The contribution of the church in promotion of justice and peace in Gangama Catholic Parish in light of Africae Munus of Benedict XVI

Abstract

This thesis examines the contribution of the Catholic Church in promotion of justice and peace. It is a case study of what Catholic Church has done in Gangama Parish (consisting of 23 sub/parishes), Tororo Archdiocese. This has been done in the light of the encyclical letter Africae Munus, African Commitment, of Benedict XVI and in the Library of Ggaba National Major Seminary Kampala and internet for literature review. The study covered the period between 2020 and 2022. On the same note, the study recognizes the contribution of the Catholic Church in promoting Justice and Peace in that Christians can live in harmony with each other, that is to say by avoiding „acts of injustice and violence which distort the harmonious coexistence and effective promotion of justice and peace. The thesis is based on the reality that the contribution of the Church in promoting justice and peace is indispensable. Therefore, Gangama parish has the authorization to uphold, defend, and supervise programs proposed to instil in the people of Gangama awareness of their rights and duties as far as justice and peace is concerned. Regardless of the fact that there are other agents who take part in promotion of justice and peace, the level of responsiveness towards the justice and peace in the parish is still below the minimum. The study aims at ascertaining the contribution of the Church in promotion of justice and peace, the challenges it encounters in performing this role and propose recommendations for enhancement where need be. The study also focuses at other agents for instance the state and Non-Governmental Organisations which are participating in the same task of promoting justice and peace as well as their role. Qualitative data analysis research strategy was used and data was collected through the use of questionnaires, internet and both published books and unpublished. This thesis affirms that there can be no significant promotion of justice and peace if people are not sensitized to know their role and rights. The study established that in spite of the Church‟s endeavours, there is still limited knowledge about justice and peace by some people which leaves much to be required more so in Gangama Parish. This has been attributed to the parish‟s inadequate resources (anthropological poverty), high rates of domestic violence as well as high illiteracy rates among some pastoral agents. Advocating and protecting of human rights as one of the emphasized recommendations which the pastoral agents ought to zero on by sensitizing through conferences and workshops. In so doing, each person will be able to receive his or her due which in turn draws people to live harmoniously and share the available resources amicably in the parish