Catholic Christians in Douala and other parts of Cameroon have been expressing indignation following the publication of a 48-second video Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 showing the corpse of Christian Cardinal Tumi.
According to Augustine Ndoye, a Catholic Christian and Journalist of Veritas Radio in Douala “…the head of the Catholic Church in the world is already frowning at the fact that the body of a spiritual and moral monument like Cardinal Tumi is being shared on the social media in such a disgraful manner. People will have to answer questions in court for such an irresponsible attitude.”
A source at the Saint Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in Douala where Cardinal Tumi lived until his death says “… at about 9:30 pm Friday April 2nd, the Cardinal while in a private clinic in Douala knew he will die. He ordered that he should be taken back to his house. This means that the video of his body must have been taken and shared by his close aids in the church house.This is unacceptable”.
Another Catholic Christian, Nfor Samuel writing to Mimi Mefo Info says “… those people who were present at the moment of his passing and who filmed it and even shared it first, should be arrested and prosecuted.”
“Sharing the body of the Cardinal on the social media is madness. We are Africans and we know how corpses of chiefs and fons are sacred. How much more of Cardinal Tumi who is an ecclesiastical figure not only for Cameroon but the whole world?” Pauline Veriyuy, a Catholic Christian questions in total disappointment.
Archbishop Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of the metropolitan diocese of Douala has not issued any official statement as far as what Christians call “…the desecration of the body of Cardinal Tumi ” is concerned.
Despite this, a source at the Cathedral says “…the nurse as we speak has just been picked up with the Doctor. They are currently in Police custody”.
No precision has been given of names of people said to have been arrested and where they work.
Besides Catholic Christians, other Cameroonians have been expressing disappointment while calling on competent authorities to prosecute perpetrators of the act.
Mbatho Ntan.
