Inculturation in the Roman Catholic Church: the integration of polygamy among Lou ethnic community of Kisumu deanery

Abstract

Polygamy is one of the pastoral challenges facing the Roman Catholic Church in the world. The 1962 Second Vatican Council, 1981 Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar and 1986 Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa plenary meetings and the 1994 first African Synod of Bishops recommended; a re-examination of matrimonial theology, formulation of family catechesis and inculturated matrimonial institution to integrate polygamous families into the Christian community. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the impact of inculturation of marriage on polygamous families among Luo ethic community in Kisumu Catholic Deanery. The specific objectives of this study were to: determine the view of the Roman Catholic faithful on polygamy, examine the perception of the Roman Catholic faithful on inculturation of marriage, analyze the steps taken or not taken to inculturate marriage, and, examine the consequences of steps taken or not taken to inculturate marriage on Roman Catholic polygamous families in the Deanery. The study applied the concept of inculturation: a concept used in the Roman Catholic Church to imply an on-going dialogue between faith and culture. The study population comprised of the 420,602 Roman Catholics in the thirty three parishes. The sample population was three hundred and sixty Catholic faithful from five purposively selected parishes. In each parish the following ninety seven parishioners were purposively sampled: parish priest, chairman of the parish executive committee, five catechists, thirty polygamists, twenty monogamists not in sacramental life and chairman of the parish lay association committee from ten major associations in the parish. At the Deanery level the following twenty five key informants were purposively sampled: the Archbishop, Vicar general, Dean, pastoral coordinator, vocation director, youth coordinator, three expert theologians, justice and peace coordinator, minor seminary rector and fourteen curates. Primary data was collected through participant observation, interviews, case study and focus group discussion while secondary data collection was facilitated by library literature and archival information. The study used analytical research design. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in the data analysis. This study revealed that majority of catholic Christians has a negative attitude towards polygamy. The results also showed most Christians do not understand the concept of inculturation of polygamy. The study further revealed that inculturation of marriage has not been implemented deeply in the deanery. It was also noted that polygamous are not recognized by the church. In conclusion there is no pastoral program yet implemented to evangelize polygamous families since the Roman Catholic Church has not formulated an inculturated Luo Catholic marriage institution. Generally the study recommends that inculturation should be deeply rooted within the African families