AFRICA/CAMEROON - The Bishop of Mamfe: "An investigation into the murder of Fr. Ondari; let us remain united in prayer"

Saturday, 24 November 2018

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Mamfe (Agenzia Fides) - "I call on all the Christians of the Diocese of Mamfe, especially the Christians of Kembong Parish, to stay calm and be united in prayer. The forces of evil are on a rampage against the Church of God, but as Christians, we believe in the promise of Christ that the gates of the underworld will never prevail over the Church (Mtt.16:18). At the same time we must remain vigilant, because the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat, stand up to him strong in faith (lPet.5:8-9)". With these words the Bishop of Mamfe, Mgr. Andrew Nkea addresses the entire population after the assassination of Father Cosmas Omboto Ondari, a Kenyan missionary from the St. Joseph’s Missionary Society (Mill Hill) , who was killed on November 21st in Kembong, a few miles from Memfe (See Fides 22/11/2018). In the appeal sent to Agenzia Fides, the Bishop reports: "I visited Kembong Parish on Thursday the 22nd of November, and I personally counted 21 bullet holes made on the Church building of Kembong where at the time, the priest, the Catechist and many Christians were carrying out various activities in the Mission compound. The blood of the murdered priest was still clearly seen on the cemented entrance to the Church just at the door".
"Father Cosmas died right in the house of God and it is our prayer that the God whom he served so well will welcome him into his eternal kingdom. While we mourn with the Mill Hill Family and the natural family of Fr. Ondari, we trust that he died doing what he had offered his life for", he adds.
In his appeal the Bishop insists on the hope that in the diocese and in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon these crimes stop. "The value of human life is diminishing and the human person is wasted away for any flimsy reason. This has to stop and we call on all those involved in killing innocent civilians to refrain from these inhuman and monstrous acts. I call on the powers that be to carry out a thorough investigation into this heinous crime committed against an innocent and peace loving missionary and bring the culprits to face justice. This is the only way those who have been hurt can truly be comforted, and peace can return to our land".
Since December 2017, at the end of every Mass in the Diocese of Mamfe, the faithful pray for peace. Mgr. Nkea invited Christians to intensify their prayers especially in these moments so that "Justice shall flourish and peace abounds". (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/11/2018)


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