But Pentecostal pastors said the move is evidence of Biya's insecurity about the churches' criticism of the government.
Biya is using the
military to permanently shut down all Pentecostal church denominations
in the nation's capital, Yaounde, and the North West Regional capital,
Bamenda, which have the largest Christian populations in Cameroon.
"We will get rid of all
the so-called Christian Pentecostal pastors who misuse the name of Jesus
Christ to fake miracles and kill citizens in their churches. They have
outstretched their liberty," Mbu Anthony Lang, a government official in
Bamenda.
Nearly 500 Pentecostal churches operate in Cameroon, but fewer than 50 are legal, he added.
On Sunday, a 9-year-old
Christian girl collapsed and died during a prayer session in Winners'
Chapel, a Pentecostal church in Bamenda. The girl's mother, Mih Theresa, Wednesday that the pastor intended to cast out the numerous
demons that were in control of her daughter's life.
"I want the government to
stop these pastors who use mysterious powers to pull Christians and
kill then for more powers. All my children have ran away from the
Catholic Church in search for miracles, signs and wonders,"
while holding back tears.
Another Christian, Mveng
Thomas, said his marriage ended abruptly when a Pentecostal pastor
ordered his wife to dissolve their union. He said the pastor described
him as "an unrepentant devil."
Pastors marched against
the government's decision Wednesday in Bamenda and Douala. Pastors said
the Biya government sees the mass proliferation of churches as a threat.
Boniface Tum, a bishop
of the Christian Church of God in Yaounde, said that Biya, who has been
president since 1982, is becoming insecure about the freedom of speech
within these churches.
"Authorizing only the
Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Muslim, and a few other churches, is a
strict violation of the right to religion," Tum added.
Targeted Pentecostal Christians in Bamenda are transforming their private homes into churches.
North West Regional
governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique said Wednesday that police had
discovered the abduction of 30 children under age 18 by a pastor in
Bamenda. The pastor said he wanted to remove the children from a bad
society, Lele added.
Government officials
also say that some pastors convince congregants that they do not need
professional medical treatment for their ailments.
"How can a pastor say
the sick needs no medical doctor? We need sanity in our Christian
lives," Nyang Blaise, a youth leader for Biya's ruling party, CPDM
One woman said her mother was refusing cancer treatments because of her pastor.
"My mother's condition
is worsening after doctors confirmed she had cancer. She is dying
silently, and yet we cannot persuade her to see a doctor for proper
treatment, against her pastor's wish," Deborah Tanyi said.
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