POLYGAMY AND THE PASTORAL CARE FOR PEOPLE IN POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES IN AFRICA

Abstract

The Vatican II Council is traditionally called a pastoral council. This appellation is in contrast to the doctrinal and disciplinary councils of the past. This means that all the documents of the Council must be read with pastoral perspective. It also means that the Canon Law which came to codify the resolutions of the Council must be scrutinized with pastoral lenses. One of the pastoral problems that priests are confronted with in their ministry is the number of men and women who are not fully participating in the sacramental life of the Church because of their marital status. Most are married but not according to the Church’s law and discipline. This “Year for Priests” offers us an occasion to revisit the Church’s law and see whether it is pastorally sensitive enough to the African situation. By raising this question, this article will draw the attention of priest to the certain difficulty that remains when one wanted to be pastorally sensitive and canonically stringent in the context of the African Church. I don’t pretend to offer a clear solution to the inevitable impasse. I am content with raising and clarifying the problem.