All you need to know about Church, politics and economics

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHURCH, POLITICS AND ECONOMICS, by Fr Dr Nhlanhla T Mchunu. St John Vianney Seminary NPC, Pretoria. 2015
Reviewed by Fr S’milo Mngadi

We often hear people saying that the Church has nothing to do with politics or it has something to do with economics only when the pew has to pay.

In this book, Fr Nhlanhla Mchunu argues not only that the Church has a lot to do in these spheres but also that there are specific Catholic principles of engagement with politics and economics. This is the Church’s best kept secret: Catholic Social Teaching (CST), which is part of moral theology.

The book stresses that CST is not a political or economic system but rather a tool to view, engage in and evaluate the politics and economics of the day.

CST is based on the eight basic principles of human dignity, common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, participation, universal destination, right to private property and preferential option for the poor.

Fr Mchunu is at pains to explain that these principles cannot be taken single-handedly but are a complementary composite of the whole response to God who loved us. Indeed, the Bible (including dogmas) tells us of what God has done and continues to do for us in love, and in moral theology we are taught principles to respond to that love in a loving manner.

The book is written in a simple language without betraying the systematic presentation any sound theology should have, and is laden with examples from our South African context.

The reflection questions at the end of most chapters make it valuable for reflection sessions in sodalities, pastoral councils, religious communities, Small Christian Communities, and Justice & Peace groups.

The use of ubuntu as an ethics is an invaluable contribution to the inculturation beyond drum-beating and hand-clapping.

However, the picture on the cover of the book betrays the core of the book, namely, that faith is lived. The Church is not the buildings but the people of God. Though the See of Rome is primal, it does not encompass the ecclesial reality which the book addresses.

Something more representative of the (South) African Church would have provided a better packaging for this great South African book.