The Participation of Lay Catholics in Nigerian Politics in the Light of the Teaching of Articles 7 and 14 of Vatican II’s, Apostolicam Actuositatem.

The theology and mission of the laity in both the Church and society have been approached in different ways. One of the important developments in ecclesiology since the Second Vatican Council has been the emphasis on the dignity and the role of the laity in the Church and society. This consistent call of the Second Vatican Council for the laity to take up their rightful place in the Church and in its mission in the world represents a renewal in Church’s teaching concerning the laity. Since it is proper to the laity’s state to live both in the midst of the world and of secular transactions, the typical mark or special characteristic of the laity’s participation in the mission of the Church is an apostolate exercised in and through direct concern with secular affairs. In line with this secular mission of the laity, the decree Apostolicam Actuositatem has inspired the laity by breaching the age long dichotomy between faith and concrete witnessing when it states that Catholics versed in politics, firm in the faith and Christian teaching, should not decline to enter public life (AA, 14). In the light of the teaching of Apostolicam Actuositatem in articles 7 and 14 and building on further development on the theology and mission of the laity, this thesis will examine how Nigerian Catholic lay members of Christ’s Faithful can contribute to promoting the common good in Nigeria through their participation in politics. This thesis will show that in order to fully realize the mission of the laity in Nigeria’s politics, there is need for authentic collaboration between the Nigerian clergy and the laity. It will also demonstrate how an effective transformation of the laity can be achieved through their socialization in the social teaching of the Church with regard to how they can contribute to the promotion, protection, and preservation of the common good.Master of Theology (ThM