The influence of Pentecostalism on the pastoral care of the Catholic Church: A case study of three parishes in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

The notable change that has taken place in the spirituality of many Catholic Christians and the pastoral work of the Catholic Church in DR Congo since the advent of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) movement in 1975 is the main reason that motivated the author of this thesis to study the role that Pentecostalism has played in this transformation. This thesis investigates the following central question through a case study of three Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa: To what extent has Pentecostalism influenced the pastoral work of these three parishes in particular and the Roman Catholic Church in the DR Congo in general? In order to examine the assimilated Pentecostal pastoral practices and their impact on the pastoral work of the Roman Catholic Church in the DR Congo, the study highlights the changes and issues that have occurred in the pastoral work of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church presents pastoral work as a series of ecclesial activities organized for soul salvation aimed at edifying people through teaching and various social actions, including charismatic activities. The qualitative approach serves as the methodological framework during the development of this study. Osmer's model of the four interpretative tasks in practical theology--the empirical-descriptive task, the interpretative task, the normative task, and the pragmatic task--guides the development of the chapters. The study illustrates how Charismatic Renewal (CCR) influences pastoral functions such as liturgy, preaching, prayer, evangelisation, pastoral accompaniment, and exorcism practice. On the one hand, people view the CCR as a source of blessing and spiritual awakening; on the other, it challenges several Catholic doctrines. In this sense, the Roman Catholic Church presents two faces: the first has remained faithful to the tradition and doctrines of Catholicism, while the second is Pentecostal and charismatic. The causes of the influence of Pentecostalism on the pastoral work of the Roman Catholic Church are outlined. Although they are numerous, the study highlighted two groups, namely: endogenous and exogenous causes. This study encourages the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the DRC to reflect critically and theologically around a table of dialogue with the RCC on the perspectives and guidelines of pastoral work. This thesis can be deemed successful to the extent that its perspectives and theological guidelines safeguard and revitalise the pastoral function within the Catholic Church in the DRC and globally. Furthermore, this thesis will enlighten leaders and Christians from other Christian denominations about Pentecostalism. This recent spiritual awakening has been sweeping the Church since the beginning of the 20th century.