Appendix: Reactions on Social Media on Canonical Suspension of Two Fidei Donum Priests of Buea Diocese in the Diocese of Charlotte USA

Compiled and Edited by Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, Monday, October 2, 2023.

The following reactions were gotten from writers on social media after the circular was published which might be significant to peruse in order to best understand the mentality of some of our Christians:

1. Why have the priests refused to go back?
2. Some vocations these days are so slippery.
3. They are enjoying life, money and women in the free world and don’t want to listen to their bishop anymore.
4. If that has become their order, then they should resign and carry on. I really just do not admire individuals tarnishing the image of the church.
5. Pretty much that’s what they are doing. Some come to Western world and even regret joining the priesthood. Back home is unheard of when they leave the priesthood but nobody cares in USA
6. It is ‘bonne vie,’ they want to enjoy. USA is sweet.
7. But the priesthood is not compatible with that kind of enjoyment. They should drop one of the two. Some of these guys posing for priests are a big shock to the church!
8. That is how it looks, some of them are victimized, some a really victims of their so-called shepherds. They sometimes seek refuge in foreign ‘soils.’ But some priests are really opportunists just like some shepherds play the devil’s advocate. We shouldn’t mix crooked so-called shepherds, priest with those who serve diligently and in a dedicated manner.
9. ‘Bush sweet soteee.’ They didn’t enjoy the world and suddenly they found themselves in Oyibo land. ‘Buea Diocese na cruise ship.’ Are these two Apostles of Nkeze?
10. The reality of Priesthood out of the Diocese. Introduction: 1.1 Priesthood as experienced in the local Diocese; 1.2 Priesthood as experienced out of the local Diocese (Western World); 1.2.1 Why and how Priest return to the local Diocese; 1.2.3 Why and how Priest remain in the West. Conclusion. There is much more to each story for sure.
11. When you take a VOW, you abide by it, OBEDIENCE to your Ordinary is one of them in the case of priests.
12. These fellows might end up resigning.
13. ‘No be new thing but na new style.’
14. Cameroonian priests and America, book to be published soon.
15. All men of good want run ‘pays’ for greener pastures.
16. Those out should first return and we can start the prayers.
17. ‘Why them no go run when them no di get fair treatment from their Bishops?’ A priest is a normal human being like you and I, they too need better treatment and fatherly love from their bishops.
18. I understand that it is not easy for them and only priests can tell their story.
19. Priests are special. For 14-15-16, some 9 years had time to think and meditate on the journey, some seed fell among thorns.
20. ‘Anglophone Bishops them abeg una try for di show fatherly love to your priests.’ I understand that it is not easy to manage human ego, but make your priests your sons and enjoy your outputs.
21. ‘No no lie my Brother.’ We need to come back and then ‘Obedience’ is very important ohhh!!!
22. But I won’t blame the bishop of Buea for his decision, for he stated that countless attempts have been made and they didn’t honor the call which is an act of disobedience but well, ‘church work no go stop because of a few priests who don’t honor the call of their father.’
23. I don’t or we outside this shoe cannot really say the bishops are not showing them fatherly love. They could still show. But then, you cannot be a priest and there is poverty in your family and you are not capable of lifting a finger. Gentlemen it is traumatizing. When you get to Europe or America and you work and they pay you, you start taking up certain responsibilities in your family, why won’t you stay out there. What is attracting you to come back? That is more the problem.
24. A priest who prays obeys and is humble.
25. You are sent as fidei donum for a number of years by your bishop and when your bishop asks you to come back, you have to come back. As priests, we receive our pastoral assignment from our bishop. Why refuse to come back from a pastoral assignment when your bishop has asked you to come back?
26. But, why are others asked to come back, while others remain? Isn’t this discrimination?
27. Did they go same day? Do they have same assignment? Same mission? Etc?
28. None of us were ordained a priest to work out of our diocese. But it is because of pastoral charity that the bishop decides to send some priests of his choice as fidei donum.
29. Some of our priests have become so comfortable that I don’t see them heading home. Some will prefer resignation to remain in their comfort zones. Then the priesthood was not their vocation.
30. Meaning, priesthood was a route to a better life. Once achieved, it’s over.
31. Let’s imagine what could be the running cost of the father’s house in Akwaya when offering collections can’t get top up above 2000frs on weekly masses.
32. And when your time is up, return home rather than dragging ropes with your bishop. If the Lord feeds birds who do not cultivate, what about his priests?
33. Please they have not yet resigned. So, let us only wait and see their reactions. And pray by the letter, let them obey the bishop.
34. So, you think the bishop just pulled his pen immediately?
35. Is been a battle and bishop decided to bring it public.
36. Meaning the priests are right to disobey because times have changed?
37. This is foolishness. Are you the bishop. Do you know for how long he sent that and for what purpose?
38. A child who enjoys love from the father is never attracted by the wealth of another father. Despite the hardship and inconsistent flow of income couple the arrogance of some of our bishops most of our brothers’ priests have been charmed by most bishops in the USA. Bishops, flatter your priests so that they won’t get lustful view over the white man’s land.
39. The bishop ordained his priests or commissions another bishop to do so on his behalf so that the priest can serve him in his heavy task of running a diocese. At any time in the life of priest, he is under the authority of the bishop or a superior who decides to use the priest for any long-term or short-term goal of evangelization at home or elsewhere. No one is mandated to query why and how the bishop does this. The bishop has his multiple priorities and decides which priest goes where and for how long.
40. Thank God I can’t advise Bishop Bibi. If I could, ‘even if they return, na 3 years straight for Mbengwi monastery, make the rethink their calling.’
41. To sustain this lifestyle from the age of 11 till forever is a big ask. No matter how much we define this as a calling, the challenges are very alluring to hypocrisy, as our innate desires wrestle with the confines of the sacerdotal order. It is therefore no doubt that a man released – albeit being temporary – from this straitjacket finds it liberating and rather onerous to return to it.
42. Think about it: you listen to everyone’s problems, their crimes, their jubilations, without the option to decline the audience. You live next to a graveyard, continually officiating burials. You lewdly watch the juiciest women take a feline walk from the altar to their pews and then militate against the gusto of devouring their curviness in your thoughts. Oh boy! You live through sprouts of grey hair reminding you of an impending end with nothing material, no progeniture, and no surety of welfare or company as you get senile and feeble. Then suddenly in your late 40’s you see an option to change the narrative. It is hard to not say toodles to the prior life. Those who stick with it, I cannot cease to salute you. Very well done. Those who give up are more akin to the majority that we are. Yes, dropouts from the trail to priesthood.
43. ‘We no di enter Fada work na for find easy life. Apostle their life no be easy, why we want be different.’
44. I don’t understand. Is the condition of the priest in Njindom same as the one in Yaoundé, I may be wrong but I don’t believe one joins the priesthood speculating to be in “greener pastures” always? I could be wrong.
45. Materialism is pushing them away, not the bishop’s treatment. What do they want the bishops to do? Pathetic!
46. Hahaha. ‘America sweet ooh who di see lucky go ngambe.’
47. The Bible is clear, not everyone that calls me Lord, Lord will enter my kingdoms, so not every pastor or priests are there for the purpose.
48. This life no balance. that bishop no know seeh people for ETAs need their services pass the one dem for paye?? Abeg God dey all over. make dem extend their Christianity for ETAs who wan stay this corrupt paye?
49. Yes na. Who see lucky go ngambe.
50. They will soon see that it is meaningless and beg the bishop to come back.
51. Sad Some young People join priesthood now because of this unemployment in Cameroon.
52. Na who di go paradise then come back for hell?
53. Even Mic monster weh yi be sing ‘country too sweet for levam.’No dey paye for the past 1 month.
54. If na you, you go see promised land and still return to this wilderness?
55. Hahahahaha who go see better life chop communion?
56. My God. May they remember the day of their ordination.
57. They will soon be repatriated.
58. There are many different ways of getting into America and being a priest is one of them.
59. Those people are gone for good masa, they should make a better use of their stay there.
60. Wise men, look for your wife’s there and marry and also look for a bible believing church and worship there for your salvation.
61. Who no like better thing. There is joy and benefits in serving the Lord Amen.
62. How can I go closer to Heaven and came back on earth, never.
63. Ya men dem go see amelika forget priesthood.
64. If them bi regard that priesthood more than their stay in U.S, then I believe them for don came back. So, bishop just live that guys them rest then Hustle for their better life. Adon talk ma own.
65. Communion for US di taste different.
66. Na unemployment dey cause some people to join priesthood.
67. Ok if na you, you go came back?
68. Return to which country.
69. Man is in America you ask him to come back to Cameroon and do what, work your money, even church to na money.
70. Opportunity oooohhhhh, if na me sef I no go came back.
71. There’s no ghost town in the US.
72. If na me a go do the same.
73. If na you sef you go return?
74. Come back how Noh Bishop,we are already sheep enough.let them stay there and bring home the lost!
75. Na this freshman them you want send for Evangelism for Mamfe my lord Bishop? Fear God oooh.
76. Who see lucky go ngambe for go finam?
77. Who no like better thing.
78. The no nonsense Bishop Bibi. You are just a square spade in a square hole.
79. Even the said bishop knows what is better for those priests. Should priests be refused DV lottery?
80. Even me I will do like them because Cameroon is hell already.
81. America na their new home, bishop should look for new priest to replace them.
82. Bishop if na you, you go come back?
83. Ahahahahah came back for this Cameroon I no fit.
84. Who no like better thing.
85. If na you too you go come back?
86. We put them in our prayers. It is really a trying moment for them. Let them come back to their senses and take back duties.
87. Who don see fin thing allow?
88. If na you. You go come back?
89. Even if Na you. Tell me the truth. You go came back? Just be sincere to yourself.
90. Let God bless them for their quest for greener pastures.
91. Grand them don teste life for street who no like better thing.
92. They disguise under the umbrella of priesthood to go to the US.
93. Jakpa don enter church. Ei no easy.
94. That’s great, the no nonsense Bishop Bibi. You have brought many changes in the Buea diocese since you assumed office.
95. Our clergymen should avoid posting religious issues in the social media. I will propose that our bishops should avoid this issue of priests going abroad for pastoral work.
96. Ohh I want go trip no spoil my own chance.
97. Priests who were send for pastoral work in America have refused to come back after term expired. Father Felix and Father Henry.
98. Then who di take care for them that side? make the diocese or parish weh the go work send them back nor.
99. Life is sweet in USA. Rev. Enjoy yourself and send money home to assist your family members.
100. Priest from Bamenda usually return home after their term expires, I don’t know what’s wrong with Buea priests.
101. This issue of sending priest abroad should be discontinued especially those of Buea.
102. He should forget about them.
103. Na who go see lucky go ngambe?
104. Our ancestors are proud of them brothers for seeing the light.

End!

Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, B. Phil., (Mexico); S.T.B., (Rome); J.C.L/M.C.L., (Ottawa), Diploma in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch; International Language Tutor of English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German; Doctorandus, University of Münster, Germany; Europe/ US Chief Correspondent of “The Sun Newspaper”; Catholic Media Influencer and Whistle blower; Canon Lawyer and Researcher; Veteran Contributor on Social Media on Theological and Canonical enlightenment and arguments; Founder/ CEO of the “Nchumbonga Lekelefac Institute of Research, Documentation, Language and Culture, USA.”

Email: nchumbong@yahoo.com

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The SUN’s editorial stance.