The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 459: Five Lessons to Learn from the African Church
Oct 14, 2024
Bishop Robert Barron, a Catholic bishop renowned for his evangelization efforts, delves into the astounding growth of the Church in Africa. He discusses why 94% of Nigerian Catholics attend Mass weekly, contrasting it with declining American attendance. Barron shares five key lessons from the African Church, including the importance of embracing the supernatural, maintaining theological orthodoxy, and being courageous amidst opposition. He also touches on the need for cultural adaptations in evangelism while critiquing Western approaches to faith and family life.
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Africa Shapes The Church's Future
- The African Church is growing explosively, unlike the declining Western Church, which struggles with mass attendance and vocations.
- This challenges Western churches to study African practices as the African Church is already the present future of global Catholicism.
Supernatural Primacy Drives Growth
- The primacy of the supernatural is essential to true evangelization; removing it reduces the church to a worldly echo without compelling power.
- The African Church's vibrant growth stems from prioritizing the supernatural over purely natural explanations and concerns.
Affirm Orthodoxy with Prudence
- Hold fast to all theological and moral orthodoxy while presenting it affirmatively, emphasizing what the Church is for.
- Adapt the mode of expression prudently for different cultures without changing core doctrine.