Why Catholic Church in Nigeria is Not Ready for Married Deacons

He expressed concern that allowing married men to be ordained Deacons could affect the number of vocations in the country.

“One of the defining characteristics of the Catholic Church in over a century is a man professed to celibacy being a Priest. This long-standing tradition is so strong that the day it will change, it will be more than a storm,” Nnacheta said, and added that the new ministry will also potentially “drive young men from the Seminary.”

“Vocations will plummet because the attraction of the family is very strong,” he said.

“I don’t think Nigeria is ready for that,” Nnacheta emphasized about the possibility of ordaining married men as deacons in the West African country, and added, “The Church in Nigeria will suffer massively.”

Participants at the July 26 palaver explored the topic, “Some Theological and Canonical Matters Regarding Specific Ministerial Forms and Pastoral Issues”.

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The palaver is the latest in the series of digital palavers that theologians and other experts in Africa have organized to deepen the understanding of the Synthesis Report that came out of the October 2023 session of the Synod on Synodality.

The Synthesis Report highlighted the need to “continue to deepen the theological understanding of the relationship between charisms and ministries in a missionary perspective”.

The July 26 conversations were hinged on whether Africa needs new ministries in the Church or if the present pastoral structure in Africa should be maintained.

In his presentation at the event, Nnacheta underlined the need to use existing Church structures should Catholic Bishops in Nigeria consider the possibility of ordaining married men.

“The Bishops in Nigeria can look into a recruitment process that will do minimal harm to the concept of a Priests being celibate,” the Grand Knight of St. Mulumba said, and added, “If at all we must consider such a ministry, we must think of recruitment and formation, and what will be its pecking order. Are they going to be assigned the way Priests are assigned?”

He suggested that Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops use the knights of the Church, who he said represent Catholics that have been screened and found to be practicing Catholics. “Because we have a group such as this, there is easy peer review and peer monitoring. The group can supply some of their members to be married Deacons,” he said. 

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.