DOCSLIB.ORG

Inculturation Within the Catholic Church: a Case of Cock

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

INCULTURATION WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: A CASE OF COCK RITUALS AND CULTURAL VALUES OF THE ABAMARACHI OF BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA BY JOSEPH MUYOMI MULAA A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES, MOI UNIVERSITY 2017 DECLARATION DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE ii This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university. No part of this thesis may be reproduced without prior written permission of the author and / or Moi University. Signature: ……………………. Date: ……………………… Joseph Muyomi Mulaa SASS/PGR/10/2007 DECLARATION BY SUPERVISORS This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. Signature: …………………….. Date: ………………………. Prof. Hazel O. Ayanga Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya Signature: ……………………… Date: ………………………. Dr. Mohamed Mraja Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya DEDICATION To my parents, my late father, Mr. Benedict Oyoma Mulaa (Abuku) (1920-2000) who taught me that “book knowledge,”(academic development) is not sufficient for one in life, it must be supplemented with “Elimu dunia,” (Wisdom); and my mother Teresina Aloo iii Mulaa (1938) who taught me not to despise God’s human creation. Also to men and women who appreciate that there is something good in other people and their culture. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was realized because of invaluable contributions from many people. Since it is not possible to mention everyone, please accept my sincere appreciation to you all for your assistance. However, I feel compelled to single out a few people. I wish to sincerely thank my supervisors Prof. Hazel O. Ayanga and Dr. Mohamed Mraja for their relentless support and encouragement. Even when I was limping academically they pulled me by the hand saying “carry on; you must finish this race.” What a wonderful gesture!! I do also extend my gratitude to all other lecturers under whose tutelage I received pleasant academic nourishment. Thank you too, all my colleagues of the Masters programme for your co-operation and support. In particular, I must mention Mr. Hosea Kiprono Mitei for the brainstorming we always did together and also for his encouragement and prayers. I also received tremendous moral support from many of my former students with whom I shared precious moments during my thirty years stint as a teacher in various secondary schools in Kenya. Thank you very much. I am greatly indebted to my field assistants in the research process who sacrificed valuable time and energy in ensuring respondents were identified and reached. Thank you too, the hospitable Abamarachi for allowing me to witness some of the functions, ceremonies and rituals. To you my interviewees who were always eager and co-operative in giving valuable information, a big thanks. My family supported me fully. My wife Eleanor Mulaa read through the work and offered useful input, my daughters Bernadette Muyomi and Judith Muyomi, my sons Clement v Muyomi and Philip Barasa were a source of unlimited moral support and encouragement. Thanks in advance all the readers of this study who will be inspired after reading it to join in the promotion of positive African values. To every one of you I return a big thank you. In conclusion, I want to reiterate this about the work: “If it is well written and to the point, that is what I wanted; if it is poorly written and mediocre, that is the best I could do” (2 Maccabees 15:38). Finally, but of leading importance, I give glory and honour to God for all His blessings which spurred me on to the finish. ABSTRACT vi In the African worldview, there is no clear distinction between the sacred and the profane while the Western Christian one clearly distinguishes the two. In the present African context, there is the dilemma of choosing between traditional African values and Christian ones in critical situations of life because they are usually in conflict. Often African Christians revert to traditional practices to address critical needs in their lives. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of inculturation within the Catholic Church using cock rituals among the Abamarachi of Butula Sub- County, Busia County. A cock ritual is where a cock is identified for a social-sacred purpose often involving special persons, actions and utterances in specific places culminating in a symbolic feast. The study objectives were to: identify potential areas for integration of Christian teachings and practices in the cock rituals of the Abamarachi; identify the relationship between cultural practices involving the cock and Catholic teachings; and propose a model of inculturation that integrates positive elements of the Abamarachi culture and Catholic teachings and practices. The study adopted a descriptive research design to collect facts on cock rituals. The study used the Functionalist Theory as propounded by Bronislaw Malinowski and Emile Durkheim. The theory asserts that religion unites people around practices that have lasting values. Ethnographic survey was used as to identify positive Abamarachi cultural beliefs and practices associated with cock rituals and how they can be incorporated into Catholicism using the Vatican Council as a point of reference. Data was collected using interview schedule and questionnaires. The researcher observed and participated in some Abamarachi rituals where the cock featured. Eighty respondents were purposively sampled for the study, 40 from the Abamarachi traditional community and 40 from the Catholic Church. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis and interpretation, presented in forms such as cultural anecdotes and case reports. Some quantitative data were presented using graphs, tables, pie charts and pictures in evaluating the impact of the Abamarachi culture and Catholicism on each other. The findings indicate that though the Abamarachi traditionalists and Catholics maintain their unique beliefs and practices, they show signs of willingness to accommodate each other. Thus, it was concluded that inculturation can assist in making the Abamarachi to “feel at home” within the Catholic Church and Catholicism will be aptly meaningful in its Marachi context. It is recommended that the Catholic Church could embrace Abamarachi worldview and borrow positive elements inherent in the worldview as proposed under the papal decree. Greater enculturation is possible were the Abamarachi traditionalists and Catholic faithful to open up more by inviting each other to celebrate their ritual ceremonies and embrace positive and beneficial norms and values in the spirit of ecumenism. The model of inculturation proposed in this study opines that the symbolism of the Abamarchi cock ritual sacrifice ought to be understood in the same vain as the Catholic understanding of Jesus as the lamb. TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION DEDICATION vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTiv ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTSvii LIST OF TABLESiv LIST OF FIGURESv DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMSxvi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1.3 Purpose of the Study 1.4 Objectives of the Study 1.5 Research Questions 1.6 Significance of the Study 1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study 1.8 Theoretical Framework 1.9 Literature Review 1.10 Research Methodology 1.10.1 Research Design............................................................................................15 viii 1.10.2 Study Area.....................................................................................................16 1.10.3 Target Population..........................................................................................16 1.10.4 Study Sample.................................................................................................16 1.10.5 Sampling Techniques.....................................................................................17 1.10.6 Data Collection and Research Instruments....................................................18 1.10.7 Data Analysis…………………………………...……………………...…...18 1.11 Ethical Consideration….. CHAPTER TWO: CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PROFILE OF THE ABAMARACHI 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Geographical Location 2.3 Myth of Origin 2.4 The Abamarachi Clan System 2.5 The Family Organization and Social Support among the Abamarachi 2.6 African Traditional Religion 2.7 Rituals and Sacrifices 2.8 Christianity in Marachi ix 2.9 Religious Duality of the Abamarachi 2.10 Abamarachi Proverbs, Riddles, Songs and Art 2.10.1 Proverbs 2.10.2 Riddles 2.10.3 Songs 2.10.4 Art 2.11 Conclusion CHAPTER THREE: COCK RITUALS IN THE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE ABAMARACHI 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Cock Rituals: Background Information 3.3 Cock Rituals 3.3.1 Activities Relating to Agriculture 3.3.1.1 Planting and Harvesting 3.3.1.2 Rain Making and Control 3.3.2 Health Related Problems 3.3.2.1 Sickness x 3.3.2.2 Witchcraft Related Problems 3.3.2.3 Barrenness 3.3.3 Social Activities 3.3.3.1 Establishing a New Home 3.3.3.2 Completion of Roofing a House and Official Opening of a House……...... 3.3.3.3 Payment of Dowry………………………………………………………… 3.3.3.4 Reconciliation 3.3.3.5 Child Rehabilitation 3.3.4 Rites of Passage 3.3.4.1 The Naming Ritual 3.3.4.2 Funeral Rites 3.3.5 Maintaining the Social Order 3.3.5.1 Taboos 3.4 Persistence of Cock Rituals 3.4.1 Naming 3.4.2 Marriage xi 3.4.3 Healing 3.5 Official Support for Inculturation 3.6 Views of Scholars and Theologians
Recommended publications
  • University of Warwick Institutional Repository

    University of Warwick Institutional Repository

    University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/67046 This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. SOCIAL AND LEGAL CHANGE IN KURIA FAl1ILY RELATIONS Thesis Submitted by Barthazar Aloys RVJEZAURA LL.B (Makerere); LL.M (Harvard) Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. In fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The University of Warwick, ,School of Law. ,, February, 1982. IMAGING SERVICES NORTH Boston Spa, Wetherby West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ www.bl.uk BEST COpy AVAILABLE. VARIABLE PRINT QUALITY ii I'ahLeof Contents ii • AcknOi·;~igements v Abstract vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 - 7 CHAPTER Th'O THE LAND AND PEOPLE Geography and Climate 8 Kuria People and Their History 11 Kuria Social Organisation 13 Kuria Land Tenure 19 CHAPTER 'rHREE HAIN FEATURES OF THE KURIA ECONOHY Introduction 23 Pre-Colonial Agriculture 24 Pre-Colonial Animal Husbandry 29 The Elders' Control of Kuria Economy 38 Summary 41 CHAPTER FOUR THE FORIftATIONOF A PEASANT ECONOMY Introduction 42 Consolidation of Colonial Rule 43 Cash Crop Production 46 Cattle Marketing Policy 53 Import and Export Trade 60 Summary
  • Sporadic Ethnic Violence Why Has Kenya Not Experienced a Full Blown Civil

    Sporadic Ethnic Violence Why Has Kenya Not Experienced a Full Blown Civil

    Sporadic Ethnic Violence Why Has Kenya Not Experienced a Full-Blown Civil War? 5 MWANGI S. KIMENYI AND NJUGUNA S. NDUNG’U xtreme poverty and the collapse of law and order can become mutually reinforcing, producing a conflict trap (Blomberg et al. 2000; Elbadawi, ENdung’u, and Njuguna 2001). In Sub-Saharan Africa, many countries are caught in such a conflict trap and one out of every five people is directly affected by civil wars (Elbadawi et al. 2001). In Kenya, poverty levels almost doubled in the 1990s, a decade marred by ethnic violence, but the country has avoided the con- flict trap.This chapter analyzes civil conflict in Kenya and asks why the cycles of ethnic conflict have not escalated into a full-blown civil war. A civil war can be said to occur when a trigger factor, or a combination of fac- tors,results in what may be referred to as a “tipping point,”when factions in a soci- ety engage in an all-out armed conflict. Before that tipping point is reached, a country may be characterized by tensions but not by widespread conflict.For many countries, the triggers for a civil war are not strong enough to result in a tipping point;hence such countries are characterized by relative peace,although there may be tensions within the society among different factions. In a number of studies, Paul Collier and his colleagues have sought to explain the determinants of civil wars.They provide a systematic analysis of the causal factors of civil war initiation, duration, and recurrence.
  • A Genealogical Linguistic Implication of the Abaluhyia Naming System

    A Genealogical Linguistic Implication of the Abaluhyia Naming System

    IJRDO-Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN : 2456-2971 A GENEALOGICAL LINGUISTIC IMPLICATION OF THE ABALUHYIA NAMING SYSTEM David Wafula Lwangale (Egerton University) [email protected] or [email protected] ABSTRACT Most African communities have a systematic way of naming their children. The naming system of a given community speaks a lot about their way of life. Some communities have family names which cannot be attributed to any meaning. Such names may be regarded generally as clan names. Some names may be attributed to some events and seasons. Others may be inherited in a situation where communities name their children after their dead or living relatives. Therefore, names are not only cultural but also linguistic. The study investigated the naming systems of the Luhyia sub-tribes with a view of establishing the genealogical relatedness of the Luluhyia language dialects. The study established three levels of naming children shared by most of the Luhyia sub-nations. These are based on seasons, events and naming after their dead relatives. Key words: genealogical, language, name, male and female Background to the Study Luhyia dialects have been extensively studied over a long period of time. The speakers of Luluhyia dialects are generally referred to as AbaLuhyia who were initially known as Bantu Kavirondo as a result of their being close to Lake Victoria in Kavirondo Gulf. The Luhyia nation, tribe or ethnic group consists of seventeen sub-nations or dialect speaking sub-groups. These include Abakhayo, Babukusu, Abanyala, Abanyore, Abatsotso, Abetakho, Abesukha, Abakabras, Abakisa, Abalogoli, Abamarachi, Abasamia, Abatachoni, Abatiriki and Abawanga.
  • Summer, 2015: Volume 7 Number 1 •

    Summer, 2015: Volume 7 Number 1 •

    The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 1 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 Table of Contents The African Family from the Experience of a Catholic Couple in Ethiopia By Abel Muse and Tenagnework Haile………………………………………………...3 Family in the Context of Evangelization: Challenges and Opportunities from Sub- Saharan Africa By Mbiribindi Bahati Dieudonné, SJ………………….….…………...……………14 Notes on the Synodal Document “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization” By Nicholas Hamakalu..…..……………………………………………..…………….36 Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Promote Family and Marriage Ministry in Eastern Africa By Joseph G. Healey, MM…………………………………………………………….49 The Image of the Family in Chimanda Ngozi Adiche’s Purple Hibiscus and its Implications for Families in Today’s Africa Adolphus Ekedimma Amaefule……………………………………………………....157 The Gospel of the Family: From Africa to the World Church Philomena N. Mwaura……………………….………………………………………..182 Family and Marriage in Kenya Today: Pastoral Guidelines for a Process of Discussion and Action. Results of the Consultation in Kenya on the 46 Questions in the Lineamenta (guidelines) on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World………………………………….……………………………………………...200 2 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 The African Family from the Experience of a Catholic Couple in Ethiopia By Abel Muse and Tenagnework Haile Abstract Africans should preserve the noble family life, traditions and cultures that they inherited from their forefathers. They need to exercise it and live it for themselves rather than imitating the culture and living style of others. Each African country has its unique tradition and culture that some may not perceive as their riches.
  • 3. Siundu.Pmd 45 31/10/2012, 17:31 46 Afrika Zamani, No

    3. Siundu.Pmd 45 31/10/2012, 17:31 46 Afrika Zamani, No

    Afrika Zamani, No. 17, 2009, pp. 45–62 © Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa & Association of African Historians 2012 (ISSN 0850-3079) Strategic Submission as Resistance? Nabongo Mumia in the Struggle for Post-Colonial Kenya’s Histories Godwin Siundu* Abstract This article pursues the debate on the role that various regional leaders in late pre- to colonial Kenya played in their people’s responses to colonialism and its agents, and the contests for moral historical spaces that have continued to be played out in intellectual and public discourse. Focusing on Nabongo Mumia, the political and cultural figure of the Wanga people in western Kenya, the article examines the fluidity between collaboration and resistance as processes that have been presented mistakenly as dialectical oppositions. Situating my argument within the counter-revisionist trajectory, I demonstrate that the earlier presentation of Nabongo Mumia – and indeed a few other leaders – as a ‘collaborator’ largely simplifies the dilemmas that many a leader were confronted with in the wake of colonial violence, and is used in the current political setup to rationalise deliberate forms of exclusion from central political structures in the country. I further show that for regional leaders in colonial Kenya, strategic submission guided by a variety of legitimate considerations, was often misread as ‘collaboration’, a line that was picked up by earlier Africanist inclined scholars whose nationalistic impulses drove them to a search for ‘heroes’, often guided by the matrices of ‘resistance’. Résumé Cet article poursuit le débat sur le rôle que les divers leaders régionaux ont joué pendant la fin des périodes pré-coloniale et coloniale au Kenya par rapport aux réponses de leurs peuples à la question du colonialisme et de ses agents, et dans les combats pour des espaces moraux historiques qui sont toujours interprétés dans le discours intellectuel et public.
  • THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered As a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) � Vol

    THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered As a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) Vol

    1.\'‘ • „ , 4 y()tcl , ••• .1)04 I THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered as a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) Vol. CXXI —No. 39 NAIROBI, 5th April, 2019 Price Sh. 60 CONTENTS GAZETTE NOTICES PAGE PAGE The Auctioneers Act—Appointments 1220 The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act—The 4th Taskforce of Sugar Industry Stakeholders to Make Quarterly Report Covering the Period from 1st Recommendations for the Development of the October, 2018 to 31st December, 2018 1274-1281 Sugar Industry in Kenya—Extension of Term 1220 The Crops Act—Proposed Grant of Licences 1281 Taskforce of Maize Industry Stakeholders to Make Recommendations for the Development of the The Competition Act—Authorizations 1282 Maize Industry in Kenya—Extension of Term 1220 The Political Parties Act—Change of Political Party County Governments Notices 1220 1221,1282 Symbol 1284 The Land Registration Act—Issue of Provisional The Co-operative Societies Act—Extension Order 1284 Certificates, etc 1221-1231 The Physical Planning Act—Completion of Part The Public Finance Management Act—County Development Plans 1285-1286 Governments Cash Disbursement Schedule for Financial Year 2018/2019 1231-1235 The Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act— Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission 1286-1287 Act—Corrigenda, etc 1235-1236 The Transfer of Business Act—Business Transfers 1287-1288 The Valuers Act—Registered and Practising Valuers 1236-1242 Disposal of Uncollected Goods 1288 The Engineers Act—Registered Professional Engineers 1242-1273 Loss of Policies 1288-1296 The Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act— Notice of Preservation Orders 1273-1274 Change of Names 1296 [1219 1220 THE KENYA GAZETTE 5th April, 2019 CORRIGENDA GAZETTE NOTICE No.
  • Wetlands of Kenya

    Wetlands of Kenya

    The IUCN Wetlands Programme Wetlands of Kenya Proceedings of a Seminar on Wetlands of Kenya "11 S.A. Crafter , S.G. Njuguna and G.W. Howard Wetlands of Kenya This one TAQ7-31T - 5APQ IUCN- The World Conservation Union Founded in 1948 , IUCN— The World Conservation Union brings together States , government agencies and a diverse range of non - governmental organizations in a unique world partnership : some 650 members in all , spread across 120 countries . As a union , IUCN exists to serve its members — to represent their views on the world stage and to provide them with the concepts , strategies and technical support they need to achieve their goals . Through its six Commissions , IUCN draws together over 5000 expert volunteers in project teams and action groups . A central secretariat coordinates the IUCN Programme and leads initiatives on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biological diversity and the management of habitats and natural resources , as well as providing a range of services . The Union has helped many countries to prepare National Conservation Strategies , and demonstrates the application of its knowledge through the field projects it supervises . Operations are increasingly decentralized and are carried forward by an expanding network of regional and country offices , located principally in developing countries . IUCN — The World Conservation Union - seeks above all to work with its members to achieve development that is sustainable and that provides a lasting improvement in the quality of life for people all over the world . IUCN Wetlands Programme The IUCN Wetlands Programme coordinates and reinforces activities of the Union concerned with the management of wetland ecosystems .
  • Kuria - RTJRC25.07 (St

    Kuria - RTJRC25.07 (St

    Seattle University School of Law Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation I. Core TJRC Related Documents Commission of Kenya 7-25-2011 Public Hearing Transcripts - Nyanza - Kuria - RTJRC25.07 (St. Mathias Mulumba Parish Kegonga, Kuria) Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/tjrc-core Recommended Citation Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission, "Public Hearing Transcripts - Nyanza - Kuria - RTJRC25.07 (St. Mathias Mulumba Parish Kegonga, Kuria)" (2011). I. Core TJRC Related Documents. 110. https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/tjrc-core/110 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission of Kenya at Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in I. Core TJRC Related Documents by an authorized administrator of Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ORAL SUBMISSIONS MADE TO THE TRUTH, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ON MONDAY 25 ST JULY, 2011 AT ST. MULUMBA PARISH KEGONGA, KURIA PRESENT Margaret Shava - The Presiding Chair, Kenya Tecla Wanjala Namachanja - The Acting Chair, Kenya Ronald Slye - Commissioner, USA Tom Ojienda - Commissioner, Kenya Berhanu Dinka - Commissioner, Ethiopia Gertrude Chawatama - Commissioner, Zambia Patrick Njue - Leader of Evidence Simon Njenga - Presiding Clerk (The Commission commenced at 10.00 a.m.) The Presiding Chair (Commissioner Shava): Good morning everybody. Welcome to our hearings today, the first day of our hearings in Kuria. Please remain standing for the National Anthem and Commission prayer. (The National Anthem was sung and prayers said) Let us take our seats.
  • In Itinere 8.Qxd

    In Itinere 8.Qxd

    EDITORIAL nce again, at the beginning of a new year, we bring na vez más, al empezar un año nuevo, os hacemos you yet another issue of In Itinere, hoping that, as in llegar un nuevo número de In Itinere con ánimo de past years, it will help many friends of our que, como en años anteriores, sirva para que tantos Missionary Community to follow our missionary amigos y amigas de nuestra Comunidad Misionera Ojourney and our continuous efforts to help build the Kingdom of Usigáis a través de sus páginas nuestro andar misionero y nuestro God in the places we are present. esfuerzo continuo por ayudar a construir el Reino de Dios en los Looking back, we see that 2005 was a year of heartfelt loses: lugares donde estamos. we already had in press the previous issue of the magazine, in Contemplando el año que pasó, nos damos cuenta que 2005 November 2004, when Msgr. John Mahon, the first bishop of fue un año de pérdidas muy sentidas: teníamos ya en la imprenta Lodwar, passed away in Kenya. A shepherd and friend, it was el anterior número de la revista, en noviembre de 2004, cuando thanks to him that we were “born” canonically in the church fallecía en Kenia Mons. John Mahon, quien fue primer obispo de when in 1984 he recognized our Missionary Community in his Lodwar. Pastor y amigo, de su mano “nacimos” jurídicamente en diocese. We pay him a personal homage in the issue that you la Iglesia cuando en 1984 él quiso dar reconocimiento a nuestra now have in your hands: his serene and courageous face stares Comunidad Misionera en su diócesis.
  • Small Christian Communities (Sccs) Promote Family and Marriage Ministry in Eastern Africa

    Small Christian Communities (Sccs) Promote Family and Marriage Ministry in Eastern Africa

    1 Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Promote Family and Marriage Ministry in Eastern Africa By Joseph G. Healey, MM ABSTRACT: The nine AMECEA Countries participated in the III Extraordinary World Synod of Bishops on "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization" in Rome from 5-19 October, 2014. In Eastern Africa Small Christian Communities (SCCs) were part of the consultation process and answered 11 of the 39 questions in the poll. Research on the 180,000 SCCs in Eastern Africa reveals that SCCs elect lay ministers/animators/coordinators for specific groups such as couples (married and engaged), youth and children and for specific pastoral ministries such as Catechesis, Justice and Peace, Religious Education, Sacraments and Spiritual/Religious Formation. A SCC is a communion of families. The SCC is an important support group for families and promotes a family culture. The SCC is both a place and a path for the pastoral care and evangelization of families and marriages. This praxis of SCCs in Africa is contributing to the development of the theology of the Church as Family of God. Now SCCs in the AMECEA Region are preparing for the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary1 World" to take place in Rome from 4-25 October, 2015 The meeting will ”seek working guidelines in the pastoral care of the person and the family.” We are challenged to continue to explore how SCC members and others can accompany families and couples who are wounded.
  • Ethnic Diversity, Social Sanctions, and Public Goods in Kenya

    Ethnic Diversity, Social Sanctions, and Public Goods in Kenya

    Journal of Public Economics 89 (2005) 2325–2368 www.elsevier.com/locate/econbase Ethnic diversity, social sanctions, and public goods in Kenya Edward Miguela,*, Mary Kay Gugertyb a549 Evans Hall, #3880, Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3880, United States bDaniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, WA, United States Received 6 January 2003; received in revised form 12 August 2004; accepted 9 September 2004 Available online 6 November 2004 Abstract This paper examines ethnic diversity and local public goods in rural western Kenya. The identification strategy relies on the stable historically determined patterns of ethnic land settlement. Ethnic diversity is associated with lower primary school funding and worse school facilities, and there is suggestive evidence that it leads to poor water well maintenance. The theoretical model illustrates how inability to impose social sanctions in diverse communities leads to collective action failures, and we find that school committees in diverse areas do impose fewer sanctions on defaulting parents. We relate these results to the literature on social capital and economic development and discuss implications for decentralization in less developed countries. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. JEL classification: D71; H41; O12 Keywords: Local public goods; Ethnic diversity; Collective action; Africa 1. Introduction Well-known cross-country empirical research indicates that ethnically diverse societies have slower economic growth and are more prone to corruption and political instability * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 510 642 7162; fax: +1 510 642 6615. E-mail address: [email protected] (E. Miguel). 0047-2727/$ - see front matter D 2004 Elsevier B.V.
  • International Marian Association Letter to Cardinal Mueller

    International Marian Association Letter to Cardinal Mueller

    International Marian Association Letter to Cardinal Mueller 31 May 2017 Eminence, Gerhard Cardinal Müller Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine on Faith Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11 00193 Roma, Italy Your Eminence: We, Executive Members of the International Marian Association, which consti- tutes over 100 theologians, cardinals, bishops, clergy, religious and lay leaders from 5 continents, wish to, first of all, thank you for the many excellent and courageous articulations and defenses of our holy Catholic Faith, as contained in your recently released, The Cardinal Müller Report. At the same time, we are obliged to express to you our grave concern regarding your comment from the text when you state: “(for example, the Church … does not call her [Mary] “co-redeemer,” because the only Redeemer is Christ, and she herself has been redeemed sublimiore modo, as Lumen Gentium [n. 53] says, and serves this redemption wrought exclusively by Christ… (p. 133). You unfortunately refer to this term as an example of false exaggeration: “falsely exaggerating per excessum, attributing to the Virgin what is not attributable to her” (Ibid.). Your Eminence, in making this statement, albeit as a private theologian since a public interview carries no authoritative or magisterial status, you have publicly stated: 1) a theologically and historically erroneous position, since the Church undeni- ably has and does call Mary a co-redeemer; and 2) a position which, in itself, materially dissents from the repeated and authoritative teachings of the Papal Magisterium, the historical teachings from your own Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (Holy Office)and other Vatican Congregations; the pre- and post-conciliar teachings of the Magisterium as expressed through numerous cardinals, bishops and national episcopal conferences; teachings of the broader Church, inclusive of multiple can- onized saints and blessed who all do, in fact, assent to and theologically expand upon the authentic Magisterial teachings of the Church concerning Mary as a co- redeemer.