Port Harcourt, Nigeria: (CESSAC Reporters: Osemhantie O, Arinze L and Famgba P)

The rector of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe, has urged African theologians at the ongoing 33rd CIWA Theology Week Conference to adopt a more a responsive approach to theological discourse.

Fr. Prof. Asanbe’s remarks came during a session on the Vatican document, Fiducia Supplicans . He encouraged theologians to engage critically with the document, seeking its positive aspects rather than simply rejecting it.

The rector also clarified the process of papal approval for Church documents, differentiating between “simple approval” and “radical approval.” He emphasized that many pastoral challenges related to funerals and marriages in Nigeria are rooted in local practices, not directives from Rome. Pastors, he argued, should leverage existing legal frameworks to address these issues.

Fr. Prof. Asanbe highlighted the importance of theological scholarship developed within CIWA. He called for continued dialogue and publication of research findings, fostering theological growth throughout West Africa and beyond.

While acknowledging the financial demands of the annual Theology Week Conference, Fr. Prof. Asanbe underscored its significance in advancing theological discourse. He pointed to CIWA’s instrumental role in establishing numerous theological organizations in Nigeria, expressing optimism for the institute’s continued influence.