The Roman Catholic Church and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Voices Yet Unheard in a Listening World

by Zalot, Jozef D.

• ISBN13: 9780761824473
• ISBN10: 0761824472
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-28
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

The specific question this study addresses is what contribution can the African Catholic Church make toward the articulation of a truly African theology of development, a contribution that takes into consideration the realities of both present-day African life as well as the social teaching of the universal Church?

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	xi
List of Abbreviations	xvii
The Present Day Economic Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa	1	(52)
The Colonial Legacy	3	(7)
Post-Independence Sub-Saharan Africa	10	(2)
Internal Factors	12	(18)
External Factors	19	(3)
Foreign Debt	22	(3)
Structural Adjustment	25	(5)
Toward a Theology of Development	30	(7)
Theological Justification for Participation in Development Efforts	30	(2)
Limitations to a Theology of Development	32	(2)
Development Defined	34	(3)
Plan of the Study	37	(2)
Notes	39	(14)
The Role of the Catholic Church in Africa	53	(32)
The Catholic Church and African Development Today	53	(3)
The Catholic Church and Colonialism	56	(9)
Cultural Inferiority	56	(3)
Christian Missionary Education	59	(3)
Present-Day Results of Catholic Missionary Education	62	(3)
Relevance of the Present-day African Catholic Church	65	(8)
Financial Dependence	65	(4)
Formation and Focus of the Clergy	69	(2)
The Church and Ethnic Tensions: The Case of Rwanda	71	(2)
Toward the Future: The Church and Practical Action	73	(4)
Notes	77	(8)
Development and African Liberation Theology	85	(58)
An African Theology of Liberation: Engelbert Mveng, SJ	87	(10)
Definition and Biblical Foundation	87	(2)
Anthropological Poverty	89	(4)
African versus Latin American Theologies of Liberation	93	(4)
Liberation and Development: Jean-Marc Ela	97	(11)
Biblical Foundation for Liberation	99	(2)
Liberation and Development	101	(5)
Liberation and Development Today	106	(2)
Liberation and Development: Laurenti Magesa	108	(8)
Biblical Foundation for Liberation	108	(2)
Anthropological Poverty	110	(2)
A Theological Response: African Socialism	112	(3)
A Theological Response: Christ as Liberator	115	(1)
Toward an African Theology of Development	116	(10)
Notes	126	(17)
Development and the African Bishops' Conferences	143	(66)
Development and SECAM	143	(13)
SECAM 1969-1978: Continuity with Catholic Social Teaching	144	(6)
SECAM 1981-1984: Justice, Evangelization, and Human Promotion	150	(6)
Development and the African Episcopal Conferences	156	(13)
Causes of Economic Underdevelopment	156	(6)
Recommendations for Economic Development	162	(3)
Politics and Development	165	(4)
Development and the Synod for Africa	169	(10)
What is a Synod	169	(1)
Synod or Council?	170	(2)
Development and the Synod's Preparatory Documents	172	(5)
Development and the Synod Assembly	177	(2)
Toward an African Theology of Development	179	(7)
Notes	186	(23)
Toward a Theology of Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Synthesis, Criticism, and A Look To the Future	209	(38)
Synthesis of the Bishops' and Theologians' Statements	209	(5)
Criticisms of the African Bishops and Theologians	214	(12)
Critique of African Liberation Theology	214	(5)
Critique of the African Catholic Bishops	219	(7)
Toward the Future: Suggestions for Further Study and the Role of the Church Today	226	(12)
``Other'' Christian Sources for a Theology of Economic Development	226	(3)
African Traditional Worldview	229	(1)
Islam	230	(2)
Concluding Remarks: The Future Role of the African Catholic Church	232	(6)
Notes	238	(9)
Bibliography	247	(22)
Index	269