The Influences of Pentecostalism on Catholic Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria

By Hilary C. Achunike

This book is full of insights on the influences of Pentecostalism on Catholic priests and seminarians in Nigeria. It is starred with Pentecostal features, which seem rejected but are now gradually being recovered. It raises the questions of dialogue among Christians in Nigeria, particularly with the Pentecostals. The many healing ministries run by some Catholic priests are an open invitation to be understood and enculturated within Nigeria’s Catholic Christianity. It is a book to be reckoned with read with deep interests by students and teachers, and appreciated by Catholic and non-Catholics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532074400

Hilary C. Achunike

Hilary C. Achunike, a native of Oraifite in Nigeria, was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1987. He was a one time Rector of St. Pius X Spiritual Year Seminary Akwu-Ukwu. He lectures in Church History at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His other publications are entitled Dreams of Heaven: A Modern Response to Christianity in North-Western Igboland 1970-1990, and What is Church History? An African Perspective.

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Copyright © 2019 Hilary C. Achunike.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-7439-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-7440-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906154

iUniverse rev. date: 05/22/2019

Contents

Dedication

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introduction

The Beginnings of Pentecostalism in Nigeria

Chapter 2 Enlightenment World-View and Its Effects

Reaction of The Priests and The Laics

The Vatican Approach

Chapter 3 The Characteristics of A Church

Polity

Doctrine

Ethics

Liturgy

Chapter 4 Healing and Priest Healers

Preaching

Flamboyant Life Style

Payment of Tithe

Quest for More Spirituality

Chapter 5 Positive Effects of Pentecostalism

Negative Effects of Pentecostalism

Conclusion

Bibliography

Dedication

To

Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, who toils day and night to bring the people of Nnewi Diocese into one family

To the King of ages,

immortal, invisible,

the only God, be

honour and glory

for ever and

ever. Amen

1 Timothy 1: 17 ESV

Preface

Pentecostalism is pervasive in the Nigerian society. This concept resonates in this book. Indeed, a couple of years back, a Pentecostal girl challenged a Catholic priest with her own brand of Christianity. Though listening with rapt attention, Rev. Fr. Jude Anyaeche was both rattled and surprised, The girl claimed that the present Pentecostals are like the ancient Israelites. We the Pentecostals, like the Israelites of old have walked round the walls of Jericho (Catholic Church and other mainline churches) only once and you people are greatly disturbed. By the time, the girl continued, we shall walk round the walls of Catholic Church in Nigeria seven times, they will collapse Jerrichowise. The challenge of this girl represents the views of many Pentecostals. The challenge came from the girl ten years ago and not many Catholics then thought that the Pentecostals have something up their sleeves.

Today, the Pentecostals in all probability are making true their promise of taking over the management of Christianity in Nigeria. That Pentecostals are making waves and winning converts by the day is to state the obvious. The rank and file of the mainline churches are disturbed. The Catholic hierarchy in Nigeria and elsewhere is disquieted. At first, the implosion of Pentecostalism as Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN) provoked the publishing of Guidelines For The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria. However, Pentecostalism has influenced, not only the laity, but also the priests, as is demonstrated in our present study. But there are priests and seminarians who will not want to hear of the Pentecostals or have anything to do with them. They have a blind spot where Pentecostals are concerned. In 1997, the same Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria issued Guidelines For The Healing Ministry In The Catholic Church In Nigeria. But the problem of Pentecostalism in the Catholic Church, particularly among priests, does not seem to be abetting.

Particularly worrisome is the fact that many Igbo Catholic Christians, and indeed Christians from South Eastern Nigeria, who are resident in parts of Lagos come home (during Easter or Christmas) more Pentecostal than Catholic, more Pentecostal than Anglican, more Pentecostal than Presbyterian, etc. This development is explainable since Pentecostal churches are found in every nook and cranny in Lagos, and their powerful preachments are dramatized on television screens more frequently. Their eloquent or resounding sermons are also heard over the radio. Some of their fine sermons are tape recorded, advertised, and marketed. We have observed elsewhere of the impact of Catholic Charismatic Renewal on the Catholic Church in Igboland. Indeed, Pentecostalism formed the theme of catechetical week programme in Catholic Christianity in Nigeria in 2003. It was titled The Catholic Church and The Challenge of Pentecostalism in Nigeria.

Pentecostals are multiplying by leaps and bounds. The upsurge of Pentecostals has made some people claim that only two things are viable in Nigeria today: selling petrol and planting new Pentecostal churches. Some people have, therefore, compared the Pentecostals to the many filling stations that are springing up everywhere in Nigeria. But the two concepts are not incomparable after all. Many Nigerians troop to the filling stations and to the churches on daily basis. Both are necessary in life. One is for moving cars, engines and machineries and general mobility or mass transit of people. The other is for saving souls and moving people heavenward by making them better human beings. Both are money yielding ventures, especially as prosperity preaching is on the increase in many Pentecostal churches today. Both provide employment, but not on a very large scale; and both are social in nature. Finally, both the Pentecostal churches and the filling stations must be handled with care as they are highly inflammable or combustible, depending on how one looks at them, etc.

At present, the Pentecostals are a little more than half a billion people in number worldwide. Expert statisticians project that by the year 2025, the Pentecostals will be 811 million people the world over, coming very close to the billion-strong Catholic Church. People doubt this, particularly priests and seminarians who come from a rationalist background. But their doubts and conceptual schemes are of no consequence. It is instructive to note that Pentecostalism has dominated much of Latin America which used to be a notable Catholic enclave in the past. The Catholic Church has sustained heavy losses in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, El Salvador, Hunduras and Mexico. Such losses could be replicated down here in Nigeria, and indeed in Africa, if urgent steps are not taken to understudy Pentecostalism, and consequently have a rethink of our method of evangelization. Catholics in Nigeria cannot go on in the present situation with the concept of business as usual. The present writer is convinced that there is little theological soundness in saying that the Pentecostals may get the quantity, but we in the mainline churches are interested in quality. Experts in church growth have long known that quality and quantity complement each other. The two concepts are not opposed to each other. There is much merit in seeking for the stray sheep and returning them to the fold than in mere rationalism

Indeed, movements which fail to stir or grip the masses have no future. Catholics must belt up and enthusiastically bring the good news to the people in our shrinking world that is becoming ever more secular. It is suggested that Catholics must of necessity avoid behaving like merchants who are in possession of precious jewels such that everybody who is in need must come to them to buy such wares. Catholics must of necessity rethink their evangelization strategies and make honest and sincere efforts to reach out to people. The time now calls for serious business.

Our study on the influence of Pentecostalism on Catholic priests and seminarians will serve as a window through which the influence of Pentecostalism on the clergy and unordained ministers of other mainline churches could be viewed or understudied. To this end, chapter one introduces the work and treats the explosion of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. Chapter two looks at the enlightenment world-view and its effects on priests and seminarians of today. Enlightenment

Reviews for The Influences of Pentecostalism on Catholic Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria

[Otasowie Omigie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The in-depth treatment of the issue by the author and the simplicity of the approach.