(Bishop of Idah, Nigeria)
The Church in Nigeria, inspired by the mandate of the Holy Father, John Paul II, to inaugurate a New Era of Evangelisation, has given inculturation its deserved role in her evangelisation work. She has published a pastoral letter which explained the significance of inculturation in the local Church and has included Cultural Anthropology in the curricular of the major seminaries.
Naming ceremony: Since the Vatican II Council, the rite of infant baptism has been adapted and the use of meaningful native names has also been encouraged. A study has begun to bridge the dichotomy which exists between the naming ceremony and the rite of baptism. This is important for our Christians because as baptism initiates a person into the Church, the naming ceremony initiates a person into the traditional community.
Inculturation of Marriage: In Nigeria, Catholics perform traditional marriage outside the Church and before the reception of the Sacrament of marriage. Since most Nigerian marriages present a process and, at a stage in this process, the traditional marriage can be incorporated. By so doing the present dichotomy practised by Catholic couples will be eliminated. The Church is aware of the problems which face the Sacrament of marriage - polygamy, childlessness, inheritance, widowhood, etc.
Problems: There are many problems which make inculturation a difficult process in Nigeria. The two outstanding problems are: the existence of too many languages in some particular Churches and lack of trained personnel in other dioceses.
Original
text: English
