Ecumenism in Nigeria: The Roman Catholic Contribution

ABSTRACT Ecumenism is currently a topical issue in Christendom, and is aimed at promoting unity among different Christian denominations. In Nigeria, it began initially among the Protestant missionaries while the Roman Catholics were indifferent. But with the impetus drawn from the Vatican II Council, she later joined the ecumenical movement. This research work is geared towards probing into the contribution of the Roman Catholic Church towards the ecumenical work in Nigeria. It also seeks to determine the efforts of she has made so far in her ecumenical work as well as discovering the challenges facing this work. This research work is both historical and sociological; as a result, it adopts a multi dimensional approach to the study. It combines both primary and secondary sources of data collecting techniques. Textbooks, journals, periodicals and internet sources were extensively used, while oral interviews were also administered to a few and accessible respondents as a guide to the work. Consequently, it was discovered that ecumenism, which began among the Protestant missionaries has been enhanced with the entrance of the Roman Catholic Church into the dialogue in Nigeria. The work also discovers that although the Roman Catholic Church has been doing her best in promoting the dialogue in Nigeria, she has not done enough because of deep-seated denominational biases, rivalry, antagonism and persistent schism, in the country. One implication of these findings is that the Roman Catholic Church has not succeeded in her ecumenical work in Nigeria. And this is a sign that the Christians have contradicted the Lord’s injunction of unity for his followers (Jn 17: 21). The researcher, by way of conclusion, enjoins all Christians to desist from their uncompromising denominationalism and unanimously embrace, unity as is taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.