Response of Dominic Ekandem (Titular Bishop of Hierapolis in Isauria, Turkiye; Auxiliary of Calabar, Nigeria) to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

Eminentissime Princeps,

 Pro Litteris, Prot. N. 1 C/59-2589 receptis gratias tibi referre satago. Doleo de magna mora in responsione quia discedi ab Anua, Nigeria pruisquam [sic (priusquam)] litterae tuae advenerant et tandem nuper eas recepi.

Quae sequuntur exponere faveo:

1. De Matrimonio.

 In multis regionibus in Africa saepe viri infideles plures uxores habent. Saepe hae mulieres inter Catechumenos optimos nostros dinumerantur, sed non possunt solutionem a viris suis infidelibus accipere etiamsi solutionem toto corde desiderant et totis viribus quaerant et non licet nobis eas Baptizare. Nobis videtur ut discussio de hac quaestione in Concilio Oecumenico fiat in bonum Ecclesiae.

2. De Seminariis.

 In locis Missionum, propter paucitatem Sacerdotum, saepe non est possibile curam sufficientem ad educationem et disciplinam alumnorum in Seminariis Maioribus et Minoribus. Quaeritur ut Sacerdotes ex Ordinibus et Congregationibus Religiosis qui habent gradus Academicos ad hoc opus speciale destinentur.

Cum summa devotione permaneo, Eminentissime Princeps,

+ DOMINICUS EKANDEM
Episcopus tit. Hierapolitanus in Isauria
Auxiliaris Calabarensis

Most Eminent Prince,

 I am eager to give thanks to you for the received letter, Prot. N. 1 C/59-2589. I am sorry for the long delay in responding because I had departed from Anua, Nigeria before your letter arrived, and I eventually received it recently.

 I favour proposing the following:

1. On Marriage.

 In many regions in Africa, unbelieving men often have many wives. Often, these women are numbered among our best Catechumens, but they are not able to get dissolution from their unbelieving husbands, even if they desire dissolution with all their hearts and strive for it with all their strength, and it is not permitted to us to baptize them. It seems good to us that a discussion on this issue be had in the Ecumenical Council for the good of the Church.

2. On Seminaries.

 In the areas of the missions, due to the paucity of priests, sufficient care for the education and discipline of students in major and minor seminaries is often not possible. It is requested that priests from religious orders and congregations who have academic degrees be designated for this special task.

With utmost devotion, Most Eminent Prince, I remain

+ DOMINIC EKANDEM
Titular Bishop of Hierapolis in Isauria
Auxiliary of Calabar