Unearthing the truth

Igbo phobia in every sector…

REV FR. JAMES ANELU: MATTERS ARISING.

The news about the “irresponsible” comments of Rev Fr. Anelu against the Igbo people is expectedly trending. As usual the core issues people should be discussing is missing. We cannot hate the priest for sharing publicly his opinion on issue of such magnitude. Yes what he said did not reflect the official teaching of the church in the context he spoke. However I think it is important we listen to that informed slip of tongue. I call it “informed slip of tongue” because his intentions probably was not as bad as we thought if we understand and interpret him under the context.

Fr. James Anelu I knew from Seminary. He was a year behind our class. He could not be classified as Igbo hater or a rabble rouser. He is intelligent with character and integrity. He understands the meaning of his utterances. We only heard him but we are refusing to listen to him.

Suspending him indefinitely will not solve the problem. That is not the answer to the matters arising from his comments. Two issues should be addressed and those issues are what Fr. James Anelu was trying to address. The indigenization of the Gospel and the growth of the local church. These are the issues that Fr Anelu has raised. Instead of rushing to suspend him, instead of this emotionally outbursts on social media, instead of demonizing him, he should be listened to and the issues addressed.

First let us understand fr. Anelu’s position. He said, ‘the church belongs to the locals not foreigners to dominate the liturgy. Fr. Anelu understood exactly what he was saying. The church belongs to the locals and the title of the bishop of a diocese is “the local Ordinary’. Every diocese is owned by the locals or the indigenes of that diocese. Foreigners worship together in the spirit of brotherhood. This brotherhood should encourage the growth of the local church not dominate it. The Church herself expressed this in the catechism thus

“1202 The diverse liturgical traditions have arisen by very reason of the Church’s mission. Churches of the same geographical and cultural area came to celebrate the mystery of Christ through particular expressions characterized by the culture: in the tradition of the “deposit of faith,”67 in liturgical symbolism, in the organization of fraternal communion, in the theological understanding of the mysteries, and in various forms of holiness. Through the liturgical life of a local church, Christ, the light and salvation of all peoples, is made manifest to the particular people and culture to which that Church is sent and in which she is rooted. the Church is catholic, capable of integrating into her unity, while purifying them, all the authentic riches of cultures.”

Here Fr. Anelu drew his criticism but he has been misunderstood. The local church belong to the people. It means the gospel through the liturgy should be celebrated in the language reflecting the culture of the people. Catholic church speaks all the languages in the world and cannot be restricted to just one language in the name of inculturalization. Inculturalization means developing the liturgy in the culture of the locals.

Fr. Anelu also pointed out the domination of Igbos in all the churches. He cited example of his diocese where an Igbo man was made the bishop. Fr. understood what he was saying. Recall that Benin Diocese just like Ahiara diocese rejected the Igbo bishop sent to them. The reason is that Benin has enough indigenous priests that could handle that position. For those in the presbyterian, they understood that a diocese is a local church and only when there are no indigenous priests that missionary priests could be made bishops and brought to such diocese and the aim is always to grow the local church. Fr. Anelu is simply saying Igbo domination of churches is killing or preventing the growth of the local church.

I see the point Fr Anelu was making. We condemn him now but history will be fair to him for being bold on this subject. Fr. Anelu may become the martyr of social truth for this audacity.

The solution to what he said is already in the document on Inculturalization of the Church. The Vatican Ii document provides the every nation has the right to celebrate the liturgy in their languages wherever they are. Thus at the shrine of the Immaculate conception Archdiocese of Washington DC, there are different chapels of different people’s of diverse cultures. There are communities for different cultures. Masses were celebrated in different languages. When we the Igbos started celebrating the liturgy in Igbo, trouble started. We were banned and a priest was sent from Abuja to stop us from celebrating in our language. Why? Igbophobia.
The reason is every organ in Nigeria is mobilized and being used to ensure that Ndigbo do not come together and speak in one voice. The local church in metropolitan churches in Nigeria are being denied growth just to ensure Igbos do not come together and speak one voice.

Fr. Anelu has let the cat out. The can of warm has been opened. You cannot put the warms back in the same can again. You need a bigger can and that can is create Igbo Catholic Communities, Igbo Pentecostal Communities, Igbo Anglican Communities wherever Ndigbo are. There is no reason why the liturgy cannot be celebrated in Igbo in Lagos, Abuja or any other big city outside Igbo land. Grow the local churches by encouraging the celebration of the liturgy in the local languages.

Yes Rev. Fr. James Anelu is right. Suspending him is suppressing an opinion. Legitimate opinion. The church can do better. The Igbo Christians should follow up and start demanding for their rights of expression within the church. It happened by words of mouth today, next time Igbophobiacome in churches it may be violently expressed.

Onyema Uche.