The contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of Cameroon, and why they are engaged in development works

Abstract

The aim of this study is to answer the research questions and to find out why the Catholic Church is involved in development work. According to the Catholic Church, its mission is to impact faith to its people and to bring peace, unity, love and do charity works to the world at large. However, they are as well engaged in development works and practices. The Catholic church is involved in development issues such as, health care services, education and the provision of clean portable water, poverty alleviation, road construction and taking care of the less privileged. Development according to the catholic church, is an essential aspects of their mission because, they consider the fact that, people are suppose to live in social, economy, political and cultural conditions because of dignity. The Catholic Church should therefore, defend human dignity, strive for justice and peace, promote liberty and integral human development of all individuals. (John Paul II, 1995, Ecclesia in Africa) Looking at why the Catholic Church is engaged in development works, interviews proof that they are greatly engaged in those economic development activities. Additionally, when i look at the basic needs approach, I see development as a moral imperative aimed at satisfying the basic needs of human beings such as, shelter to protect themselves from rain and sun, they also need health care to live longer and healthily. Human beings also need education to become literates and excel in the modern society and to be able to take part in decision-making processes. Human development approach also look on the process of development as a way of expanding people’s capabilities and freedom. The main aim of development is to give human beings the opportunities to reach their human potentials, that is, to live healthily, to be educated and to fully participate in the life of the community, to crown it all, they also need to live in a peaceful environment. The gender centred approach and the environmental approaches. These go along in the form of poverty alleviation, sustainable development, gender equality and women empowerment.