International Theological Video Conference

Human beings live in the context of history but at the same time seek to preserve their eternal vocation (GS 76). It is clear then, that in matters of the temporal order there will be the possibility of points of collaboration between Church and State.

In the modern history of the African continent such collaboration has been widely evident, particularly in the areas of Health and Education. In the twentieth century, for example, the Catholic Church was a major contributor of education services to African States. Baur (1994:274) suggests that ‘the mission schools were the greatest service done to our developing African nations’. Mission hospitals, too, have played a large role in improving the quality of life of vast numbers of people on this continent. In 1950 there were more than 1500 Catholic dispensaries and 30 million consultations on the Continent (Propaganda Fide Statistics).

Pope John Paul II reminds us that ‘the basic reason for the collaboration of Church and State is the good of the human person’ (Concordat with Poland) and in Africa, collaboration in the areas of health care and education have clearly helped improve the quality of life of people here. But the quality of human life also requires transformation on the spiritual level. Consequently, the Church always seeks to act as a leaven in its relationship with human societies so that they may be "renewed in Christ and transformed into God's family" (GS 40).

Points of cooperation between Church and State will always be instituted "under regard for circumstances of place and time" (GS 76). In situations of persecution it is difficult to find areas for collaboration but as the Holy Father points out: ‘A Church which enjoys freedom wants to be the State's ally "in working together for human advancement and for the common good"’ (Concordat with Poland). Nevertheless, cooperation with the State never compromises the Church’s prophetic mission to challenge the State to more effective forms of collaboration. This is because the Church ‘is at the same time the sign and safeguard of the transcendence of the human person’ (GS 76).

The response to HIV/AIDS provides a topical example. Throughout the world, the Church has mounted a major response to the victims of HIV/AIDS. In 2002, Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan reported that 26% of all AIDS-treatment centres in the world are Catholic facilities (Zenit News agency July 2002). In South Africa, the Catholic Bishops’ AIDS Office is the ‘single largest provide’ of HIV/AIDS services in South Africa, excluding the government (SAPA, 26 Feb 2002). Despite this collaborative effort, the Church here recently called for greater cooperation between Church and State in assisting people with HIV/AIDS. The bishops called on the government "to step up its response to AIDS in the country by delivering on its proposed anti-retroviral roll out, and to overcome all bureaucratic hurdles which are hindering the realization of initiatives promoted by civil society in the health sector" (SACBC Statement on AIDS 2004). The bishops also insisted that "A solid partnership and collaboration between State and Church in this area is the only way of ensuring that this funding reaches those who need it most."

Collaboration between Church and State always combines the Church’s prophetic mission to safeguard the transcendence of the human person and the unity of the human community, with the Church’s diakonic mission of service for the common good. For this reason points of collaboration are never a subsuming of the Church into the vision and praxis of the State but are a cooperation which serves the greater good of humankind in concrete social contexts.

Baur, J 1994. 2000 years of Christianity in Africa. Nairobi: Paulist press.

Concordat With Poland. Exchange Of The Instruments of Ratification For The Concordat between The Holy See And The Republic Of Poland. Address Of John Paul II Wednesday, 25 March 1998.

GS. Gaudium et Spes. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Vatican II

1965

SACBC Statement on AIDS 2004. Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Statement on AIDS February 2004. Press Statement Pretoria, 4 February 2004. Online www.sacbc.org.za/2004aids.htm.

SAPA South African Press Association.