The Sacralization of Social Assistance: The Specificity of the Romanian Orthodox Model Compared to Faith-Based Organizations in the Catholic or Protestant World: A Grounded Theory Analysis
This secondary qualitative analysis reveals how social assistance in the ROC differs from Faith-Based Organizations in Western contexts, suggesting unique implications.
Key Points
The research aims to explore the distinctive characteristics of social assistance by the Romanian Orthodox Church compared to Faith-Based Organizations in Western countries.
Performed a secondary qualitative analysis using Grounded Theory methodology.
Analyzed nineteen interviews with clergy, social workers, and experts from Northeastern Romania.
Compared findings to existing literature on Faith-Based Organizations in the UK, USA, and France.
The spiritual dimension in ROC social assistance is structurally integrated, differing from the optional nature in Western organizations.
Leadership in ROC remains clerical, unlike the secular professionals predominant in the West.
The beneficiary is viewed as an icon of Christ, contrasting with a civil rights perspective in Western contexts.