Caritas et veritas - Latest articles

Results 1 to 30 of 63:

Responsibility and Challenge: Psychological Analysis of Covid-19 Information in a Journal of the.Czech Christian Academy.Studies Varia

Pavel Moravec, Lucia Lacková

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):99-114 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2025.009  

The purpose of the research is to analyse information about Covid-19 as it relates to religion in a Czech periodical Universum in the year 2020. We examine coping strategies to deal with the pandemic situation. Thematic analysis is used as a method. Five main themes are found: Challenge, Searching for the spiritual dimension of the crisis, Use of online space, Ineffective management of the pandemic by the Church, and Balancing different approaches. The disease is presented as a challenge to face and the published information gives the pandemic a spiritual dimension, but without apocalyptic fear. Spirituality has emerged as an adaptive coping mechanism...

Christian Ethics and Nigerian Politics: a Reflection on Philippians 2:3-4Studies Topical

Michael Oyebowale Oyetade, Esther Adeola Femi-Olubiyi

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):82-98 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2025.008  

Nigerian politics in the 21st century reflects a complex landscape of democratic retrogression, economic challenges, insecurity, and social issues, corruption, poor infrastructure, etc., despite the large numbers of Christians as citizens. Philippians 2:3-4 emphasises key principles such as selflessness, humility, consideration for others, modesty, unpretentiousness, etc., which offer specific guidance for political leaders and Nigerian citizens; thus, this paper aims to reflect on the text in the context of Nigerian politics. The research adopts a qualitative research design and the research methods are historical and exegetical methods, the population...

The Impact of a Parent’s Mental Illness on a Child’s LifeStudies Topical

Silvie Ročovská

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):64-81 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2025.007  

The aim of this study is to find out what effect does parental mental illness have on the life of the child. A sub-objective of the study is to show the specific problems of the children and the strategies they use to cope with the family situation.  The starting point is the concept of parental mental illness as a risk factor in child development. The issue is approached through an ecological approach explaining the interdependence between humans and their environment. The text is developed as a theoretical essay that analyses the literature sources dealing with the issue of serious mental illness of a parent and its impact on the child. Literature...

Rituals of the Last Farewell in Contemporary Czech SocietyStudies Topical

Petr Macek, Tereza Lásková

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):50-63 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2025.006  

The article is focused on a sub-aspect of the broad topic of the accompaniment of the dying and the bereaved. It presents results of the research into the current ritual practices of the rites of the last farewell. The main aim of the research was to combine methodological perspectives of the anthropological study of rituals with the studies of contemporary (post)modern spirituality. The key research question was aimed at the influence of spirituality on the current ritual praxis. A qualitative probe into the experience of participants for whom accompanying is part of their profession showed strong link between conviction about the importance of rituals...

Religion, Migration, and Political Economy in the USA: from Open-doors to Raids and Sanctuaries for DreamersStudies Topical

Antonio Sánchez-Bayón, Jesús J. Sánchez-Barricarte

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):16-31 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2025.004  

This is a Political Economy review on religion and migration management in the United States of America (USA). This evaluation in US migrants-citizens relations shows the pendulum effect, moving from integration policies (open doors and melting pot agenda) to official persecution (raids and deportations), with a high social opportunity cost. There has been a split between the State and the civil society, producing civil disobedience and sanctuary network across the country (the citizens protect the migrants from the State). Special attention is paid to the development of the Sanctuary Movement, as an ongoing example of the sociocultural upheaval bringing...

Our voice – challenging situations and the needs of those who experience them from their perspectiveEditorial

Jan Kaňák, Michal Opatrný, Daniela Blank

Caritas et veritas 2025, 15(1):6-7  

Carol Gilligan’s book In a Different Voice has materialised and highlighted in print the experience of women and girls in the field of moral development, raising their voices alongside a theory of morality built on male experience. In the present issue, I wanted to enable the same. That is to say, to leave space for writers who would let the voices of those who experience various difficult situations, who face the experience of exclusion from the majority society, or who experience misunderstanding from their surroundings, speak in their texts, metaphorically and practically speaking. The thematic texts approach the perspectives of people with...

Theological Challenges of God’s Providence during the Covid-19 Pandemic: a Case Study in IndonesiaStudies

Jusuf Haries Kelelufna

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):98-110 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.023  

The misguided theological view of God’s providence and worship practices that are not in accordance with health protocols contributed to the spread of Covid-19. It was seen in many religious clusters of the spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia. This research answers the challenges faced by the church in theology and explains how theology has developed during the pandemic. The research was conducted with a qualitative approach. The participants involved in this research were priests, assemblies, and members of congregations of churches in Maluku, Indonesia. The data in the form of interview results were then analysed with Huberman’s analysis....

The Relevance of Youth Identity Formation in an Increasingly Individualistic SocietyStudies

María José Ibanez-Ayuso

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):85-97 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.022  

In recent months, the health crisis has brought about suspicion of others. Not only does it create major problems for social coexistence, but also for human flourishing. The growth of individualism makes it difficult for people to recognise their relational dimension. This phenomenon especially affects young people, since during their youth they must face the challenge of building their identity. With the aim of offering educational keys to help young people face this challenge in the current context, an exploratory content analysis of different texts of Popes John Paul II and Francis has been carried out. For this purpose, through an initial statistical...

Hermeneutics in social work: the interaction of the worlds of the client and the social workerStudies

Zdenko Širka

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):67-84 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.021  

In this paper, we explore the connections between social work practice and hermeneutics and examine how hermeneutics, the science of understanding, fits into social work, both in theory and practice. The aim is to contribute to the dialogue and to grasp this hermeneutic potential of social work. The main representatives of hermeneutics (Wilhem Dilthey, Friedrich Schleiermacher, Hans-Georg Gadamer) and related hermeneutic concepts useful for social work are introduced: the human horizon, the hermeneutic circle, historical embeddedness, pre-understanding and conversation. How the connection has been thematized so far (constructivist and reflexive approaches)...

Spirituality of social work studentsStudies

Alena Hricová, Veronika Březovská

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):56-66 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.020  

The present study deals with the topic of spirituality among social work students.The research part was carried out using the interviewing method through a standardized Expressions of Spirituality Inventory-revised (ESI-R) questionnaire and a self-administered sociodemographic questionnaire. The research population consisted of 156 students from the field of social work from the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. The research conducted indicated that spirituality may be an important part of the lives of social work students, but the sample achieved on average lower levels of spirituality than the population. The research also tested the...

Human and Christian Recreation of the Way of Life for the Post-Covid 19 EraStudies

Pavel Ambros

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):43-55 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.019  

The paper reflects the discussion within individual local Churches in Europe in 2020. The results became part of the discussions of the Plenary Assembly of the CCEE from 25th to 26th September in Prague on the topic ‘The Church in Europe after the Pandemic’. The study addresses the main points of discussion within the Church, taking into account the social and economic situation of individual EU countries. The crisis associated with the pandemic has partially deepened intra-Church tensions. Therefore, the study thoroughly examines these themes (celebration of Sunday, spiritual Holy Communion, the significance of forms of liturgy as a rite...

The Social-pedagogic Aspect in the Works of John Amos Comenius and His Legacy to the Modern WorldStudies

Lenka Haburajová Ilavská, Lýdia Lešková

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):34-42 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.018  

The thoughts of John Amos Comenius, an important figure in Czech history, influenced philosophy, pedagogy and its marginal branches in the Czech Republic and other European countries. His ideas, which he based on Czech traditions, were directed towards resolving the issue of good and evil. This paper discusses the importance of Comenius’ works in the context of the social and social-pedagogical dimensions. Its aim is to reflect on the basic ideas of the teacher of the nations in his many years of work. The enrichment of the social as well as socio-pedagogical sciences is a topic we dealt with in the article; we wanted to point out the legacy...

Respect for Diversity and Multiculturalism in the Historical Transformations of Social Work Professional EthicsStudies

Andrej Mátel, Andrea Preissová Krejčí

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):16-33 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.017  

Within the modern history of social work, certain developmental periods in its professional ethics can be distinguished. In the theoretical introduction of this contribution, we explore selected ethical values and principles – namely, anti-discrimination, multiculturalism, and respect for diversity. These principles have become integral to the ethically sensitive practice of social work. The research section of this contribution presents a methodological overview of a qualitative content analysis of selected social work ethical codes. This analysis emphasises the historical transformations of these ethical principles within international, Czech,...

35 Years of the Second History of Czech Social WorkEditorial

Jan Kaňák

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(2):6-7  

When we planned the thematic focus of this issue, we thought of it primarily in the context of a certain reflection on the modern history of social work in our geographical area. However, our historicising thinking was confronted, in a good sense, with what Pavla Kodymová, who worked at the first post-1989 social work department in our country, had already reflected on years ago. That is to say, rather than a turn to the historical perspective, one can assume an interest in describing and understanding the contemporary. However, you can find historical reflections in it after all, especially in the article The Social-pedagogical Aspect in the Works...

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-SK): Validation Study of the Slovak Version for AdolescentsStudies Varia

Katarína Šiňanská, Magdaléna Hovanová, Lucia Tóthová

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):117-132 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.011  

The goal of the paper is to verify the factor structure of the MSPSS questionnaire, which measures social support sources within the original three-factor structure, verify its psychometric properties, and adjust it to Slovak conditions including the correct language adaptation. MSPSS is one of the most widely used methodologies measuring an individual’s perception of social support from three sources: family, friends and a significant other. The empirical verification was performed on a research file of adolescent high school students (n = 249). The questionnaires were administered to secondary school students who were randomly drawn from a...

Transformation of the Values of Agape Love as a Learning Agent for Moral Change in the Context of Theology StudentStudies Varia

GP Harianto, Ester Widiyaningtyas, Urbanus Sukri, Desire Karo Karo, Victoria Woen, David Ming

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):104-116 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.010  

The objective of this study was to examine the parallels between the Agape Love and moral change in theological students. The findings imply that transformation of the values of Agape Love as a learning agent for moral change in the context of theological students should aim to bring about God’s Kingdom’s reconciliation. Contextualising learning agent content into students’ circumstances and backgrounds involves shifting from a Christian moral and character to the theological students. The goal of Agape Love is to completely change students’ lives, including their cognitive, emotional, and behavioural aspects. Dialectics, cooperative...

The Ontological Status of Nature in the Era of HumanityStudies Topical

Lucie Kolářová

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):75-87 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.008  

The text deals with the environmental crisis and how human culture can evolve regarding its attitude to the status of nature. Its aim is to consider how the status of nature can be adequately and justifiably characterised in the Anthropocene era, and this against the backdrop of postmodern changes in their relevant historical lines and perspectives. In this context, the Christian concept cannot be overlooked. The method is chronological concerning historical connections, yet the basic epistemological line is theoretical-systematic, hermeneutical, and based in synthesis. Regarding the issue of nature’s autonomy, subject of reflection are the limits...

Future PrimativesStudies Topical

Michael Forest

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):88-103 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.009  

This article presents two typical but inadequate responses to the philosophical problem of constructing an environmental identity and ethic for our climate-impacted future. It finds difficulties with a primitivist mentality that renounces technology in favour of a nostalgic view of the human past, then critiques the opposite position that puts full faith in capitalistic technology in order to avoid shedding our consumer culture and economic commitment to unlimited growth. Finally, an alternative is presented as the ‘future primitive’ which points to an identity which befits the difficult years ahead as well as the hope for a sustainable...

Volunteerism of University Students in the Czech Republic as a Path to SustainabilityStudies Topical

Zdeňka Dohnalová, Iveta Zelenková

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):31-43 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.005  

In the context of sustainable development, volunteering among university students plays a key role in shaping the future of society. This study uses a focus group method with students to analyse how involvement in volunteering activities enhances individuals’ competencies and contributes to sustainable development. The analytical section provides the reader with data on student volunteers’ personal and career development, their social interactions and networking, social responsibility and sustainability, and global thinking. The authors also discuss the role of the university in student volunteering. Volunteering effectively promotes social...

Readiness of Religious Communities to Live Today and Tomorrow. Do Consecrated Persons Take Seriously Contemporary Theological, Social and Environmental Challenges?Studies Topical

Dana Jakšičová, Alice Košárková, Vít Hušek

Caritas et veritas 2024, 14(1):44-59 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2024.006  

Consecrated life is an ongoing phenomenon within the Catholic Church that changes over time and tries to respond to actual spiritual and social needs of the society. This study deals with the contemporary religious order communities facing the rapid development of society and changed theological emphases. The aim is to assess whether consecrated persons are ready to accept socio-cultural changes and respond to actual spiritual, theological, social, and environmental challenges. This readiness is an essential prerequisite if religious orders are to remain an integral part of the Church and society in the future, as they have been since the beginning...