Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2013 The Theological Anthropology Underlying Libermann's Understanding of the "Evangelization of the Blacks" in Dialogue with the Theological Anthropologies of the East African Context: Implications for the Contemporary East African Catholic Church Gerard Majella Nnamunga Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Nnamunga, G. (2013). The Theological Anthropology Underlying Libermann's Understanding of the "Evangelization of the Blacks" in Dialogue with the Theological Anthropologies of the East African Context: Implications for the Contemporary East African Catholic Church (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/984 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. 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THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY UNDERLYING LIBERMANN’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE “EVANGELIZATION OF THE BLACKS” IN DIALOGUE WITH THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGIES OF THE EAST AFRICAN CONTEXT: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY EAST AFRICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Gerard Majella Nnamunga December 2013 Copyright by Gerard Majella Nnamunga 2013 THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY UNDERLYING LIBERMANN’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE “EVANGELIZATION OF THE BLACKS” IN DIALOGUE WITH THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGIES OF THE EAST AFRICAN CONTEXT: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY EAST AFRICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH By Gerard Majella Nnamunga Approved October 15, 2013 ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. Gerald Michael Boodoo Dr. Elochukwu E. Uzukwu Director, Center for African Studies Rev. Pierre Schouver, C.S.Sp., Endowed Associate Professor of Theology Chair in Mission (Committee Chair) Associate Professor of Theology (Committee Member) ________________________________ Dr. George S. Worgul, Jr. Professor of Theology (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. James Swindal Dr. Maureen O’Brien Dean of McAnulty College and Graduate Chair, Theology Department School of Liberal Arts Associate Professor of Theology iii ABSTRACT THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY UNDERLYING LIBERMANN’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE “EVANGELIZATION OF THE BLACKS” IN DIALOGUE WITH THE THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGIES OF THE EAST AFRICAN CONTEXT: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY EAST AFRICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH By Gerard Majella Nnamunga December 2013 Dissertation supervised by Dr. Gerald Michael Boodoo. This study was conceived primarily as an attempt to evaluate and critique the common assumption that Francis Mary Paul Libermann (1802-52) like any missionary during his age who went to Africa brought Good News of salvation, recreated self-esteem, confidence and self- respect in Africans who had been dehumanized by slavery. This tendency to overemphasize heroic exploits and contributions of self-sacrificing European missionaries and founders of missionary Religious Congregations often overlooks the part played by the people who were evangelized and their influence on the so called Christian heroes. Far from being a hagiology of Libermann, this study engages in an ideological dialogue by first, evaluating Libermann’s theological anthropology of l’œuvre des noirs in sitz im leben of the nineteenth century with its prejudices against Africans which can also be easily discerned in Libermann’s writings and second, underlining important underpinnings of the East African religious traditions which played a critical role in the reception and acceptance of the Gospel message. iv Drawing from Emmanuel Levinas’ concept of the “other” sometimes referred to as the “face” which cannot be conceptualized, speaks to us, and is inviolable, I argue that Libermann too allowed the “other” that is, Africans, to speak to him. Using this insight I explore the relational notion of human being which is very prominent in the East African concept of person and its impact on Libermann’s relationship with Africans, the primary object of his mission. Missionary activity in the East African context, I conclude is a dialogue, a listening experience that leads to metanoia (conversion) of both the evangelizer and the evangelized. v DEDICATION To my beloved sister, Christine Nnazziwa who passed on to eternity on April 11, 1991. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe profound gratitude to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis and Felista Ssemmondo who nurtured the gifts of life and faith in me and instilled in me a burning interest and desire for Christian missionary activity. I am very grateful to the members of the dissertation committee: Dr. Gerald Michael Boodoo who served as chair and whose critical interpretation of Francis Libermann’s teaching was of valuable help; Dr. Eugene Elochukwu Uzukwu CSSp for his corrections and suggestions; and Dr. George Worgul for his advice. I must say that I could not have asked for more supportive and helpful advisors. The initial call to pursue doctoral studies at Duquesne University was from the General Council (2004 – 2012) in Rome. I am grateful to the General Council for the confidence entrusted in me and their continuous support, particularly through John Kwofie CSSp. I am also indebted to the East African Province Council (2005 - 2008) and the Uganda Foundation Council for allowing me to do my studies at Duquesne. In pursuing doctoral studies and writing this dissertation, I received financial support from the Trans-Canadian Province which financed my first year at Duquesne and the US Province for the rest of my studies. I am most grateful for this support and the moral support from Jeff Duaime CSSp. I have been fortunate to work with John Fogarty CSSp (current Superior General) and Bernard Kelly CSSp at Duquesne’s Center for Spiritan Studies. I am grateful to these two for assisting me to formulate the initial ideas of this dissertation and their continued advice and support. In writing this dissertation, I relied on the hospitality and assistance of people and institutions in many places of which I am very grateful. I am grateful to Sr. Loise Best SND for proof reading the text. I am equally grateful to Vincent O’Toole CSSp for reading this work and vii his helpful insights, and Paul Kollman CSC for reading part of this work and offering useful comments. I am grateful to the chief librarians at Makerere University library and Ggaba Seminary library who gave me access to these libraries. I am grateful to my confreres with whom I have lived in community at Laval House and the adjoining community, Trinity Hall, who include: Bill Christy CSSp, Alain Mayama CSSp, John Asomugha CSSp, Gabriel Mendy CSSp, Jean Michel Gelmetti CSSp, Barnabas Kileu CSSp, Chike Anyigbo CSSp, Augustine Bangalie CSSp, Antonio D. Quimino CSSp, Casimir Nyaki CSSp and Brian Cronin CSSp. At Spiritan House, Kyebando, I am deeply indebted to Peter Kofi- Buor CSSp and Festo Adrabo CSSp. In doing the research for this dissertation, I am grateful to Sr. Elizabeth J. Sunya and Sr. Charity Nyagah for the information I received from them concerning their ethnic groups. Lastly, I thank most heartily the Christians at St. Mark, Belmont, California and particularly their pastor Al Furtado CSSp for their hospitality, encouragement and support. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract …………………………………………………………….…………………………….iv Dedication …………………………………………………………………….………………….vi Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………...vii Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………………..xi Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1 Chapter One: Libermann’s Life Experience…………………………………………………...9 1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………....9 1.2 Brief History of Libermann’s Life Experience………………………………………………10 1.3 Libermann and the Jewish Context…………………………………………………………..16 1.3.1 Emancipation of Jews……………………………………………………………………17 1.3.2 Libermann’s Attitude to Freedom and Emancipation ……………………………………19 1.4 Libermann’s Conversion……………………………………………………………………..23 1.5 Libermann’s “Second Conversion”………………………………………………………….27 1.6 Libermann’s Suffering, Rejection and Living Positively……………………………………30 1.7 Libermann’s L’Œuvre des Noirs…………………………………………………………….39 1.7.1 Motivation………………………………………………………………………………..39 1.7.2 New and Unique Mission………………………………………………………………...45 1.8 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………...50 Chapter Two: Libermann’s Theological Anthropology……………………………………...52 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..52 2.2 Theological Anthropology and the Turn of Relationality……………………………………54 2.3 Human Relationship in the Biblical Creation and Covenant Accounts ……………………..65 2.4 Libermann and Nineteenth Century Racial and Dualistic Theological Anthropology………69 2.4.1 Libermann and the Curse of Ham …..…………………………………………………...71 2.4.2 Anthropology of Libermann’s Commentary on the Gospel of St. John…………………74 2.5 Libermann and Mission ……………………………………………………………………..79 2.5.1 Libermann and His Attitude to Liberation of Slaves…………..………………………...81 2.5.2 Libermann and Inculturation …………………………………………………………….91 ix 2.5.2.1 Libermann and Culture…………………………………………………………………..92 2.5.2.2 Libermann and the Formation of the Local Culture……………………………………..96 2.5.2.3 Libermann,