Mgr Atang on Bernard Fonlon

Monsignor Lucas Ade Atang, The Hard struggle for the Catholic Priesthood (With a Preface by Christian Cardinal Tumi), pp.65-66.

“...Some four months into the year, Fonlon’s class was preparing, in the usual Retreat, for the Order of the Sub Deacon, the last but one rung in the ladder to the priesthood. Fonlon was not only a very studious and bright student but one we all liked and looked up to for his moral rectitude and exemplary character. He loved writing articles.

He also loved and trusted me so much that he used to invite me to a lonely and quiet place on an extraordinary free day EFD (these were days often liturgical feast days, when there were no classes and the students were free to go visiting in town.) In this quiet place, he would read out to me one of his articles, and humbly welcomed suggestions
if I had any.

The Great Shock
Now, on the last day of their retreat, a “bomb was dropped”; Fonlon was denied permission to proceed for the Holy Order, and was asked to leave the Seminary.

This sounded so unbelievable to all the seminarians,that we, at first, did not take the news serious. We thought we had not heard Fonlon well, for the news was not only shocking but shattering too. He was indeed to leave the Seminary. I was so flabbergasted and confused, and thought to myself, if Fonlon was not fit to be a priest, then I was wasting my time. I must leave too. Who could be more suitable for priesthood than Fonlon? So, I went to the Rector to tell him that I was leaving the Seminary, for I did not think I could make it. When I lifted my hand to ring the doorbell, something seemed to have pulled my hand back, and I seemed to have heard a soft -spoken voice say to me: “who are you to decide for yourself? Leave that to your authorities. If I don’t want you, I will speak through them. Go back to study.” So I quietly sneaked back to the study hall, but feeling very sad and still confused at heart.

Fonlon himself took this shock admirably well. He simply said, “Let God’s will be done”, and remained cool and calm. And indeed God had other plans for him.

After a short period of teaching in his alma mater,Christ the King College Onitsha, he obtained a scholarship from the British Cameroon Government and studied in the National Universities of Ireland and France returning home with a doctorate degree in English and French Literatures. Cameroon in that same year of his return, was on the threshold of independence and unification with the French Cameroon, having chosen the federal system of government.

Fonlon was readily employed as President Ahidjo’s interpreter and translator in the Federal Republic of Cameroon. It is Fonlon who translated the Cameroon National Anthem from the French to the English Language retaining its beautiful melody. Fonlon later held ministerial posts in the Federal government and later in the United Republic Government of Cameroon. But somehow he did not seem to like working with a government whose system and policy he did not believe in. So he
eventually took up professorial post as Associate Professor in the Yaounde University, and remained a professor, until his sudden death in Canada on 27th August 1986. It is interesting to note that Fonlon never got married, in spite of pressure from all sides, family and friends…”

Excerpt made available to Fonlon.org courtesy of Eric Tala

Comments

[Mborong Denis Chuki]

It is my understanding that Bernard Fonlon with exemplary in every respect from what has been said and written about him. What I have not yet understood and would like to understand is the reasons for his dismissal from the serminary from the point of view of the authorities.

[Diom Roland]

Mborong Denis Chuki, if u want that question answered, you can read "LAW IN ACTION" by E.N.Ngwafor. If you happen to get hold of it.