Charity, Justice, and Development in Practice: A Case Study of the Daughters of Charity in East Africa

oleh: Meghan J. Clark

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc. 2020-06-01

Deskripsi

Development must “allow persons to become dignified agents of their own destiny.” Since _Populorum Progressio_ (On the Development of Peoples), Catholic social teaching has understood development as a holistic, multi-dimensional, and communal vision called integral human development. Yet practically, the concept of integral human development itself is somewhat diffuse and ambiguous. This article seeks to clarify integral human development and its relationship to charity and justice through the practical experience of development work spearheaded by Catholic women religious communities. This case study focuses on the development work of the Daughters of Charity in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia for the promotion of women and girls through programs on education, job training, HIV/AIDS healthcare, and anti-female genital mutilation. Using data collected from interviews with both Daughters of Charity and staff working in these programs, this article examines the relationship between charity, justice, and development to clarify integral human development. Second, it will argue for an ethics of integral human development embedded within communities. Ultimately, this article seeks to concretize integral human development revealing a local and practical place for dialogue between CST and the SDG agenda.