Buea Diocese: Bishop Bibi lifts ban prohibiting predecessor from celebrating mass.

The prelate disclosed in the letter that the lifting of the order follows a declaration from his predecessor regretting the misunderstandings which prompted the ban.

He recounted that: “On the 13th of January 2024, Bishop Bushu made a declaration in which he regretted these misunderstandings…I am happy to inform all the clergy, the religious and Christ's lay faithful of the Diocese of Buea, and all the people of goodwill, that the issues between us have been amicably resolved. By this circular, I am hereby lifting the prohibition on the Emeritus Bishop from concelebrating with me or celebrating public masses in the Diocese of Buea”.

The initial order barring Emeritus Bishop Immanuel Bushu from celebrating mass was issued on November 22, 2023, due to what Bishop Bibi said were “a number of misunderstandings between the Emeritus Bishop of Buea, Mgr Immanuel Bushu and myself”.

Despite signing the order, Bishop Bibi said his wish was for the misunderstandings between him and his predecessor to be resolved without any harm done to the faith of the people of God.

Meanwhile, in his letter addressed to Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Buea, Emeritus Bishop Immanuel Bushu stated that he had wilfully tendered his resignation to the Pope in line with Canon Law and thus seized being Bishop on December 28, 2019.

Bishop Bibi, he insisted, remains the pastor of the Diocese of Buea.

“…from this date, I ceased to be the Bishop of Buea Diocese and relinquished all authority from the pastoral administration of the Diocese. Bishop Bibi was subsequently appointed the Diocesan Bishop of Buea, with all the rights and obligations,” Emeritus Bishop Immanuel Bushu stated.

He then expressed his regrets “for any actions” that might have given the impression that he had any authority in the Diocese. 

“I regret if at any time, I had given any impression that I still had any authority over some works or institutions of the Diocese of Buea or acted contrary to his directives,” he submitted.

He has challenged all who have not recognised the new Bishop and are acting contrary to his directives to change, dissociating himself from such groups. 

“I dissociate myself from such persons or groups of persons and call on them to recognise Bishop Bibi as the rightful authority and collaborate with him according to the teaching of the church,” he urged. 

The thaw in the relationship between the two key religious leaders in the Diocese of Buea is a welcome relief for most Christians who have been put in the awkward position of choosing sides in the Diocese. 

Christians will therefore wish that the different parties rally behind the Diocesan leader for the growth of the church in Buea.