Cameroonian reality is recognized internationally? How many of our priests are trained in Systematic theology, the branch of study in charge of methods for using Scripture and the Catholic Tradition to address present day issues, or Spiritual direction that enhances the Christian’s productive capacity? The focus is on management, journalism, canon law, philosophy and others, which are not directly geared to pastoral enhancement. This puts us at the proverbial “a blind person being sent to lead another blind person.” The plight of catechists is even more deplorable. What about the religious sisters and brothers, how educated are they in Catholic tradition and scripture implementation? What about healthcare insurance, retirement insurance, holidays? This deplorable situation is responsible for ministerial burnouts that lead priests either to join or form cliques to survive or end the frustration in sexual and extortion scandals or worse neglect leads to untimely deaths. The Vatican II decree on the ministry and life of priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis demands these of the bishop for every priest: equitable remuneration, healthcare insurance, continuous study, holidays, and extra to assist the poor. As regards higher formation for fraternity among priests and efficiency in ministry it says:

“Moreover, let bishops, either individually or united in groups, see to it that all their priests at established intervals, especially a few years after their ordination,(59) may be able to frequent courses in which they will be given the opportunity to acquire a fuller knowledge of pastoral methods and theological science, both in order that they may strengthen their spiritual life and mutually communicate their apostolic experiences with their brothers.(60)

It is high time the minimum be set at a Master of Divinity or Master of Pastoral Theology for all priests and religious sisters and brothers as well as first degree for catechists. Grace perfects the nature that is trained through study and exposure. It is high time their human needs be assessed and their rights provided them, so that they may be equipped to build up the people of God, temporally and spiritually.

Second, the education of the laity. The graduates of JOPASIT can testify over the years both to the replacement of highly experienced priests and laity (religious sisters) who teach them theology with lesser educated teachers who teach them oftentimes outdated catechism. The first equips them to handle the tools of faith for economic and socio-political transformation while the latter teaches them to repeat pre-Vatican II and even colonial faith expressions of the Catholic church that the church has moved forward from having grown in wisdom and knowledge. The word “competition” instead of “collaboration” is the clerical buzz word on hearing lay Catholic formation in theology. Vatican II is the first council to address the laity and give directives based off the demands that the sacrament of confirmation places on us to transform our economic, political and social situations for a just and better future. The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem, declares that learning theology – Scripture and Church Tradition – is not the sole preserve of the clergy but of every baptized and confirmed Catholic Christian. As ministers of the sacrament of matrimony, spouses are to guide their home – the domestic church- and bring up children, in public testimony in the world as well as in private prayer in the gathering of the church on Sunday. Youth are to learn of God to develop their abilities and change the country through ethical leadership and wealth creation. This calls for us, the laity, to invest in our own theological education, through catholic sites online, short courses and doing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in divinity, theology, spiritual direction and pastoral care. Such graduates have become permanent deacons, hospital and prison chaplains, non-profit organizers, theology teachers, catechetical formators, authors of books blending spirituality and wealth creation, retreat directors, revivalists, educators, parish organizers, musicians and lay preachers shaping policy both of the state and of the church.

To conclude, I believe the priests of Buea diocese themselves, of which the bishop is their head, must be true to their clerical office and choose to be accountable, make amends and restructure, lest these issues move from newspaper articles to court cases and to the many sanctions allocated for priests in the book of Canon Law. For there is nothing hidden that will not be exposed. We Christians of Buea Diocese, must also pursue knowledge of our rich Catholic tradition, for as Scripture says, “for lack of knowledge the people are destroyed” (Hosea 4:6) remembering that neither bishop nor priest will answer for how you lived your public engagement, marital vows and Christian mission on judgment day. The cow’s milk has dried up! Beating it will not make milk flow; only better care in terms of nutrition and grooming. As today May 15 we begin the novena for Pentecost, we have space to present our assessments to the Father, with Mary in this her holy month, for a renewed Pentecost by the Holy Spirit through Jesus who promises that whatever we ask of the Father he will give. That way the death of Fr Denis Ndang will serve the transformation he worked so hard to bring.

Sincerely
Etchi Besem Oben (Doctoral Student in Catholic Systematic Theology, Duquesne University, PA, USA).

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

19.May.2015

Hits: 2123

The Nigerian army has made fresh gains in its fight against Takfiri Boko Haram terrorists, overrunning 10 militant camps in the country’s northeast. Defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement on Sunday that security forces destroyed the Boko Haram camps in the terrorist group’s Sambisa Forest stronghold in the state of Borno. Olukolade added that a number of terrorists were killed in the offensive and that a landmine explosion killed one soldier and injured two others.

The defense spokesman said the military operation continues in both Sambisa and other areas. “The operation to clear the terrorists in Sambisa and other forests is continuing as troops in all fronts have been alerted to be on the lookout for fleeing terrorists,” said Olukolade, adding, “The Nigeria Air Force is maintaining an active air surveillance to track the movement of terrorists for appropriate action as the operation continues.” The gains came a day after an attack killed seven people and injured scores of others at a crowded bus station in neighboring Yobe State.

The military operation is part of an offensive by the Nigerian army to remove the Takfiri terrorists in the northeast of the country. A regional military coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has claimed a series of major victories against Boko Haram since launching sweeping offensives against the militant group in February. Some 15,000 people have been killed and about 1.5 million displaced as a result of Boko Haram violence since 2009. Boko Haram recently pledged allegiance to the ISIL terrorist group, which is mainly operating in Iraq and Syria.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

18.May.2015

Hits: 643

Local residents and army officials say at least nine people have been killed after Boko Haram Takfiri militants launched an attack in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno.  Civilian vigilante official, Yusuf Sani, said on Thursday that six vigilantes and three soldiers were killed after hundreds of Boko Haram extremists tried to attack the Giwa Barracks in the city of Maiduguri, located approximately 870 kilometers (540 miles) north of the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday evening.

Nigerian government forces, however, thwarted their assault following a fierce exchange of fire with the Takfiris.  "The terrorists suffered serious casualties," Sani said without giving an exact number, adding that 12 vigilantes also sustained injuries by the shrapnels of detonated bombs.  "They came in through the Kayamla area at around 6:30 p.m. (1730 GMT), when residents were preparing for evening prayers, firing in all directions and hurling bombs," local resident Ibrahim Sidi said.  "Soldiers from the Giwa barracks deployed and intercepted them just on the outskirts of the city and engaged them in a fight that lasted for over 40 minutes," he added.  An army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that army soldiers "killed many" of the militants.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

15.May.2015

Hits: 1915

 Hundreds of Boko Haram extremists tried to attack the biggest army base in northeast Nigeria overnight but met fierce resistance from soldiers who fired artillery throughout the night. Booming cannon and whooshing rockets woke up people living around Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the northeast's biggest city. The ground shook as people prostrated themselves for evening prayers. Hundreds fled, though some were returning home on Thursday morning. Many villagers were killed by shells that hit the outlying village of Kayamla, where the soldiers engaged hundreds of militants, according to Muhammad Gava, a hunter who is secretary of the self-defense Vigilante Group of Nigeria. "Many of them (Boko Haram) were killed outside the trenches while some fled back," said another civilian fighter, Ibrahim Musa. "We were with the soldiers during the attack and I was shocked to see that Boko Haram could be in such large numbers," Musa told The Associated Press.

Panicking people took flight, some women hefting babies on their backs while other children clung to their skirts. An elderly woman trying to run had an asthma attack. The army imposed a 24-hour curfew amid fears some insurgents have slipped through trenches and sand walls constructed to prevent a motorized assault after a Feb. 1 offensive in which the Islamic extremists attacked Maiduguri from four fronts. The curfew is "to protect lives and property of innocent and law-abiding people of Maiduguri," said a statement from Col. Tukur Gusau, spokesman for the army's 7th Division that is leading the fight against Boko Haram. A multinational force and Nigerian troops backed by bombing fighter jets and helicopter gunships drove the extremists from all towns in the northeast in a 14-week-long offensive. Nigerian officials have said they have the militants hemmed into their stronghold in the vast Sambisa Forest, which is about 125 miles southeast of Maiduguri.

An offensive on forest camps has freed some 700 girls and women held captive by the extremists. But it appears to be bogged down by militants' land mines and booby traps. Maiduguri has suffered several attacks, including a March 14, 2014 assault in which Boko Haram invaded Giwa Barracks and freed hundreds of detainees. More than 600 people were killed that day, mostly unarmed detainees gunned down by Nigerian troops, according to Amnesty International. Maiduguri used to be a city where people didn't lock the doors to their homes. Its population of 2 million has been swelled by more than 300,000 refugees.More than 1.5 million people in Nigeria have been driven from their homes, some across borders, during the nearly 5-year-old Islamic insurgency. Last year was the bloodiest, with some 10,000 people killed, according to the U.S. Council on

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

14.May.2015

Hits: 1898

Chad's President Idriss Deby said on Monday in Nigeria's capital Abuja the fight against Islamist Boko Haram insurgents was being hindered by failure of the two countries' troops to work together. He said there were plans to form a rapid response force for the African Union from troops of the four countries around the Lake Chad basin - Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Nigeria's outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, Deby said he was disappointed a joint agreement with Nigeria was not working. Chad has repeatedly complained about the lack of co-operation between the two armies since they launched offensives against the Islamist militant group earlier this year.

Deby also met president-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who beat Jonathan in the March 28 polls. "‎It is regrettable the two armies, that is the Nigerian army and the Chadian Army, are working separately in the field. If they were operating jointly, they would have achieved more results," Deby said. Having defeated al Qaeda in Mali two years ago, Chad's military believes it could finish off Boko Haram alone. It has notched up victories that have pushed the Nigerian militants back from the Cameroonian border. The insurgents seized control of a swathe of north-east Nigeria last year, killing thousands in an unprecedented land grab while increasing incursions on neighbouring countries. 

Nigeria has managed to roll back most of the group's gains since the start of the year with the help of offensives launched by Chad and Niger into Nigerian territory while Cameroon has repeatedly repelled attacks on its border towns. Deby said he did not know where Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau was hiding. Earlier this year, Deby threatened the militant chief by saying he knew where he was hiding.

"I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding ‎and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you," he said. A statement from Buhari's press team said Deby and Buhari discussed Boko Haram's cross border activities and the impact on trade due to the destruction of key infrastructure, such as bridges, and how to work jointly to defeat the militants once the new administration comes into power. "We know how Chad, Niger and Cameroon have been helping Nigeria to secure our border, we will sit and make sure we have a comprehensive review of the security situation in the north-east," Buhari said.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

13.May.2015

Hits: 2199