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Charismaticism in the Roman Catholic Church: a Study of the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Archdiocese of Accra

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Charismaticism in the Roman Catholic Church: a Study of the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Archdiocese of Accra University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES CHARISMATICISM IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: A STUDY OF THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MOVEMENT IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA FRANCIS ADOBOLI DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JULY 2018 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES CHARISMATICISM IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: A STUDY OF THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MOVEMENT IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA BY FRANCIS ADOBOLI (10296965) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JULY 2018 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I hereby unreservedly declare that this thesis is the result of the research which I undertook under my supervisors. …………………………. ……………………………… FRANCIS ADOBOLI DATE (STUDENT) .......................................... …………………………… REV. DR. GEORGE OSSOM-BATSA DATE (PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR) …………………………… …………………………….. REV. DR. ABAMFO OFORI ATIEMO DATE (CO-SUPERVISOR) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT The study set out to examine the theological-pastoral implications of the spiritual/religious activities of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement for the evangelizing mission of the Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana. It was conducted with the understanding that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement was among the fast-growing ecclesial groups in the Church and its wide-ranging activities were, for the most part, charism-and-lay-driven. The research is a qualitative study which was conducted within systematic and pastoral- theological paradigm of the Roman Catholic Church. It employed phenomenological and narrative approaches. Instruments used to collect data were: observations, participant observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify key informants. Data was also gathered from archival, primary and secondary sources. Content analysis was used in analyzing the data from documents. The study shows that the activities of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement have prospects and challenges for the evangelizing mission of the Archdiocese of Accra. The prospects include the historical and theological connection between the Sacraments of Initiation and the Baptism of the Spirit. Another prospect is the interplay of the charismatic gifts and the apostolate of the lay faithful in the evangelization mission of the Church. The study found out that some activities of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement were carried out within the orthodoxy and orthopraxis of the Church. Potentially, these activities enhance the proclamation of the Gospel. In contrast, the study noted there was tension between the hierarchical/institutional gifts of office holders of the Church and charismatic gifts of lay members of the movement. Another challenge was the literal interpretation of the Bible, the doctrines of the Church, and the resultant “schisms.” Hence, some activities of the movement compromise the orthodoxy and orthopraxis of the Church. Therefore, these ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh affect the evangelization efforts of the Archdiocese of Accra. Generally, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement has the potential for enhancing the evangelizing mission of the Archdiocese of Accra. The study recommends the highlighting of the theological-pastoral significance of the charismatic gifts since these gifts, together with the hierarchical/institutional gifts, constitute the dimensions of the Church. It also recommends the inclusion of the study of Charismatic- Pentecostal Christianity and the charismatic dimension of the Church in the academic programme of study of the Catholic Major Seminaries in Ghana. The study understands the pragmatic need for providing future priests with both theoretical and practical tools for connecting the Gospel to pastoral situations and historical moments. It is hoped that the study will contribute to the ongoing academic discourse on the Charismatic-Pentecostal phenomenon. It is also expected that it will contribute to the shaping of an appropriate pneumatology for the Archdiocese of Accra. Finally, it is expected that the study will contribute to scholarship on systematic and pastoral theology in the Roman Catholic Church. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the memory of my late parents—Anthony Agbosi Adoboli and Monica Adzovi Akorli, and the late Rev. Father Thomas L. Potts, SVD, Headmaster (1974—1981) of Pope John Secondary School and Minor Seminary, Effiduase-Koforidua. iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank God for His love and for taking me through this study. I am grateful to Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, my Archbishop, for the permission to study and the financial support of the Archdiocese. I am grateful to my supervisors: Rev. Dr. George Ossom-Batsa and Rev. Dr. Atiemo Ofori Abamfo for their guidance. I thank the following for their tutorials: Rev. Prof. Cephas Narh Omenyo; Prof. Elizabeth Amoah; Dr. Nicoletta Gati; Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego; and, Rev. Dr. Abraham Opare Kwakye, all of the Department for the Study of Religions; Prof. G.S.K Adika, Language Centre; Dr. Nana Yaw Sapong, History Department; Prof. Larry Yarak, and Prof. Austin Gareth, visiting professors, History Department; Prof. Helen Lauer, Department of Philosophy and Classics; and, Prof. Abeeku Essuman-Johnson, Political Science Department. I thank Mr. George Musey of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (CCR) for making available numerous materials on the CCR and for the reading and correction of the drafts. I thank also members of the CCR for the interviews and the materials they gave me. I am grateful to the priests and non-CCR lay faithful for their views on the CCR. I thank most sincerely Prof. Cyril Ernest Latzoo of Duquesne University, U.S.A, and Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah for their critical comments and suggestions. I am also grateful to Sir Isaac Fritz Andoh and Mr. Thomas Nyaku for proofreading the draft. I express my thanks to Monsignor Pius Kpeglo, Prof. John F. Wiredu, and others for their encouragements and prayerful supports. Last but not least, I thank the following institutions for the use of their library: St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast; Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon; Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Akropong; and, Pentecost University College, Accra. ALL TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD. v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ xii LIST OF MAPS ................................................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Motivation and Background to the Study ................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................ 9 1.2 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................... 9 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 10 1.4.1 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 11 1.4.2 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 14 1.5 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 14 1.6 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................. 38 1.7 Scope ......................................................................................................................... 40 1.8 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................... 41 1.9 Organization of Chapters .......................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER TWO ...............................................................................................................
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