The Role of the Catholic Church in Ecology: The Case of Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre
Date
2011-12-01
Authors
Lukanga, Mwewa Victor
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Abstract
The raison d'être of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the role of the Catholic Church in ecology in the Zambian context. The study was qualitative in approach and in terms of design, a case study of Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) made and research carried out to completion. The objectives of the study included: to investigate the effectiveness of the role the Catholic Church plays in ecology in Zambia, to find out whether the present Catholic Church’s ecological content and approaches are adequately accessed and understood by KATC’s small scale farmers and to suggest some strategies that would help in the implementation of the Catholic Church’s ecological proclamations.
Data were collected from a sample of the target group using questionnaires, observation, interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. The data were analysed in the light of the principles of the Catholic theology of Imago Dei.
The study shows that KATC has endeavoured to domesticate the ecological ethics underscored in the theology of Imago Dei. KATC is a Jesuit owned non-profit making institution which advocates, lobbies, and trains small scale farmers in sustainable and organic agriculture. Additionally the centre offers extension services to the small scale farmers and conducts research work to provide evidence that sustainable and organic farming is feasible.
KATC’s sustainable and organic agriculture initiative demonstrates that ecological revaluation should be guided by ethical values which do not compromise the needs of the present generation with the needs of the future generations. Moreover, the KATC ecological agenda explains that the capacity of the earth to support life should not be restrained by humanity’s irresponsible dominion of the earth.
The conclusion arrived at in the study was that theological and ethical principles stipulated in the theology of Imago Dei; all creation is fundamentally good, human beings’ dignity in ecology is inalienable, human beings are stewards of ecology and natural resources are a common good which should be used with respect and care above all ecology manifests the glory of God, provide the basis for ecological management at KATC.As a result, it was recommended that the Catholic Church should integrate ecological ethics of the theology of Imago Dei into the Zambian context bearing in mind that the Church does not have an elaborate ecological scheme, The Church initiatives on political, economical and social justice should include ecological justice, and programs on poverty eradication should not sideline ecological management and sustainability. Besides, development should be holistic in approach so as to sustain the ecology.
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Keywords
Catholic church(Ecological aspects)--Zambia , Religious education-Kasisi--Zambia