By Grace Ongey
The Archbishop of Douala, His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, has said Christians have an obligation to disregard laws that are intrinsically bad.
He was speaking at the Yaounde Mary Queen of Apostles Minor Basilica Mvolye, during a solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated to mark the end of the Pauline Year in Cameroon. He was reacting to Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol which the Cameroon government recently ratified.
This article paves the way for abortion and homosexuality. He said though the government has ratified the protocol, the law does not oblige citizens to respect it. He has therefore called on Christians to disregard the Maputo Protocol.
In a joint declaration issued after their 34th Plenary Assembly, which held in Yaounde from June 22 to 27, the Bishops of Cameroon also condemned the Maputo Protocol and called on Christians in Cameroon to protect human life and defend human rights.
In his homily, the Douala Co-adjutor Archbishop, Mgr Samuel Kléda, focused on the life of St Paul. He enjoined Christians to emulate St Paul in word and deed. Describing St Paul as a model for missionaries, a Gospel messenger and moulder of Small Christian Communities, Mgr Kléda pointed out the specificity of St Paul's life, especially as he was converted while on his way to persecute Christians.
He encouraged Christians to cultivate St Paul's courage. St Paul preached without fear and did things to please God, not man, Mgr Kleda said. In this light, he reminded Christians that they have an obligation to denounce societal ills and more importantly, find the courage in doing so in a life united to Jesus Christ.
Mgr Samuel Kléda re-echoed Cardinal Tumi's disappointment over Cameroon's ratification of the Maputo Protocol, which legalises abortion and homosexuality. He told Christians that a world of love is one in which human life is respected. He challenged members of government, who had turn out in an impressive number to attend the Mass and were occupying the front pews, to act in line with and make laws that reflect their Christian faith.
A major highlight during the Mass was the sending of some Christians and Church ministers on an evangelisation mission. A bishop, priest, Reverend Sister and some Christians were called up to the Altar where they were each given a Holy Bible and told to continue St Paul's evangelisation mission. Christians were reminded that though the Pauline Year has been officially closed, they have to continue living like St Paul.
His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi was the Mass' chief celebrant. The Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Mgr Antonio Eliseo Ariotti and all the Bishops of Cameroon concelebrated the Mass.
A flurry of activities to mark the end of the Pauline Year, which Pope Benedict XVI decreed in June 2008, preceded the Pontifical Mass. The events started on June 22 and coincided with the 34th Plenary Assembly of Bishops of Cameroon. The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, NECC, President, Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot, explained that discussions during their meeting revolved essentially around the Year of St Paul and preparations of the October Second Synod for Africa of the Synod of Bishops to take place in Rome.
The bishops described St Paul as an evangelisation and communication model and also a model of a Christian fully committed to the growth of the Church. The Bishops expressed the desire that at the end of the Year of St Paul, all Christians should read his epistles, be inspired by St Paul and consecrate their lives to Jesus Christ just like St Paul did.
Cardinal Tumi said St Paul lived what he preached. He therefore called on Christians to live what they professed during baptism. "We entered into an alliance with God. Let us keep our own side of the alliance by living according to our baptismal vows," he noted.
To give St Paul the respect and honour he deserves, especially during an occasion dedicated to wrap off year-long activities for the great apostle, the Sisters of the Community of St Paul offered a statute of St Paul, estimated at FCFA 4 million, to the host parish. On the sidelines were an exhibition on the books of St Paul and a cultural event, which included sketches and choral singing.
Christianity was brought to Africa from the West. In the catholic church, women are subbordinte and in African traditions, women are subbordinate. Christianity seems to be as conservative as the African traditions that it tries to stamp out. The two antagonistic discourses, christianity and Africanism are now being put together to keep women subbordinate. The two enemies now have a common enemy: the rights of the woman. If going to heaven is a matter of individual choice, then let women be given the right to decide what to do with their bodies. After all, God supposedly allowed BOTH bad and good and gave man (sorry, humans) the right to decide for themselves. I congratulate the Cameroonian government for ratifying the Maputo Protocal.
Posted by: Andy Bessong | November 18, 2009 at 06:28 AM