Worshipping God to Stay Alive and Staying Alive to Worship God: A Study of Roman Catholic Church’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic in Nsukka, Nigeria
Kingsley I. Uwaegbute & Damian O. Odo
Nsukka Journal of Religion and Cultural Studies | Vol 12, No 1 | © 2024 Kingsley I. Uwaegbute & Damian O. Odo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 29 Dec., 2023 | Published: 06 May 2024
About the author(s)
Kingsley I. Uwaegbute, a lecturer in the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Damian O. Odo, a lecturer in the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Full Text:
Abstract
This article examines the management of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Roman Catholic Church in Nsukka, Nigeria. By management, we mean how the Roman Catholic church in Nsukka makes sure that its congregations adhere to the COVID-19 protocols. A survey was carried out which covered both parishes in the rural areas and Nsukka town as well. Three each from the rural and three from Nsukka town, formed the population of the study. The study spanned from June 2020 to April 2021.The findings of the article showed that Roman Catholics in the rural areas cared less about maintaining COVID-19 protocols; their reason is based on the ‘illusion’ that the pandemic is not real after all. Those within the urban areas adhered more to the protocols given that provisions of washing hand basins and sanitisers were made. They also made use of their facemasks. These set of Roman Catholic members believe that the pandemic may be real and to be on the safe side, one has to protect oneself against any eventuality. Stricter measures were found out not to have been put in place in Roman Catholic parishes in the rural areas to ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Keywords
COVID 19, Roman Catholic Church, Nsukka, COVID-19 protocols