I have read, with religious attention, your pastoral letter of August 8. Read it well. Understood it well. A truly beautiful letter for your faithful parishioner that I am.
Since my stay in Yaoundé is suspended by a decree that could fall at any moment, I have remained, in accordance with canon law, a parishioner of Japoma, where I fulfill my obligations, for the Church has laws and regulations that I strive to respect in order to be worthy of being Catholic!
I note with great bitterness that many of the things you attribute to the Regime are not accurate. Even if some may be true, you will excuse me for not repeating them here. I also note that a significant number of those you accuse are devout Catholics, just as there are also many Muslims and other witnesses of Christ among them. I observe that for over 2,000 years, the Church has not managed to eradicate either theft or corruption—yet priests, bishops, and cardinals, among others, are still firmly in place, continuing to hope, to persevere, to pray, to work hard for the good of humanity… which is, indeed, an excellent thing.
After reading you and reflecting deeply, after speaking with many of my fellow citizens, I would first like to thank you, my Father-Bishop, and the great Archbishop who succeeded the late Christian Cardinal Tumi, of blessed memory. You know the work we did together in your Diocese.
With all this in mind, and from my lived experience, I wish to tell you that I choose the path of wisdom, temperance, and conviction: I will therefore vote for Paul Biya!
He seems to me to be the only one able to guarantee peace, security, and positive progress for our country, including some of the changes you yourself desire.
As for the rest, Cameroonians know what to do, and they will do it well—including choosing wisdom, temperance, and work well done.
I will not be long-winded so as to be well understood, and I beg you to forgive my sins while I await the moment when I can return to you fully.
Grégoire Owona
