CI-NEWS

Navigating the present crisis as an Anglophone priest.

2019-09-06

No: 445

Navigating the present crisis as an Anglophone priest.

In December 2016 when the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda addressed a memorandum to the Head of State, they were as prophetic as could be. Only months after that document was written, prophecy was being fulfilled as the crisis was going past the “point of no return”. A majority of Anglophones, including priests, had welcomed the memorandum heartily and hoped and prayed that the Head of State would heed the message of the Bishops who dared to say in public what many, at that time, could only say in the secrecy of their bedrooms. Even then, some Anglophones, for whatever reason, roundly condemned the bishops for interfering in an area where they lacked both jurisdiction and competence.

When some called for a school boycott and the Bishops responded with a pastoral letter calling on Catholics and other people of good will to send their children back to school because they considered education a basic human right, they were accused as ‘sell outs’ even by Catholics and some of their priests. Some Catholic parents went as far as accusing the bishops of exposing their children to mortal danger because they do not have children of their own. Seeing that the bishops did not enjoy the total support of their flock in the matter of schools, a certain ‘consortium of parents’ took them to court for failing to respect their side of the bargain to educate the children parents had sent to their schools (as if government schools were respecting their side of the bargain).

These two examples set a paradigm for the reaction to Bishops’ decisions and actions since, and I would have thought they would teach us priests – if we needed to be taught – how to navigate this crisis going forward. The principles that guide us in every crisis are Christian and time-tested. Our behaviour does not depend on our emotional disposition or the level of our involvement in the crisis. Our line of action does not depend on what people will say or think because people (even the Christians who fill our pews daily for Mass) are as fickle as the weather. They will applaud us when our stance favours them and will criticise us when it favours the other party, sometimes even when it is the right or objective stance to take.

It would be helpful if priests remember that their role in this crisis, as in any conflict is eminently spiritual and pastoral and not to play to the gallery. In doubt, following the lead of the bishop is one way of staying on safe ground. Of course, we can always think differently from bishops but what should guide our thinking? I have a few suggestions here for us priests (and laity) as we navigate the current crisis, which is threatening to obliterate not only civil and traditional authority but also all manner of religious authority.

Firstly, we don’t want to take sides in a conflict because, as priests, we are supposed to be on top of the situation. If any of the factions is not doing something right, we must be in a position to tell them the wrong things they are doing. In the same way, if they are doing something right, we can applaud them for the good they are doing. This is the reason why religious leaders have played a crucial role in the resolution of many conflicts around the world, including Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Kenya, the DRC and others. As people of faith, they “are more likely to be perceived as evenhanded, trustworthy, and possessing a strong moral and spiritual commitment, than their secular counterparts”. Catholic Social Teaching states that “the Church, by reason of her role and competence, is not identified in any way with the political community nor bound to any political system.

Secondly, our utterances and the positions we take as priests (and Christians) in a conflict situation must be dictated by the Church’s vision of the dignity of the person revealed in all its fullness in the mystery of the Incarnate Word. Whatever debases the dignity of the human person and human life must be condemned in the strongest terms and whatever enhances that dignity must be applauded and encouraged. The fact that our brother has been tortured or killed does not justify the torture or killing of his torturer or murderer.

Thirdly, we must be crusaders for justice and peace. No matter on what side of the divide a priest stands, he must be seen to be working for justice. Priests must condemn injustice, no matter where it comes from and lend their support to every peace initiative. They are “other Christs”, other Princes of Peace.

Lastly, in these days when social media is awash with fake news and many turn the fiction of their imagination to fact, we need to crosscheck our information and our sources and be sure that what we are saying is true. A lot of untruths have been propagated by otherwise responsible people, which untruths have led others to believe wrong things and sometimes take the wrong decisions. Jesus said to Pilate: I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Priests are here, like Christ, to bear witness to the truth. Remember John the Baptist.

It is understandably difficult for the Anglophone priest to take a dispassionate view of things as they unfold in this crisis and to follow the principles of neutrality, respect for the dignity of the human person, respect for justice, peace and truth in their words and actions. This, I think, is because he is involved in the crisis as a victim and sometimes has to watch his family members, friends and Christians go through untold and unmerited suffering and even death without being able to help. However, he must remember that he is acting in the place of Christ and not let his emotions or any other considerations dictate his words and actions. Further, he cannot afford the luxury of becoming a one dimensional thinker, no matter how strong the temptation.

This is a hard teaching for us priests and it leads me to believe that we can only remain true ambassadors of Christ in this crisis and play our role as priests by His grace. So, help me God.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Jum Awoh.

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Navigating the present crisis as an Anglophone priest.