Inter-religious affairs: Pope appoints Rev. Fr. Omonokhua consultor

he nomination/appointment letter from the Vatican  with reference number N.66/12/B, dated August 7, 2012 which was signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on behalf of the Pope and addressed to Father Omonokhua congratulated the cleric and stated the line of activities and meetings to be held in respect of the nomination/appointment. The letter read: “Normally, the […]

he nomination/appointment letter from the Vatican  with reference number N.66/12/B, dated August 7, 2012 which was signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on behalf of the Pope and addressed to Father Omonokhua congratulated the cleric and stated the line of activities and meetings to be held in respect of the nomination/appointment.

The letter read: “Normally, the Commission meets once a year with, on its agenda, an informative communication by  each consultor on the situation of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations in his/her respective country.

The main purpose of the Commission, however, is to provide a forum for the reflection on the Church’s relations with Muslims.”

The letter stated that the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia (1988) foresees the establishment of such a Commission at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, under the leadership of the President of the Council (of Art.162).

The newly appointed cleric has also been invited for a meeting at the Vatican  from the 25 to the 28 of Febuary, 2013 with a view to familiarize, plan and set working modalities for the next five years.

“We could focus on the opportunity and modalities of establishing a joint Christian-Muslim research Committee, at an academic level, in order to study some past events which often are referred to, with obvious distortions and stereotypes.”

Other appointee’s include: Fr. Amir Jaje of the Episcopal Commission for inter-religious Dialogue, Iraq, Fr. Felix Komer S. J, professor of Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rotraud Wielandt, Professor of Islamic studies, Bomberg University, Germany, Ian  Netton, professor of Islamic studies, Sharjah, UAE and Romana Bashir of the Christian  study center, Pakistan.

Father Omonokhua currently works as the Director of Mission and Dialogue, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.