Month: March 2008

+ George NKUO
Bishop of Kumbo

Dear brothers and sisters,

Preamble:
In the last three weeks, a new wave of violence has broken up in some parts of our Diocese, precisely in the Bui area of the Diocese; where people suspected of stealing have been summarily murdered. A total of 11 lives have been lost through such brutal and inhuman treatment in Tatum, Meluf, Mbinon, Kikaikom, Kingomen and Kiyan/Mbve.

This way of behaving commonly referred to as ‘mob ‘ or ‘jungle justice’ is apparently gaining huge grounds as people continue to mercilessly inflict pain resulting in the outright death of other persons on grounds of theft. Recently, my attention was drawn to these gruesome acts in which there have been gross violation of human rights and the dignity of the human person.

For this reason for which I now call on all of you not only to stop these rampant killings, but more so to reflect on the meaning and importance of human life; a precious gift which God bestows on each one of us. The fifth commandment of God admonishes us in clear and unequivocal terms when it states thus “Thou shall not Kill”. In fact these sporadic acts of killing by the population are in utter violation of this fifth commandment and warrants condemnation. Some of you have been witnesses to these acts of harmful behaviour.

Some of you are responsible for the signals that led up to these acts. Some of you have in various ways participated in these killings. We cannot pretend to say that those who meted out death in this brutal way have come from elsewhere into our midst and society. They are part of us and in some cases have been encouraged by the utterances and actions of some of us. We have directly or indirectly hailed these assassins. It is really unfortunate that we have come to be associated with such repugnant acts of violence.
Such behaviour is not a good reflection of the God we profess neither does it affirm our gratitude to God for the value of human life.

There is no doubt that some of the perpetrators of these murders have and will advance some justification for this gruesome behaviour. We can only mention a few of the reason given below as:
” total collapse of the public security ” thieves are in league with forces of law and order ” such killings are seen as a deterrent measure ” we have had enough harassment by thieves ” breakdown of the rule of law ” we are fed up with justice delayed.

It is worth mentioning that two wrongs can never make a right.

Why we must not kill
The commandments of God condemn both stealing and killing, meaning that he who steals and he who kills breaks a commandment of God. Both are liable to punishment unless they both repent. Give the thief also a chance to repent and thus gain eternal life as the thief referred to in the gospels, (cf. Lk. 23:40-43) Our faith irrespective of our religious leanings teaches us that the human person is made in the image and likeness of God.

The violation of the personal dignity of the human being cries out vengeance to God and is an offence against the Creator of the individual (Christi fidelis Laici n 37). The right to life is at the core of all human rights. Because of our equal human dignity, your life is as much worth as mine. It is the very basis of our human existence. By his incarnation the Son of God has united himself with every human being. This by itself reveals the incomparable value of every human person. (The Gospel of Life n 2) The fifth commandment considers direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful, because it is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being.

It cries out to heaven for vengeance. The church teaches us that this commandment is universally valid. It obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere. (Catechism of Cath. Church nr, 2261, 2268). The right to life is sacred and inviolable. God is the sole master of life. And the unique value of human life is also found in our local traditions which believe that God is the source of all life, but especially of human life. Our traditions know God as creator and therefore the master of life. Killing, even if only remotely intended is one of the most serious crimes.

Can You Throw the First Stone?
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus gives a clear example of the right to life: “those among you who have themselves never committed a crime, take the first stone to kill…” (John 8: 1-11) In other words, if you have never cheated with figures, never made double calculations, never taken away something in the house, never taken corruption money, never occupied somebody’s land, never made a higher bill than allowed, never cheated in measures and balances etc. throw the first stone.

At these words, the Jewish leaders who had put this woman in full view for condemnation walked away..one by one and silently because they were all guilty of one sin or other. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council in the Constitution of the Church in the Modern World “Gaudium et Spes” among other things states “Whatsoever violates the integrity of the human person … are infamies indeed. They poison human society and they do more harm to those who practice them than to those who suffer from the injury.

Moreover they are a supreme dishonour to the Creator’ (n 27). We are all aware of the fact that each right laid down by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights implies that another party is under a corresponding obligation. By God’s divine commandment we all have the obligation to respect the life of others. ‘Mob justice’ is not and can never be acclaimed by any right thinking person or persons. Mob actions can never replace the rule of law or the proper administration of justice. It is more often than not a form of revenge; pervasive in nature and outrightly contradictory to Christian ideals. It is in this light that I denounce the current mob killings in Kumbo as inadmissible and a clear contradiction to any community of reasonable persons let alone of the traditional Christians we all are.

My Lenten appeal
Therefore I wish to humbly appeal to all Christians and all people of good will to do everything possible to stop the killings. The struggle to get every life respected will begin by convincing the public opinion in our town, our neighbourhood, at work and in the schools. We need to convince our friends and family of the sacredness of each human life and the grave harm caused by mob justice. Justice requires love. We are all invited to seek justice in love. Hatred and killing is first situated in people’s mind and heart.

It is therefore in the heart and mind that we have to fight the contempt to life. I appeal to the Forces of Law and Order to be an effective institution assuring the security of lives and property with a concern for the common good. Citizens should never fear them and should feel free to call on them by day and night. I appeal to the eye witnesses of mob justice to do everything possible, without putting their own lives at risk, to prevent the killings. Non assistance to a person in danger of death, without serious risk for ones own life is also punishable under Cameroon law.

I am making this appeal to you all while we are at the very heart of the Lenten Season, a season of grace. It is a time when we look at our lives and our preoccupations individually, as a Church and as a nation, in the light of these words of Christ: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” He tells us to do this because God acts in this way. The call to repentance, to compassion during Lent is not a call to devout Christians, but a call to the whole human race and it concerns the survival of us all. Lent is a universal call to all the people to reform, repent and renew their lives by resolving to live more in keeping with the teachings of the gospel.

I therefore invite you all to take every opportunity during this season to show that we love and respect life by making sure that no more blood is shed in the Diocese of Kumbo, because human life is sacred and precious. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI says in his new Encyclical, Spe Salvi: “Love of God leads to participation in the justice and generosity of God towards others. … Love of God is revealed in responsibility for others.” n. 28. May the Virgin Mary, refuge of sinners and mother of the Church intercede for us.

+ George NKUO
Bishop of Kumbo

Given in Kumbo this 17th day of February 2008
Memoria of the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites.

We, Cardinal, Archbishops and Bishops, members of the Permanent Council of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, deeply concerned over the prevailing situation in our country, address the following message to you: Christians, political leaders, and all men and women of goodwill, who truly love this country and who are advocates of peace and dialogue

In a spirit of mutual understanding, we have reviewed the recent happenings in our country against a backdrop of the economic and socio-political life of our country.

The unfortunate events that have happened, and continue to happen, in some towns, have obliged us to make a fervent appeal for peace and dialogue to all Cameroonians- whose preoccupations we understand, to leaders of political parties and the media. Violence has never been a solution to any problem. The fight for the defence of fundamental human rights is legitimate on condition that it be devoid of all traces of violence and destruction.

The unfortunate incidents of the past days have caused widespread damage: the loss of human lives and the destruction of property. We express our deep condolences to families that have lost their loved ones.

We strongly condemn all forms of violence, irrespective of where it comes from. We therefore appeal for calm and dialogue between all the active forces of this nation. This dialogue is urgent!

Cameroonians should not be carried away by violence, but by reason. May Christians and men and women of goodwill in the different political, economic and social sectors, become advocates of peace, social harmony and understanding at the service of all.

Cameroon has had more than its fair share of violence in the past. We therefore appeal that sane judgement, understanding, justice and the respect of civic peace definitely reigns in our country.

We are therefore urgently appealing for an end to all confrontations and for the organisation of constructive dialogue.

We believe that such a consultation is possible. It is the restoration of true democracy and civic responsibility, the cultivation of a culture of peace based on tolerance and pluralism. It is the building of a strong national culture, but above the present economic and political stakes, it is the opening up of one’s heart to the love of God and of one’s neighbour- as only love can transform man and make him stand firm to defend good and noble causes.

The Permanent Council of the Bishops of Cameroon