The Sanctity of Human Life; A Synthesis of African and the Church’s Value Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5187Abstract
The sanctity of human life has been a central theme of debate in various spheres of theological and philosophical disciplines. Concepts and subjects like abortion, justifiable killing, and excusable homicides, have been handled by many authors from various disciplines of study and schools of thought. For instance, on the subject of abortion, there are those who argue in support of pro-choice while others are for pro-life. African and Christian values of life, “from the womb to the tomb” should be amplified. This paper was an attempt to further reaffirm the dictum on the sanctity of human life and the fundamental moral obligation to protect it. In his message to Africa at the end of the 1994 African Synod, Pope John Paul II, asserts that “In African culture and tradition, the role of the family is everywhere held to be fundamental.” The Church’s teaching and prophetic role is to be the voice of the voiceless; especially when it is argued that voices against abortion seem to interfere with women’s autonomy and power of self-determination. The government has a mandate to protect its citizens, both the living and the unborn. It is the government’s duty to intervene through its agencies to enforce the civil rights, laws and safety of its people. This paper was mainly a qualitative study that heavily relied on existing literature both in the African cultural values and the teachings of the Church. The paper was guided by the author’s reflections and personal experiences as a priest. Further, interviews and discussions with the elders and those considered to have knowledge on the various thematic areas of the paper were consulted.
The study revealed that both the Church's teachings and the Abagusii Bantu traditions hold a high regard for the sanctity of life, asserting its inception from conception. Both bodies condemn actions against life, such as contraception and abortion, while emphasizing the protection of the vulnerable. Incorporating these traditions into modern education and Church catechesis could counteract growing indifference towards life's value in the contemporary world. The study recommends the incorporation of the Abagusii tradition, emphasizing the fundamental right to life and protection of the vulnerable, into modern education systems and Church catechesis. It also advocates for the preservation and promotion of similar cultural traditions to counter increasing apathy towards life's sanctity in the contemporary world. The study also highlights the significance of embracing and disseminating the teachings of the Magisterium and Vatican Council II documents, affirming the sanctity of life from conception as crucial for upholding human dignity and the common good. This paper can be a resource for policy makers, scholars and the general public on the Sanctity of Human Life through the lens of the Church’s teachings and the African values system.
Keywords: Sanctity, Human Life, The Church’s Values
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