The cardinal emphasised that these changes are faithful to Catholic teaching and reflect local culture, addressing traditionalist criticism.

The Dicastery for Divine Worship recently approved a decree permitting adaptations. These included ritual dances and laypersons handling incense in the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

"Neither Jesus nor the apostles celebrated with the Tridentine Missal. It dates back to the 16th century" Cardinal Esquivel wrote in the Mexican church publication Desde la Fe. He argued that opposition to the adaptations stems from misunderstandings about liturgy and indigenous culture.

The decree also authorised a translation of the missal into Tzeltal, an indigenous language. However, the Mexican Bishops' Conference clarified that these are optional adaptations within the Novus Ordo, not a new rite or "Mayan rite".

Inculturation

Cardinal Esquivel stressed that these changes align with the Church's tradition of inculturation which integrates cultural elements into Catholic worship.

"It is the best example of inculturation with Jewish ritual signs" said the cardinal. "He instituted the Eucharist not in Latin, but in Aramaic, the language of those with whom he lived at the time."

The Mexican cardinal added "the bread he used was not like our hosts, which are wafers and true bread; it changes the shape, not the substance".

True to Catholic doctrine

The bishops reiterated that the adaptations exclude practices like Mayan altars and prayers to the four cardinal directions.

Esquivel called for continuing the inculturation process, ensuring indigenous believers can express their faith within their cultural context while remaining true to Catholic doctrine.

The cardinal stressed the importance of being faithful to the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Church so that "our people can also live their faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their cultural forms".

Sources

Desde la Fe

English Katholisch

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Speaking at a conference in Rome on 16th-century Jesuit missionary Father Matteo Ricci, Chow emphasised the need for collaboration with China's ruling and intellectual class amid ongoing efforts to "sinicize" the church in China.

Chow (pictured) noted that Ricci, renowned for his ability to bridge Christianity with Chinese culture, succeeded in presenting Christianity as a compatible belief rather than a threat.

"Christianity was not seen as a heresy to Chinese culture, but a novel teaching compatible with Chinese culture."

However, Chow highlighted that the church's later prohibition of ancestor worship led to government suppression as it clashed with a key cultural value.

Under communist rule, particularly in its early years, the Catholic Church faced severe oppression. Efforts to purge Western influences as part of forming a national identity resulted in the church being viewed as foreign. "And unfortunately, the Catholic Church was seen as a part of the Western world" the cardinal explained.

Constructive dialogue

Chow stressed that current efforts to "sinicize" the church require constructive dialogue with China.

"Maybe there is a way that the church in China can really be a Chinese church. If we do it well and pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten both sides" Chow said. "The Holy Spirit is not restricted to Catholics, and it is open to the truth."

Chow expressed optimism that the Church could harmonise with Chinese culture through prayer and collaboration. He emphasised the importance of maintaining the Church's core beliefs while fostering integration.

"Sinicization is not going to go away" he said. "It is here, so we need to engage in dialogue."

Chow said that beyond discussions about inculturation, "the Catholic Church, as well as the Protestant Church, have always been seen until now as foreign religions". As a result "the government is stepping in to say 'You're going to become a Chinese religion', but of course we may not agree on the same process, so that's why we need dialogue".

Sources

UCA News

CathNews New Zealand

Some African communities, particularly in Cameroon, have accused the Church of disrespecting their cultures under the guise of inculturation (adapting Christianity to local customs). This has sparked a debate on balancing cultural respect with the integrity of the Catholic faith.

The Wimbum people from Cameroon's North West region recently petitioned the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They claim that the Catholic Church is desecrating their culture by incorporating elements from their secret societies into religious processions and using secret masquerades in church ceremonies.

The petition strongly condemned these actions, stating "Our traditions are not mere rituals; they are the lifeblood of our identity, connecting us to our ancestors and shaping our existence".

Similar concerns have been raised by the Nso people in the Kumbo Diocese and Cameroon's North West region. These communities argue that the Church's efforts at inculturation are eroding their cultural heritage.

Contrastingly, in Nigeria, Catholic bishops are concerned that some priests are misusing inculturation by incorporating local customs. Some suggest that they are inconsistent with Catholic doctrine.

Father Stan Chu Ilo, a research professor of Ecclesiology and African Studies, criticised certain priests for creating a "shocking liturgical hybridity" that confuses the faithful and undermines the Church's teachings.

Ilo argued that these practices are not rooted in African religious traditions. He suggested they are instead misguided attempts to blend Christianity with local customs.

Make Gospel more accessible

The concept of inculturation, which gained prominence during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), aims to integrate authentic cultural values into Christianity to make the Gospel more accessible.

However, the process requires a deep understanding of both the Gospel and local cultures.

Father Humphrey Tatah Mbuy, a Catholic observer in Cameroon, emphasised that inculturation is a "dynamic relationship between the local church and the culture of its people" requiring careful dialogue and study.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja acknowledged the challenges of inculturation, noting that many African communities have spiritual underpinnings that can enrich the Christian faith. However, he cautioned that some conflicts arise from a "colonial mindset" that views African traditions as incompatible with Christianity.

Mbuy and Ilo called for better education and the formation of Catholic priests to ensure that inculturation is undertaken correctly. Mbuy stressed that true inculturation requires collaboration between theologians and cultural experts to ensure that adaptations are appropriate and respectful of both faith and tradition.

Sources

Crux Now

The Nso Cultural and Development Association (NSODA) has written a strongly worded letter warning the Catholic Church against adulterating their culture "in the guise of inculturation".

The Nso is one of the largest clans in Cameroon's north west region.

The NSODA says social media is inundated with videos of "some of the Nso people's most dreaded and sacred masquerades".

NSODA President Tadze Adamu Mbiydzela told Bishop George Nkuo that churches and church premises in Kumbo diocese have been showing these videos "all in the name of inculturation".

It is time to denounce the Church's actions! The Nso people are angry!

The Church must stop its "provocative moot displays of our culture... under the guise of inculturation".

NSODA is threatening court action if the valueless displays continue.

Catholic inculturation abusive

NSODA is dedicated to its socio-cultural development. But the Church is eroding the Nso culture, Mbiydzela wrote.

Thanking Nkuo for the benefits the Church offers Nso people, Mbiydzela said "We remain indebted and sincerely grateful to your Lordship".

Bur Mbiydzela said he is most upset with the Church's use of Nso's sacred masquerades.

The idea of inculturation has been "wantonly and severely abused" by Catholics he wrote. It is "a shocking desecration of our culture and tradition".

Cultural erosion

To appropriate the Nso culture for inculturating Catholics might work for the Church but it will completely destroy the Nso culture, Mbiydzela told Nkuo.

"If ... care is not taken to protect our cultural heritage, which is our identity, then with the passage of time our culture will be completely eroded in the guise of inculturation."

The "body" of the Nso "is built from her cultural heritage. If it is not seriously protected it shall be lost, and Nso as a kingdom be eroded into an abyss".

Inculturation a complex process

Cameroon Bishops' Conference spokesman Father Humphrey Tatah Mbuy says Cameroon "has not even started inculturation.

"We are at the stage of accommodation and adaptation" to what exists, he says.

Decisions about whether to bring masquerades to church need to answer various critical questions, he explains.

Two questions would be: What do those masquerades mean in the Nso culture? How would they help Christians become better Christians?

Inculturation doesn't mean bringing anything to Church, or singing any songs, he says - though some songs being sung in Church have nothing to do with praising God.

Successful inculturation

Successful inculturation needs anthropologists' expertise so the selected cultural approaches align to fundamental Gospel principles.

Professor Nathan Chase from the Aquinas Institute of Theology says inculturation was fundamental to the early Church but always provoked disagreements.

"In every case, those in favour of inculturation ... won the argument" he says.

Religion and culture are inherently connected: Jesus was a Jew, many early Christians were Greek, he says.

"The fingerprints of Jewish and Greek culture are all over the Church. The issue is not whether they are connected, but how they should relate to one another.

"They must always be mutually informing one another, learning from one another."

Source

• Crux Now