Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi of Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Buea has accepted the apology of suspended priest, Fr. George Jingwa Nkeze, paving the way for his return to Priestly ministry after the Cleric acknowledged failing to comply fully with episcopal directives.

In a formal response to Fr. Nkeze’s February 6 letter of apology, Bishop Bibi said the Priest had admitted his failure, expressed remorse, and renewed his commitment to obedience and to the directives governing the Clergy serving under his pastoral care.

“After due reflection, I have accepted your apology and forgiven you for failing to follow the directives established for the good of the Diocese,” Bishop Bibi said in his response issued on Wednesday, August 5.

The Cameroonian Catholic Bishop, who has been at the helm of Buea Diocese since his installation in February 2021 said he would facilitate Fr. Nkeze’s process for a return to Priestly ministry.

“Accordingly, in the days ahead and through the appropriate diocesan steps, I will facilitate your process for a Letter of Suitability, allowing you to continue in Priestly ministry,” he said.

Bishop Bibi used the occasion to remind the Priest of the importance of obedience as part of his Priestly vocation, saying, “I ask you to remain steadfast in prayer, obedience, and love for the Church, our Mother, who formed you as a Priest.”

He encouraged Fr. Nkeze to “constantly adhere” to his vow of obedience “seriously”.

The Local Ordinary of Buea, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2017 as Auxiliary Bishop of Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese, also assured Fr. Nkeze of his continued prayers and asked the Priest to pray for him as well.

“Know that you remain in my prayers, and I ask you to pray for me as well. May Almighty God strengthen you in your vocation, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, accompany you always,” Bishop Bibi said.

The apology follows a prolonged dispute between Fr. Nkeze and the Catholic Diocese of Buea that attracted significant attention within Cameroon and beyond.

In his February 6 letter to Bishop Bibi, Fr. Nkeze acknowledged that he had failed to fulfill his obligations as a Priest incardinated in the Diocese of Buea and admitted making “errors in judgment and action” by not complying with his Bishop’s directives.

“For this, I offer my sincere apology and respectfully ask for your fatherly understanding and forgiveness,” he wrote.

The Cameroonian Catholic Priest also reaffirmed his desire to remain faithful to his Priestly vocation.

The tensions reportedly began in 2020 when, as Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Bibi made administrative changes at the Diocese-owned Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) by appointing Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh as Vice Chancellor, a position that was previously held by Fr. Nkeze. 

Members of the University Council disapproved of the change and dragged Bishop Bibi, then Apostolic Administrator of Buea Diocese, to court.

The conflict ultimately resulted in disciplinary measures against the Priest, including his suspension from Priestly ministry. Fr. Nkeze has since been residing in the United States.

The Cameroonian Catholic Bishop was barraged with criticisms and attacks.

While marking one year since he took canonical possession of Buea Diocese in February 2022, the Local Ordinary of Buea lamented the attacks against him, saying the negative sentiments were “signs of total interference” in the governance of his Episcopal See.

In his homily during the anniversary on 25 February 2022, Bishop Bibi referred to attacks on him, saying they were part of a plot aimed at tarnishing his image and reputation as the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Buea.

In January 2024, Bishop Bibi was forced to prohibit his predecessor, Bishop Emmanuel B. Bushu, who retired from the pastoral care of Buea Diocese in December 2019, from celebrating or concelebrating Holy Mass in public in the Cameroonian Episcopal See. The suspension was later lifted.

Various Catholic Church groups came out strongly to support Bishop Bibi amid the attacks, including the Vatican though the Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon.

On 14 February 2022, Catholic Bishops in Cameroon’s Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province expressed their “solidarity and communion” with their colleague, Bishop Bibi, describing the attacks against him as “gross disrespect of the hierarchy of the Church”.

Members of the Clergy of Buea Diocese termed the attacks an unfortunate “smear campaign” in their statement issued on 22 November 2023.

Source: aciAfrica