Diplomarbeit Zur Erlangung Des Grades Eines Magisters Der Theologie an Der Katholische-Theologischen Fakultät Universität Innsbruck
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THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF LUMEN GENTIUM AND GAUDIUM ET SPES, AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES FOR SOKOTO DIOCESE Diplomarbeit Zur Erlangung des Grades eines Magisters der Theologie an der Katholische-Theologischen Fakultät Universität Innsbruck Eingereicht von: Victor Chukwudobe Mordi Beim Studiendekan der Kath-Theol. Fakultät Dr. Liborius Olaf Lumma Betreut von: Assoz.-Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Wandinger Innsbruck, June 2021 DEDICATION To Anthony Julius Mukolu Mordi my Father, who taught me to learn. Continue to rest with God. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To God the Almighty, the fount of life and knowledge be all the Glory! I thank the immediate Past Rector of The Collegium Canisianum Rev. Fr. Friedrich Prassl, SJ for the opportunity to further my studies. I also thank the present Rector Andreas Schermann, SJ, Studies Prefect Edmund Runggaldier, SJ, Spiritual Director Josef Thorer, SJ, and the staff of Canisianum for their support and assistance thus far. To my Bishop, Most. Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah who has been a Father and Model, I say Nagode for giving me this opportunity to further study and grow. I am very grateful to my supervisor Assoc. Prof Nikolaus Wandinger for painstakingly guiding me through this work, sharing his time and knowledge with me, and encouraging me work harder till the end. I thank the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Habila Dabo, and staff of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary Kaduna for affording me the opportunity of a scholarship. I am most grateful to Aid To The Church In Need (Kirche In Not) for giving me this scholarship to study. The community of brothers in the Collegium Canisianum has been of immense support and like a Family to me. Thank you dear brothers for your friendship and support. I am most grateful to my Family. To my Father Anthony Mordi who passed on very recently, my mother Josephine Mordi, my siblings Chinonyelim, Bieliose, Nnebuogor and my niece Anwulika. Thank you for the beauty of our Home. To all who have been of immense support and have assisted me in cash and kind, morally and materially, thank you for everything. May God bless and keep you all. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................................. I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................ II TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... III CHAPTER ONE 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 ECCLESIAL, POLITICAL AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ....................................... 1 1.2 AIMS OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ...................................................................................................... 7 1.4 STUDY METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 8 1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER TWO 2 THE CONCILIAR DOCUMENTS AS GUIDES ................................................................... 10 2.1 LUMEN GENTIUM ................................................................................................................. 13 2.1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF LUMEN GENTIUM ................................................................. 18 2.1.2.1 The Church Is A Mystery .................................................................................................... 18 2.1.2.2 The People Of God ............................................................................................................. 22 2.1.2.3 A Family With A HierarchicaL Structure ............................................................................ 24 2.1.2.4 The Laity ............................................................................................................................. 31 2.1.2.5 We Are CaLLed To Holiness Of Life ................................................................................... 33 2.1.2.6 Resumé Of Lumen Gentium ............................................................................................... 35 2.2 GAUDIUM ET SPES ................................................................................................................ 35 2.2.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 36 2.2.2 THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF GAUDIUM ET SPES ............................................................... 38 2.2.2.1 Every Person Has Dignity In The Community Of Mankind .............................................. 39 2.2.2.2 The Human Community And Human Activities In The World .......................................... 43 2.2.2.3 The Church Has A Role To Play ........................................................................................ 46 2.2.2.4 Marriage And The Family ................................................................................................... 49 iii 2.2.2.5 Culture ................................................................................................................................. 50 2.2.2.6 Socio-Economic Life .......................................................................................................... 53 2.2.2.7 The PoliticaL Community .................................................................................................... 55 2.2.2.8 Peace And The Community Of Nations ............................................................................. 57 2.3 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN LUMEN GENTIUM AND GAUDIUM ET SPES: CHURCH AND WORLD AFTER VATICAN II ................................................................................................ 59 2.3.1 DOCTRINAL IDENTITY AND PASTORAL EXPRESSION ............................................. 59 2.3.2 HISTORY AND URGENCY ................................................................................................. 60 2.3.3 CHURCH AND WORLD/ STATE RELATIONSHIP: THE EMPOWERMENT OF SOCIAL TEACHING ....................................................................................................................................... 62 2.4 SPECIAL FOCUS: THE SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF THE COUNCIL’S TEACHING IN THE CONTEXT OF LUMEN GENTIUM AND GAUDIUM ET SPES. .......................................... 63 CHAPTER THREE 3 CONSEQUENCES AND CHALLENGES OF THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF SOKOTO .................................................................................................................................... 68 3.1 CONTEXTUALIZING THE COUNCIL WITH AFRICA ....................................................... 68 3.1.1 THE LIMITED ROLE OF AFRICA AT THE COUNCIL ..................................................... 69 3.1.2 AFRICAN SOCIO-POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AT THE TIME OF THE COUNCIL ......... 70 3.2 CONSEQUENCES OF THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF SOKOTO ................. 72 3.2.1 ECCLESIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................... 72 3.2.1.1 RENEWED SENSE OF ECCLESIA .................................................................................. 72 3.2.1.2 AFRICAN ECCLESIAL COLLABORATION .................................................................. 73 3.2.1.3 ECUMENISM ..................................................................................................................... 74 3.2.1.4 INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ..................................................................................... 74 3.2.2 PASTORAL CHALLENGES ................................................................................................ 75 3.2.2.1 INCULTURATION ............................................................................................................ 76 3.2.2.2 CATECHESIS .................................................................................................................... 77 3.2.3 SOCIO-POLITICAL CHALLENGES ................................................................................... 78 3.2.3.1 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND CHURCH AND STATE RELATIONS ............... 79 3.2.3.2 CHURCH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................... 81 3.3 CONCLUDING REMARKS .................................................................................................... 82 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................... 84 iv CHAPTER ONE 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Ecclesial, Political and Personal Background of The Study The Ecclesiastical jurisdiction known as Catholic Diocese of Sokoto covers four States: Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina – all located in the North-West and Muslim dominated region of Nigeria. The headquarters of the diocese is at Sokoto, the seat of the Muslim Caliphate, a product of the Sokoto Jihad. This Sokoto Jihad of 1804 led by the Charismatic Islamic Scholar Usmanu Danfodiyo that culminated into the historic establishment