AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE ON THE FALSHOOD BEEN SPREAD AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF BUEA AKA WHATSAPP, FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR OF BUEA DIOCESE.
Rev. Ikpeamachukwu Ebubenso
This is to let the general public know that the libel against the various associations by the apostolic administrator of Buea Diocese were all lies. The social media document flying around was the hand work of the mischievous makers of evil to bring and tarnish our reputation before the general public. Character defamation is not accepted anywhere in the law be it civil nor canonical.
First and foremost the various associations were duly established, founded and decreed by an ecclesiastical competent authority in accordance with the 1983 Code of Canon law. The associations passed through the normal processes before establishment.
All the ordained clerics were validly ordained by ecclesiastical validly ordained Roman Catholic bishops in full communion with the Church of Rome.
This is to let the general public know that these various associations were founded in Buea Diocese and not in Nigeria. Ipso facto, they are Buea Diocesan associations in accordance with the decree of their erections.
We are highly disappointed that none of us was consulted and heard from. The only thing we saw was a letter of suspension trending on social media against the good names of our persons. Bishop Bibi if your image is tarnish on social media how will you feel? When has the church started using the social media as a means of communicating clerics in the church or don’t you respect the substance of the ordination character in the church?
It is pertinent to note that some of the priests of Buea Diocese never wanted to see us saying that we have foreign background as if the apostolic nuncio to Cameroon does not have foreign background here in Cameroon.
A CRITIC OF THE WHATSAPP LETTER OF SUSPENSION BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF BUEA DIOCESE.
It is quit unfortunate that the apostolic administrator does not know the difference between private associations of Christ’s lay faithful with the intention of becoming a religious institute and institutes of consecrated life.
In his defamatory letter titled “SUSPENSION OF SOME OF INSTITUTES OF CONSRCRATED LIFE FROM PASTORAL WORK IN BUEA DIOCESE”
This is to let the general public know that we are not institutes of consecrated life but PRIVATE ASSOCIATION OF CHRIST’S LAY FAITHFUL” with the intention of becoming religious institutes in accordance with the common norms of Canons 298-329. This is contrary to his claim of misapplying the canons on us as it was quoted out of context referring to us as institutes of consecrated life quoting Canon 573-730. He made this grave mistake because he never came to us to study our norms and status before carrying out a rash judgment on the associations.
The letter bears false information that the Nigerian Episcopal Conference raised concerned about us and about the status of these congregations is a pure lie before God and man. Bishop Bibi did you actually studied canon law? How can bishops of other ecclesiastical jurisdiction raise concern about associations that were not founded in their jurisdiction? Can you as a bishop go to Kumba, Kumbo or Mamfe that is not your area of jurisdiction to give an order? Open your canon law and stop been arrogant because pride goes before a fall. This is to let the general public know that the associations have no single problem with the Nigerian Episcopal Conference. That after the ordinations of their members they were fully received and welcomed by their various dioceses and parishes. Bishop Bibi can you present us with a document against us that the Nigerian episcopal conference gave you as a person or were you acting on hearsay? You have been going to the nuncio to lie against Nigerians. Do not worry continue in your vendetta mission against the divine projects of God. This is emperor Bibi’s persecution of Christ’s body. The early Christians suffered it. But remember that the Holy See is an objective unbiased umpire unlike you who is a subjective vindictive, trojonic biased umpire. Instead of you to face the allegations of financial crimes of diverting Buea Diocesan funds to your private account in the Bank of America. You are rather using your said letter to divert the attention of gullible and unsuspecting catholic faithful in the diocese of Buea and the world at large. Why are the priests of Buea and your so called advisers suffering from inferiority complex? We hereby call on the church to carry out forensic studies on your financial crimes. This is exactly why you are fighting CUIB not that you have a genuine intentions towards them and that is why they are resisting you.
You violated Can. 220 which says “No one is permitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person to protect his or her own privacy”. But you violated it to cover your crimes and face. King Nebuchadnezzar started like you and you knew how he ended. Do you have reasons of suspending the associations? However, you are to be punished for tarnishing our images in accordance with Can. 1369 which says “A person who in a public show or speech, in published writing, or in other uses of the instruments of social communication utters blasphemy, gravely injures good morals, expresses insults, or excites hatred or contempt against religion or the Church is to be punished with a just penalty”. Bishop Bibi when you published your suspension on social media what do you intend to achieve? What joy do you derive? What would you have done if you are to be Christ standing before the woman caught in adultery? You would have condemned her right away. You preach mercy but do you preach mercy?
You said that their formation was doubtful. Yet among these associations you suspended they have canon lawyers, systematic and moral theologians duly licensed by Urban University Rome which Buea Diocese as a whole does not have. Some of them are working in different part of the world. Why suffering from inferiority complex?
What we have seen in your administration is a vendetta against your predecessor and the associations in Buea Diocese. Why can’t Pope Francis revoke all that Pope Benedict erected in the universal church before his retirement? What makes you think that your own decisions are right and your predecessor’s decisions wrong? What landmark achievements can you boast of apart from vendetta against everyone? This idea of trying to use the Nigerian clerics from these associations to diffuse the tensions your highhandedness have generated in Buea Diocese is not acceptable.
How can a bishop and his vicar general be ambassadors of xenophobia in the Roman Catholic Church of Christ? Today, the world is rising up against racism. What does it profit you to take the church of Christ back to anarchy and doom with your xenophobic pronouncement talking bad about the same sacrament you are carrying? Do you really understand the substance of Holy Orders? The bishop Bushu that you are fighting today was your rector in the seminary. What would have been your fate assuming he got you expelled from the seminary?
You are barely six months in Buea Diocese as an apostolic administrator and you are picking quarrels left right and center with almost everybody. The office of the bishop has actually been debased by your actions.
NB: Any further defamation of our persons again on the social media by you we will commence a canonical and a civil suit against you. All of us have right to good names so be careful and do not take us for granted as we are respecting you are obliged by both civil and canonical laws to respect us also. Pray and seek the face of God before embarking on a vendetta mission against the children of God. Know it that we have spoken with some other church hierarchies other than you.
Dear WhatsApp Bishop Let God be your judge.
CC:
Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer.
Prefect of the Congregation for the doctrine of the Faith.
Cardinal Marc Armand Oullet P.S.S.
prefect of the Congregation of Bishops.
Cardinal Beniamino Stella
prefect of the congregation of the Clergy.
Mgr. Julio Murat, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria.
Nigerian Episcopal Conference.