By NDIMUH B. SHANCHO
In a bid to limit the rapidity with which the deadly coronavirus (COVID19) is spreading and to speedy the containment of the pandemic, several religious bodies in Cameroon have either suspended church gatherings and called on Christians to pray from home or have structured service into small groups in respect of Government measures limiting gathering to not more than 50 persons.
There, however, appears to be some discrepancies in the implementation of these preventive measures within the Bamenda Ecclesiatical Province between the Archbishop of the Bamenda Metropolitan Diocese and other dioceses especially the Bishop of Kumbo, George Nkuo and the Apostolic Administrator of Buea, Michael Bibi.
Just like Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the Douala Metropolitan Archdiocese and Mgr Jean Mbarga of the Yaounde Metropolitan Archdiocese, Archbishop Andrew F. Nkea of the Bamenda Metropolitan Archdiocese, Wednesday March 25, 2020 published a release suspending all masses and calling on Christians to continue leading prayers from home. “As from the moment of the publication of this Decrelum until the Divine Mercy Sunday 19 April 2020, all masses are suspended in all parishes in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. However, parish priests must celebrate Holy Mass every day for their Christians, and at a time when Christians know and can follow spiritually and prayerfully at home,” the release read in part.
Though some catholic faithful interpreted the release of Archbishop Nkea to encompass the entire Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, another communiqué emerged from the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buea, Michael M. Bibi, same Wednesday, March 25, 2020 rather restricting the number of Christians per mass as stipulated by the Government. “In line with Government regulations, not more than 50 persons should be present at various Sacramental and Liturgical celebrations. The spacing at such celebrations between Christians should be at least be one meter to assist in social distancing, and those feeling sick should do well to stay at home,” the Apostolic Administrator stated.
While some catholic Christians see this as disrespectful, others argue that every diocese is autonomous.
“The Archbishop is not the Bishop of Buea. He represents the province in some matters. It does not mean he decides for Buea,” a Christian of the Buea Diocese argued.
Another congregant holds that even if a communiqué was to encompass all dioceses within the ecclesiastical province, Archbishop Nkea will not be the one to issue it. “The Archbishop did not write on behalf of the Province. If it were on behalf of the Province, it should have been Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo to write, because as at now, he is still the President of BAPEC,” he argued.
But other aggrieved Christians who spoke to The SUN felt that for the unity of the Catholic Church in the two Anglophone regions to have been maintained, the other bishops should have held back. Afterall, they argue, “it is the health and lives of Christians that is at stake. Moreover prevention is better than cure”. The Christians added that they feel the hidden motivation to go ahead with masses is more for material purposes than spiritual because it seems many priests were overhead complaining about their survival if alms do not flow on Sunday.
Some Christians even went as far as saying that some of the Bishops and priests maybe openly showing their bitterness towards Archbishop Nkea’s meteoric rise.
Reports reaching our newsroom indicate that while there were no masses in the Bamenda Diocese on Sunday, March 29, masses effectively held in Buea and Kumbo dioceses.
Whatever the case, the truth remains that the virus is spreading at a geometric rate requiring vigilance and adherence to drastic preventive measures, at both individual and institutional levels. That up to 113 cases have been registered in Cameroon within close to a month, is an eloquent call for all to make hay while the sun shines, after all, it is often said prevention is better than cure.
Is it not said that it is a stewardship responsibility for every Christian to be worthy custodian of the life God has given?
The announcement that Limbe now has one confirmed case would certainly send jitters around and for all to see the handwriting on the wall.