LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sir,
As a Catholic clergy, I recently listened to the interview granted by His Lordship Bishop Bibi. I begin by acknowledging his courage to come forward and clarify the role of the Church as a moral authority and voice for the voiceless. That transparency is admirable. However, there are concerns in his message that deserve deeper reflection.
Words Alone Cannot Define the Church’s Mission
Bishop Bibi emphasized episcopal letters and statements as signs of the Church’s advocacy. While important, those actions alone fall short of what it truly means to be “a voice of the voiceless.” For decades, we have circulated similar letters with little tangible change for those suffering under systemic injustice. If the Church only speaks but does not act, is it truly bearing witness?
History teaches us that transformative episcopal leadership goes beyond documentation. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Church directly engaged in democratic processes when the people were denied their voice. In the Philippines, under Cardinal Jaime Sin, the bishops, priests, religious, and laity left their chancery walls and joined the people in peaceful resistance against the Marcos dictatorship. They knew the risks, yet they walked alongside the oppressed—because true moral leadership sometimes requires physical presence and sacrifice.
What Does It Mean to Make the Oppressor Nervous?
Bishop Bibi’s interview listed injustices within society. But the oppressive regime of Paul Biya does not lose sleep over words on paper. They respond only when the truth threatens their grip on power. If speaking out carries no risk—even when injustice is rampant—can we claim to be defending the voiceless?
A prophetic Church is one that stands publicly with the oppressed at critical moments, even when doing so invites retaliation. That is what makes a regime uncomfortable. That is what amplifies the silenced. That is what allows the Church to be more than a commentator on injustice.
A Troubling Statement About the Elections
One of the most concerning parts of the interview was Bishop Bibi’s affirmation that President Biya “consciously” won the election—based solely on official results from ELECAM and the Constitutional Council. But is the role of a shepherd simply to accept what authority hands him? Is his duty not to listen to the cries of the flock?
Did His Lordship take into account the widespread grievances from the opposition? The arrests, shootings, and killings of peaceful protesters who claimed the election was rigged? Did he publicly challenge these excesses while the country trembled? Were those citizens merely noise—not evidence?
We cannot forget that Archbishop Kleda boldly stated that the results appeared predetermined. Was he wrong to sound that alarm? And when we examine the official voting outcomes declared for the Anglophone regions—regions engulfed by violence—does conscience truly confirm their authenticity?
The Heart of the Matter
These questions arise not from hostility, but from love for a Church we believe must stand firmly with the afflicted. Our people perceive the Church as silent because too often, when the oppressed shout for deliverance, we respond with caution instead of courage.
I pray that this concern pushes all of us—clergy and hierarchy alike—to discern more deeply our role in times of injustice. Moral clarity requires more than printed words. It demands public witness, righteous discomfort, and the courage to lead from the front.
This is not a personal attack on Bishop Bibi. Rather, it is an invitation to listen again to the cry of the voiceless whom God has entrusted to our care. May this Advent season renew our commitment to be a Church that stands boldly in defense of truth and freedom—no matter the cost.
Advent blessings.
By Rev. Fr. Muma Francis
United States
Leave feedback about this