The Emerging Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa. The Pastoral Response of the Roman Catholic Church to its Socio-Economic Impact

Master's Thesis , 2022 , 147 Pages , Grade: 70%

Theology - Practical Theology

This study is an appraisal of the pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church to the socio-economic impact of the emerging pandemic in South Africa. Central to this study is the contribution that African liberation theology offers, with particular emphasis on the philosophy of Ujamaa and the theology of Ubuntu, in strengthening the pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church to the socio-economic impact of the emerging Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented socio-economic hardships globally. The austerities brought about by Covid-19 has affected all sectors of society. Religious, economic, and political sectors have felt the ordeal of the humanitarian crisis. The emergence of the pandemic in South Africa in March 2020 has had a huge socio-economic impact, mostly on the poor and the less privileged in society. The pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated pre-existing socio-economic inequalities in South Africa. These aggravated inequalities include corruption, unemployment, gender-based violence, and access to public healthcare.

The methodology of See-Judge-Act is used in the study. The ‘see’ corresponds to the critical analysis of the socio-economic context of the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. Conceptually, ‘judge’ uses the guiding categories of the philosophy of Ujamaa and the theology of Ubuntu to thematically analyse various pastoral documents published by the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa in its response to the emerging pandemic during the period March 2020 – March 2021. The ‘act’ elaborates the potential socially transformative actions from the principles of Ujamaa and Ubuntu that would render more effective the pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church to the socio-economic impact of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER ONE
  • Introducing the Study
  • Background to the Study
  • Rationale of the Study
  • Theoretical Framework of the Study
  • Key Research Questions and Objectives of the Study
  • Research Methodology
  • Structure of the Study
  • Anticipated Problems, Limitations and Scope of Study
• CHAPTER TWO
  • Emergence of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Socio-economic Impact in South Africa
  • Introduction
  • The Global Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic
  • The Socio-economic Impact of the Emerging Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa
  • Conclusion
• CHAPTER THREE
  • An African Liberation Theological Reflection on Covid-19
  • Introduction
  • Contextual Background to African Liberation Theology
  • Biographies of Julius Nyerere and Desmond Tutu
  • Defining Ujamaa and Ubuntu
  • Ujamaa and Ubuntu as African Liberation Theologies
  • Conclusion
• CHAPTER FOUR
  • The Response of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa to the Emergence of Covid-19 and its Socio-economic Impact
  • Introduction
  • Roman Catholic Social Teaching on Responding to Human Need
  • The Establishment of Caritas Internationalis as the Catholic Development Agency
  • The Southern African Catholic Bishop's Conference Response to the Emergence of Covid-19
  • Pastoral letters of Bishop Victor Phalana, Klerksdorp
  • Pastoral letter of Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, Johannesburg
  • Statements by the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council - Cardinal Wilfred Napier
  • Pope Francis' Encyclical Letter
  • Analysis of the Socio-economic Impact in the Pastoral Letters and Statements
  • Practical Response through Caritas South Africa
  • Conclusion
• CHAPTER FIVE
  • An Analysis of the Response of the Roman Catholic Church to Covid-19 in Light of the Philosophy of Ujamaa and the Theology of Ubuntu
  • Introduction
  • The Response of the Roman Catholic Church to Covid-19 in Light of Ujamaa and Ubuntu
  • Socially Transformative Actions for a More Effective Pastoral Response of the Roman Catholic Church to the Covid-19 Pandemic
  • Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study examines the pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church to the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. It aims to assess the effectiveness of this response by applying the principles of African liberation theology, particularly the philosophy of Ujamaa and the theology of Ubuntu.

• The socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa
• The pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church to the pandemic
• The contribution of African liberation theology, particularly Ujamaa and Ubuntu, to strengthening the pastoral response
• The application of the See-Judge-Act methodology to analyze the Church's response
• The identification of socially transformative actions based on Ujamaa and Ubuntu to enhance the pastoral response

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter One: This chapter introduces the study, outlining its background, rationale, theoretical framework, research questions, methodology, and structure. It also anticipates potential problems, limitations, and the scope of the study.
• Chapter Two: This chapter explores the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and its global and socio-economic impact, focusing on the situation in South Africa. It examines how the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, such as poverty, unemployment, and gender-based violence.
• Chapter Three: This chapter provides an African liberation theological reflection on Covid-19. It delves into the contextual background of this theology, highlighting the contributions of Julius Nyerere and Desmond Tutu. It further defines and examines the principles of Ujamaa and Ubuntu as African liberation theologies.
• Chapter Four: This chapter analyzes the response of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa to the emergence of Covid-19. It examines Roman Catholic social teachings, the role of Caritas Internationalis, the statements of the Southern African Catholic Bishop's Conference, pastoral letters from specific bishops, and Pope Francis' encyclical letter. The chapter also analyzes the socio-economic impact reflected in these documents and discusses the practical response provided by Caritas South Africa.
• Chapter Five: This chapter examines the response of the Roman Catholic Church to Covid-19 in light of the philosophy of Ujamaa and the theology of Ubuntu. It explores how these principles can contribute to a more effective pastoral response and identifies socially transformative actions that could enhance the Church's impact.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, the pastoral response of the Roman Catholic Church, and the contribution of African liberation theology, particularly Ujamaa and Ubuntu, to strengthening this response. Other key concepts include the See-Judge-Act methodology, socially transformative actions, and the role of Caritas South Africa.

• College: University of KwaZulu-Natal (College of Humanities / School of Religion, Philosphy & Classics)
• Course: Theology and Development
• Grade: 70%
• Author: Gilbert Kamta Tatsi (Author)
• Publication Year: 2022
• Pages: 147
• Catalog Number: V1317838
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346803924
• ISBN (Book): 9783346803931
• Language: English
• Tags: African theology pastoral response Roman Catholic Church socio-economic impact Ubuntu Ujamaa south Africa