De katholieke kerk over de demografische groei en het (neo-)malthusiaans beleid. Een blik op de context van Rwanda.

The research project in hand, articulated in four parts, wants to be a contribution to the world population growth debate with a glance on the context of Rwanda. Firstly, starting with statistical data, a historic overview of the world population growth will be presented, so as to appreciate its past and current state, its projections, its dynamics and its distribution on the world, regional and local (Rwandan) level. Secondly,we get to the heart of the (neo)-Malthusian thesis, analyzing its influence on the demographic policies and checking the plausibility of their thesis for birth control at all costs. Thirdly, we evaluate the relevance of the Catholic Church teaching, which was often limited to sexual ethics in connection with birth control methods that were or were not allowed. The floor will also be given to local bishops and to theologians. Fourthly, departing from creation theology, Louvain tradition and Vatican II personalist conception of human dignity and marriage, we work out a proposal to reorientate the debate to personal and social ethics for a responsible parenthood in a solidarity network at familiar, communitarian,national, world and intergenerational level. Finally, we propose some pastoral orientations for the Rwandan context.