Buea Bishop Suspends Two Priests’ for Refusing to Return from US

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buea, Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi, has suspended two priests for refusing to return to Cameroon after their mission in the United States of America.

The faculties of the two priests, namely, Fr. Henry Amin. Doh Tutuwan and Fr. Felix Nkafu, were suspended in a letter signed by the bishop today, October 2, 2023.

In the letter addressed to the Clergy, All Members of the Institute of Consecrated Life, All Societies of Apostolic Life, All Lay Faithful, and the entire Diocese of Buea, Bishop Michael Bibi noted that several reminders have been sent to the priests concerned, all to no avail.

He said, “In spite of repeated reminders from me, they have not come back from the Diocese of Charlotte, where they were sent as Fidei Donum, to assume their new functions in their Diocese of Incardination.”

The suspension, according to Bishop Bibi’s letter, involves prohibition from celebrating or concelebrating in public masses and prohibition from celebrating private masses.

They will have to face the above-mentioned suspension until they are ready to return to the Diocese of Buea.

“These faculties will only be restored when it would have been clearly established that they are ready to begin exercising their Priestly ministry in the Diocese of Buea,” Bishop Bibi concluded.

Reacting to the Bishop’s outing, a Facebook user, Ngayi Emmanuel, said, “It’s God that sent them. How do you expect them to come back into the Lion’s den after seeing paradise.”

Meanwhile, to Sally Bezeng, it is a “shame” to see ordained priests of God behaving in such a manner.