Contextual Application of Christian Social Teaching on Political Ethics

The political concern of the Church towards an authentic political development of man and society has always been expressed by the Church. One of the means of doing this is the teaching Magisterium of the Roman Pontiffs begun with the Encyclical Rerum novarurn of Leo XIII. John Paul II had called for reforms of political institutions in the world in his Sollicitudo rei socialis. The political situation in Africa is one of great concern, characterised by dictatorial military regimes. Even the democratically elected Governments turned out to be corrupt and are bedevilled with bad governance. This work focuses on the pronouncements indicated in the Pastoral Communiques of the Bishops under the aegis of SECAM in imitation of the Roman Pontiffs to advance the Social Teaching of the Church in the era of globalisation. In agreement with the tradition of the Roman Pontiffs and the Social Teaching of the Church, the thesis draws attention to ways of ameliorating the deteriorating political situation in Africa. The Bishops condemned corrupt regimes and offered solutions for a better political future for Africa. This book finally indicates much of the way forward for Africa.

Autorentext

The Author: Polycarp Chuks Obikwelu, born in Kaduna (Nigeria) in 1958, was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1988. He did his Bachelor in Philosophy in 1983 and his Bachelor in Theology in 1988 at the Bigard Memorial Seminary at Ikot-Ekpene and Enugu (Nigeria). He studied in Germany at the University of Bonn where he completed his doctoral degree in Theology at the Department of Christian Social Teaching and Pastoral Sociology in 2006.

Inhalt
Contents: The Church in Africa after Decolonisation and in the Era of Globalisation Role of the Catholic Church in Africa and SECAM Human Person and Principles of Social Order African Political Systems and their Ethical Implications Political and Religious Situation in Africa SECAM Pronouncements on the Political Situation in Africa and the Contextual Application Africa Quo Vadis and towards Alleviating African Problems - A Way Out.