Catholic Men in Cameroon’s Buea Diocese in “total support” of Bishop against “distractors”

Members of the University Council disapproved of the administrative change and dragged Bishop Bibi to court. Since then, the Cameroonian Bishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2017 as Auxiliary Bishop of Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese has been barraged with criticisms and attacks, including social media posts by one, Nchumbonga George Lekelefac.

In their statement dated February 8, CMA members say they are “knowledgeable enough of the present frictions in the Diocese created by both Priest and Lay Faithful in tarnishing the way you have chosen in shepherding we your flocks.”

“All these ruining, adulteration, defilement and sullying of the present dispensation of your administration are masterminded by those who have chosen the path of the devil in these modern times of heresies as masterminded by Lucifer himself,” they further say, adding, “The Catholic Men Association (CMA) strongly dissociates itself with this group of persons.”

Credit: Buea Diocese

They laud Bishop Bibi for his resilience saying that despite the attacks, “your unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and development of the people of God in this Diocese, both physical and spiritual, have not been hampered.”

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“It is on the basis of these that the CMA wishes to appreciate your administration and be rest assured that we are strongly behind you with our total support and collaboration to move this Diocese ahead,” they emphasize. 

“We are therefore soliciting you to continue in this same light while praying God Almighty changes the heart of our distractors so that they too can join in the train of building this our beloved Diocese,” the CMA members add.

“Our church is so lucky to have you,” they say about the Cameroonian Catholic Bishop, who has, amid controversies and attacks, received support from the Vatican, Catholic Bishops in Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, and members of the Clergy of his Episcopal See.

Credit: Buea Diocese

In September 2023, Bishop Bibi was honored by Cameroon’s NewsWatch Newspaper for his “exceptional skills” in leading the people of God and managing the property of his Episcopal See.

In their February 8 statement, the CMA members laud thank Bishop Bibi “for being such a great example of living a life of faith.”

Credit: Buea Diocese

“Thank you for being a blessing to our church; thank you for making us stay focused on the teachings of the church; thank you for all the ways you make a difference in our church and community; and thank you for all you do to make our church the encouraging and faith-building place it is,” CMA members say.

They implore God Almighty to bless their Local Ordinary as he continues to “shepherd the people of God.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.