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Contemporary Challenges for Vatican II's Theology of the Laity

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Contemporary Challenges for Vatican II's Theology of the Laity Contemporary Challenges for Vatican II’s Theology of the Laity: The Nigerian Church Experience by Francis C. Ezenezi A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Regis College and the Theological Department of the Toronto School of Theology In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael’s College © Copyright by Francis C. Ezenezi 2015 Contemporary Challenges for Vatican II’s Theology of the Laity: The Nigerian Church Experience Francis C. Ezenezi Doctor of Philosophy in Theology University of St. Michael’s College 2015 Abstract Vatican II stipulates that the laity by virtue of their baptism are constitutive members of the Church and should play their role in the mission of the whole Christian faithful in the Church and the world. More than fifty years since the beginning of the Council, the Church in Nigeria is still struggling to understand itself as well as to discern the identity, the role and participation of the lay Christian faithful in the mission of the Church. This thesis explores and analyzes the strengths and limitations of the current dominant ecclesiology of the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria, and constructively suggests various means of overcoming some of these deficiencies. It will proffer and argue that the contemporary challenges which Vatican II’s theology of the laity faces today in the Nigerian Roman Catholic Church call for a Church that is not only participatory, but also prophetic as well as a Church that engages and is constantly in solidarity with the people of God. As a foundation to this reflection, communion ecclesiology is the central and fundamental concept of all the documents of the Second Vatican Council. It provides the basis on which the revolutionary shift in the articulation of the theology of the laity was inaugurated. This shift expresses itself in its call for co-responsibility and participation of all in the life and work of the Church and underscores the priority of the vocation of the whole community of the people of God over all diversities of functions and of charisms. ii Placed in the context of the Nigerian Church, Christianity seems to be flourishing. However, there is evidence to show that the extent to which the presence of the laity is being felt in other aspects of the ministries of the Church as well as in the Nigerian social order is still very debatable. While acknowledging the outstanding contribution of all the people of God in regard to the proper understanding of the ecclesiology that encourages the active involvement of the laity in the mission of the Nigerian Church and society, the Nigerian Church is still rooted in a juridical ecclesiology, which does not foster the spirit of ecclesial communion and solidarity as forms of Christian witness and ministry. This thesis therefore proposes an inculturated response to the challenges posed by the non- reception of Vatican II’s theology of the laity in Nigeria, based on some key principles from Vatican II’s ecclesiology and African culture. iii Acknowledgements My sense of accomplishment upon the completion of this thesis remains unsatisfactory without an explicit acknowledgement of those whose guidance provided invaluable support and inspiration during the entire project. I am particularly indebted to my supervisor, Professor Jaroslav Z. Skira, whose confidence, insightful suggestions and recommendations enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter of this thesis. Special appreciation is due to those who served on my various Ph.D. committees: Professors Michael Attridge and Charles Fensham. I am grateful to Emeka C. Obiezu, Chris Vuorensyrja, Johanne Guilbault, Annalisa Rasaiah, Toni Nanne-Little and Veronica Bahun whose exhaustive reading of the manuscript and suggestions contributed to the final work. I acknowledge the friendly suggestions and encouragement of Professor Gabriel Ojo whose interest in my research area motivated me profoundly in completing this project. I thank my colleagues: C. Ajawara, J. Ogbonnaya, C. Ezeonyemalu, C. Enyinnia, A. Ibeazor, and I. Otu for their immeasurable support. Ebele Okonkwo, I appreciate your care. I am grateful to members of Saint Gerard Majella Parish, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada for their care and support. My gratitude goes to my local Ordinary, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor (Catholic Bishop of Awka, Nigeria) and the Bishop Emeritus, Simon Okafor, for their support. I appreciate the solidarity of Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe (Catholic Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie, ON) whose support helped me through the entire project. To my immediate family and friends whose encouragement sustained me particularly during the rough moments, I remain grateful. I ask God’s blessings upon all who in various ways assisted in the completion of this work. iv List of Abbreviations AA Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People) AG Ad Gentes (Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity) AM Africae Munus (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Benedict XVI on the Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace) CC Canons CBCN Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CCCB Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops CD Christus Dominus (Decree on the Pastoral Office of the Bishops in the Church) CIC Codex Iuris Canonici auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II promulgatus CL Christifideles Laici (1988 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Christian in the Church and in the World) EFCC Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (A Nigerian commission constituted to fight corruption especially in the public service) EG Evangelii Gaudium (2013 Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World) EN Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Paul VI on the Evangelization in the Modern World) EIA Ecclesia in Africa (1994 Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on the Church in Africa and her Evangelizing Mission Towards the Year 2000) GDP Gross Domestic Product GS Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) JM Justitia in Mundo (Justice in the World: Document on the Social Justice by the 1971 Synod of Bishops) LG Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) MM Mater et Magistra (1961 Encyclical Letter of John XXIII on Christianity and Social Progress) v MOSOP Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People NDVF Niger Delta Volunteer Force NEEDS National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy OT Optatam Totius (Decree on the Training of Priests) RN Rerum Novarum (1891 Encyclical Letter of Leo XIII on the Condition of the Working Classes) SAPs Structural Adjustment Programs (Economic Reconstruction Policies) vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... v General Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One ...................................................................................................................... 13 Background Description and Analysis: Understanding Vatican II and the Theology of the Laity............................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 13 1. 1 The Pathway to Vatican II’s Theology of the Laity .......................................... 13 1. 1. 1 Early Christianity....................................................................................... 14 1. 1. 2 Medieval Period ......................................................................................... 17 1. 1. 3 The Reformation and the Council of Trent ................................................ 22 1. 1. 4 Modern Period ........................................................................................... 24 1. 2 Synopsis of Ecclesiology and the Theology of the Laity Prior to Vatican II .... 26 1. 2. 1 Theological Debate on the Laity ................................................................ 27 1. 3 Second Vatican Council’s Ecclesiology and the Theology of the Laity ........... 39 1. 3. 1 The Nature of the Church: Vatican II’s Images of the Church and the Theology of the Laity................................................................................ 45 1. 3. 1. 2 Church as People of God ................................................................... 48 1. 3. 1. 3 Church as Mystical Body of Christ .................................................... 52 1. 3. 1. 4 Church as a Communion .................................................................... 56 1. 4 The Theology of the Laity and Its Post-Vatican II’s Developments ................. 62 1. 4. 1 Ministeria Quaedam (1972) ....................................................................... 63 1. 4. 2 Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975)........................................................................ 64 1. 4. 3 The New Code of Canon Law (1983) ........................................................ 65 1. 4. 4 The 1987 Synod and Christifideles Laici .................................................. 67 1. 4. 5 The First Special Synod of the African Bishops (1994) Ecclesia
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