Bishop Bushu warns against monetary transactions with priests

By Singfred Sinior BSM

The Bishop of Buea, His Lordship Immanuel Bushu has warned Christians and other persons against lending money to, or borrowing from priests, religious and church personnel serving in his Diocese. The warning is contained in a letter addressed to all Christians, priests and religious in the diocese of Buea, signed 14th April 2007. 

The new Bishop of Buea, who took charge of the Diocese on 30th January 2007, stated in his letter that, some unpleasant situations that have occurred in the diocese and other places in the world encouraged him to call the attention of his Christians and all people of goodwill to that. The letter states: "Church law forbids priests and religious from lending and borrowing money or acting on behalf or lay people with regard to money and temporal goods." To that effect the Bishop warns: "The Diocese of Buea will not be responsible for any priest, religious or lay mission personnel who borrow money and cannot pay."

He further warns that "no creditors should approach the Diocesan office for loans contracted or private business transactions done with priests, religious and lay mission personnel." It should be noted that this letter was among the first letters the new bishop has addressed to his new flock in Buea. The letter was read in all the catholic churches in the dioceses and places of public worship amidst utmost attention from the Christians Elsewhere, there are lots of speculations on the immediate cause of such a letter from a Bishop who is barely a few months in the diocese. Some Christians hold that the recent transfers of priests, signed on the same date as the letter, though without the long awaited appointment of a new vicar general for the diocese, has something to do with it. Others are going memory lane to recall the recent past when some priests in the diocese were alleged to be involved in financial misappropriation in some Parishes.

The first pastoral letter of Bishop Bushu was signed on the 25 of March 2007, feast of the annunciation in which the Bishop announced the creation of a permanent Diocesan pastoral team to implement the Pastoral plan of the Province of Bamenda.

Comments

[Imma, Belgie]

All encouragements to the new bishop of buea. Buea is a large diocese that needs careful handling, and the Sheperd need his flock in as much as his flock need him. This letter addressed to Catholic Christians comes just in time because so many things are going on in the catholic church that ought not to be, especially amongst men of God (priests, religious..) and lay faithful, all in the name of 'seeking help from priests or helping them out in times of difficulties'. I do hope that this letter will serve as a serious warning to help both the faithful and priests, religious, to grow strong in the Catholic faith,rather than focusing their attention on other earthly issues.
God Bless.