Examining the financial health of the Church

By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain

The Bishops of Cameroon have just held their 32nd Plenary Assembly at the John XXIII Centre Mvolyé, Yaounde. During the come together they examined the financial situation of the different parishes and dioceses. While the main focus was on the economic management of church property and resources and attached services of the National Episcopal Conference, media depravity and the upcoming twin elections did not escape their attention.

The Plenary Assembly which held under the theme, "The Economic Life and Management of  Our Different Parishes and Dioceses," had a triple objective - to enable bishops to carry out a practical evaluation of the different measures that had been taken in the past with regards to management, help prepare the meeting of the Association of the Episcopal Conference of Central Africa known by its French acronym as ACERAC, which will hold in Bangui in July, 2008 with the main thrust also being the material and administrative management of church and equally prepare for the Second special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops during which an evaluation will be carried out in all domains of the Church since the holding of the first synod in 1994.

In his welcome address, the outgoing Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Mgr. Patrick Lafon, outlined the importance of this year's theme stating that, "…the Church cannot demand good governance in the running of the affairs of the state and refuse to put into place in its dioceses and parishes, those structures demanded by Canon Law and good sense, for the running of its institution." Commenting on the pertinence of the theme, Christian Cardinal Tumi said it was important because some of the dioceses in Cameroon are suffering from managerial problems and corrective measures are needed not just to curb these problems, but also to ensure that Christians do not suffer as a result.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Mgr. Eliseo Antonio Ariotti, said the Pope had noted with "great joy and satisfaction" the growth and vitality of the Church in Cameroon from the Diocesan Reports that had been forwarded to the Holy See. While these reports were important in helping the Holy See to understand the ecclesiastical and social realities of the Church in Cameroon, he expressed regrets that five dioceses in Cameroon had not forwarded any report to the Holy See for the past four years. He said to carry out its mission successfully, the Church must have the needed material resources but these resources, he clarified, must be managed in compliance with the guidelines outlined in the Canon law. He noted that in its quest for indispensable material resources, it is imperative that the Church should ensure that evangelical concerns are not overshadowed by economic activities.

The Apostolic Nuncio underlined that church services are free of charge and equally stressed the need for the cultivation of the spirit of sharing, transparency, community contribution, solidarity and co-responsibility, pointing out that these must constitute the essential axle in the management of Church resources. In respect to the principles of the management of Church resources, Mgr. Eliseo Antonio Ariotti stated, like in all enterprises, the management of church resources must be governed by accuracy and pertinence, with resources disbursed only to meet expressed needs which should correspond to and seek to maintain the reputation that the Catholic Church has established for itself in managerial matters on a world wide basis. He appealed for fraternity and Episcopal collegiality to ensure that the Church in Cameroon should grow from strength to strength. During the Plenary Assembly the bishops also addressed other issues, precisely media deviant conduct and the forthcoming council and parliamentary elections. To put these issues in perspective, Mgr Patrick Lafon was quick in pointing out that, "Those in society who feel that the Church has taken a vow of silence on societal issues are mistaken. Nowadays, it is accepted that the church has the right and even the duty to speak out sometimes on social, even political issues in addition, of course, to moral ones.
" And it was precisely to call the attention of the Episcopate to the depravity of the media that the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot, pointed out what he described as "the moral pollution" of contemporary society by some media structures that had adopted insanity and pornography as their editorial policy. He welcomed the judicial measures that had been taken to hold the publisher of "Le Dementi" newspaper to account, following the recent publication of obscene pictures in the paper, but warned that the threat from some foreign TV channels, that are difficult to control, remain just as real and dangerous. Against a backdrop of the ever growing invasion of morals by the media, he told fellow bishops that corresponding evangelical and pastoral emergency measures are needed.

Citing the position of the Pontifical Council on pornography Mgr. Victor Tonye Bakot said, "It will be irresponsible to refuse the fact that pornography and sadistic violence depraves sexuality, pervades human relations, negatively affects individuals especially women and children, destroys homes and family life, instigates anti-social behaviour and weakens the moral fabric of the society." He expressed the desire to have public officials elaborate laws to regulate social communication in Cameroon.

While acknowledging the advances that had been made in the democratisation process in Cameroon as a result of the measures that had been undertaken by both the government and other active forces, the bishops called for the adoption of a unique electoral code in Cameroon and expressed the wish that Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) should handle the upcoming council and parliamentary elections which will take place on July 22, 2007. The 32nd Plenary Assembly was the last to be organised by Mgr. Patrick Lafon who has come to the end of his mandate at the National Episcopal Conference, having put in five years as the Assistant National Secretary of Catholic Education and 10 years as the Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference.

He thanked the bishops for the confidence bestowed on him and all his collaborators for what had been achieved during his tenure, unequivocally stating that in 15 years they had all, "…given the church a certain voice and visibility" with respect to contemporary issues. He has handed over the relay baton to Fr. Joseph Akonga Essomba who is presently the Rector of the St. Theresia Minor Seminary, Mvolyé. Mgr Lafon will officially step down in June and it will be up to the new Secretary General to steer the ship of the Episcopal Conference in the years ahead.

Comments

[M Neba]

A significant portion of this article, moderately speaking, nothing to do with "the financial health of the church". After three readings, I do not understand, nor can I articulate what the financial health of this church is. Perhaps, I am wrong; in my humble opinion I was expecting a balance sheet or a listing of the financial ills and healths of this church.
Understandably there was a side discussion from the main topic of the meeting; this would have been best reported under a different "topic" or "title".

[M Neba]

eratum:
the first sentence should have read: A significant portion of this article, moderately speaking, has nothing to do with "the financial health of the church".
Thanks.

[Ben Bong]

Mr Neba,
Thank you very much for taking a keen interest in L'Effort Camerounais. Your comments were very enriching and incisive, keep them coming. I was happy to learn that you read the story thrice. This is an indication that the title was an attention catcher. You may not have found the balance sheet of the church's financial records, but you now have a panoramic view of what the 32nd pleanry session was all about. Once again, thanks for your constructive reactions.
Ben Bong