Catholic Theology Research Articles

Interreligious Formation, Community-Based Learning, and Justice: The Case of Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

Interreligious Formation, Community-Based Learning, and Justice: The Case of Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

Perempuan Disabilitas dan Hubungannya dengan Teologi Belas Kasih Katolik

Abstract: Humans are the image of God and have the dignity of life as a special gift from God. In this regard, it must be noted that gender differences as men or women, normal physical conditions or as people with disabilities are never a measure of human dignity. Women with disabilities have the right to live and be loved like other human beings. Discrimination and various acts of injustice against women with disabilities are a moral issue that threatens the value of equal human dignity. This research aims to call for the need to realize Catholic theology of compassion, especially for women with disabilities. Women with disabilities are often ignored in various groups such as families, local communities, and in religious/religious circles. To overcome these problems and collect data and analyze problems comprehensively, this research uses case studies and qualitative methods through literature studies. Thus, the problem is studied through quantitative and qualitative approaches. First, I will explain that women with disabilities experience marginalization in general society; second, I will outline the idea of Catholic theology of mercy; Third, build a theological reflection and show the possible direction of pastoral theology. Through this research, the author hopes to be able to tell the concrete experiences of women with disabilities in relation to Catholic theology of compassion. In this way, it is hoped that there will be a joint movement that will increasingly promote peace, love, justice and prosperity.   Keywords: human dignity; women with disabilities; mercy; discrimination

The Universal As (Non‐)Particular: Agamben, Metz, And The Theology Of Victimhood

AbstractThis study offers a new perspective on the work of Italian theorist Giorgio Agamben, arguing that his recent engagements with the Christian tradition can be productively interpreted as a kind of political theology. As a way of making this claim, I place Agamben in dialogue with German Catholic theologian Johann Baptist Metz, as perhaps the clearest analogue in recent political theology, examining their shared genealogical roots in Marxist philosophy and the Frankfurt School, as well their mutual interests in early‐Christian and medieval apocalyptic. Furthermore, I argue that their respective projects can mutually inform one another, and together be regarded as a corrective to certain aspects of contemporary Augustinian theory. Focusing on the question of the victim, I contend that Agamben's and Metz’s approach to “universality” can serve to illuminate and to challenge some of the more “particularistic” and exclusionary elements of the Augustinian form.

Distinct But Not Separate: Rethinking Maritain’s Distinction of Planes to Recover his Democratic Potential

Few Catholic theologians wielded as much influence over the Twentieth-Century Catholic Church as Jacques Maritain. Furthermore, few have stirred as much global controversy in the realm of theological politics (especially in the area of global affairs). Considered treasonous by Latin American conservatives and impractical by those arguing for a politically active church, Maritain’s work touts a contemplative moderation that frustrates all political sides. Maritain’s canon daunts even the best readers and often breeds practical misinterpretation of his own philosophy. Using primary sources from Argentina and Brazil, this article reexamines Maritain’s distinction of the spiritual and worldly planes and its application of Maritain’s political thought during both the Spanish Civil War period and Brazil’s 21-year dictatorship (1964-1986). It thereby pushes back on longstanding theological critiques of this distinction. Far from advocating a church aloof from the political sphere, Maritain advocated for a vigorous engagement with it while maintaining the church’s spiritual integrity.

The Dialogue Between Tradition and History: Essays on the Foundations of Catholic Moral Theology by Benedict Ashley O.P., ed. Matthew McWhorter, The National Catholic Bioethics Centre, Broomall, PA, 2022, pp. 334, £21.50, pbk

The Dialogue Between Tradition and History: Essays on the Foundations of Catholic Moral Theology by Benedict Ashley O.P., ed. Matthew McWhorter, The National Catholic Bioethics Centre, Broomall, PA, 2022, pp. 334, £21.50, pbk

Skin Colour and Priesthood. Debating Bodily Differences in Early Modern Catholicism*

Can people of different skin colours become Catholic priests? What may seem self‐evident from today's perspective, Catholic theologians and canon lawyers controversially debated in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. While most authors agreed that colour per se was not a problematic factor, an increasing number argued that non‐white individuals should not serve as priests in white communities because of the negative reactions they would provoke there. This article argues that by taking this “perspectivist view” the Catholic Church could claim universality and flexibility in its admission policy whereas, in fact, it incorporated and reinforced anti‐Blackness. The article analyses the hitherto unexplored history of this debate, situates it within broader thinking about bodily differences in an increasingly global Catholic world and shows how it intersected with practical issues surrounding the establishment of an indigenous clergy throughout the Catholic empires and missionary zones.

Book Review: On the Eighth Day: A Catholic Theology of Sport by Matt Hoven, J.J. Carney and Max T. Engel

Book Review: <i>On the Eighth Day: A Catholic Theology of Sport</i> by Matt Hoven, J.J. Carney and Max T. Engel

Pachamama Christianity: The Pan-Amazonian Synod and Indigenous Religious Identity

In the early hours of the morning of October 21, 2019, two right-wing Catholic men broke into the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, Rome. They stole four carved wooden statues of a naked pregnant woman that had been on display and used in a papal ceremony during the Pan-Amazonian Synod that was nearing its conclusion and threw them into the Tiber River. What was the meaning of these statues and the ceremony in the presence of the pope in which they appeared? Was this an example of syncretism, of dual religious belonging, or an exercise in what Pope Francis called “daring prudence” in terms of inculturation of the gospel? This article, the 2022 Louis J. Luzbetak Lecture at Catholic Theological Union, takes the incident of the theft of the statues and the controversy that followed as an opportunity to propose a more creative and bolder approach to the relationship between mission and culture.

Vladimir Solovyov’s idea of ecclesiastic unity and the Holy See

Summary Vladimir Sergeevich Solovyov (1853–1900) was the central figure of Russian religious thought, which had its heyday at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, rich in wonderful and deep thinkers such as Pavel Florensky, Sergey Bulgakov, Nikolay Berdyaev, and Simon Frank among many others. Solovyov was the first classical Russian philosopher, in the sense that he had his own philosophical system at a time when systemic philosophy was being abandoned in the West. It was Solovyov who deepened Russian philosophy and firmly entrenched Christian metaphysics in Russian philosophical discourse. He introduced Russian philosophical thought to Europe. His project of a free universal theocracy intended to fundamentally change the course of social history. In fact, the project of a universal free theocracy and the reunification of Christian churches associated with it became the most prominent idea of the philosopher in the Western intellectual environment. Moreover, the question about Solovyov’s pro-Catholic leanings, including his contacts with catholic clergy and theologians, as well as the issue whether Solovyov converted to Catholicism came into prominence after the book of Michel D’Herbigny Vladimir Soloviev: Un Newman russe was published in 1911. This article focuses on the narrow but important issue of reconstructing the historical context of the philosopher’s ideas. The focus is on the history of Solovyov’s contacts with the Holy See. The author analyzes the existing historiography, which testifies to the indirect contacts of the philosopher with the Holy See, the philosopher’s published correspondence, contemporary research articles, as well as materials from the Vatican and Russian archives. As a result, the article presents a new look at the history of the relationship between the Holy See and Russian philosopher, who is currently recognized by most researchers as the ancestor of the ecumenical movement of the 20th century.

Eternal law in the thought of Thomas Aquinas

ABSTRACT This paper is a slightly modified version of the keynote lecture given at the 2023 annual conference of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain. The theme of the conference was the role of law in the Christian life. The paper opened the conference by following the theological lead of the Common Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas, who treats theology as about God and all things, including law, in relation to God. In particular the paper looks at Aquinas’s understanding in the Summa Theologiae of God as the eternal law. It examines how the eternal law meets Aquinas’s criteria for what counts as a law, and links eternal law to other law, such as natural law, as well as to the doctrines of the Trinity, providence, the beatific vision, and Christology.

Resurrecting Tradition

This paper reviews Kelly Brown Douglas’s Resurrecting Hope and brings it into conversation with certain themes in Catholic theology and with the theory of the scapegoat mechanism articulated by the French intellectual, René Girard.

Why is inculturation in Catholic theology difficult to operationalize?

This article attempts to explain sociologically why the Catholic Church’s popular theological concept of inculturation is difficult to operationalize or provide empirical indicators in order to make it more observable and measurable for social scientists, missionaries, and inculturation practitioners. Using some secondary data and peer-reviewed literature, it explores how the following major hurdles inhibit the clear conceptualization and operationalization of inculturation projects, namely: the (1) lack of unified definition in the Church for culture, (2) plurality of the meaning of inculturation, (3) ambiguity of the extent of the cultural change in inculturation that results in unsettled levels and units of analysis in measuring it, as well as (4) lack of social science training and expertise of Catholic theologians, clerics, and missiologists, leading to the neglect of empirical studies that operationalize inculturation in the mainstream research. This study recommends intensified social science training for missionaries and clerics in the Catholic Church and active dialogue between inculturationists and social scientists to enhance the empirical dimension of inculturation in research and literature.

Reimagining the Discipleship of Marriage Through the Lens of Mark: A Theological Reflection for Bioethical Decision-Making on Contraception in Catholic Healthcare and Marital Life

Mark 10:13–16, interpreted within the broader context of the Gospel of Mark, using a moral exegetical framework, provides a lens for what welcoming the children refers to in sacramental marital discipleship. Building upon the narrative ethics of Mark, the words and deeds of Jesus, magisterial teachings and writings allow these verses to be reimagined to unveil an interpretation and a praxis for marital and moral life. Accepting the gift of a child in the natural order paves the way for discipleship and ushers in the kingdom of God. Just as Jesus welcomed the children, parents are called to welcome them through unhindered conjugal love. These reflections form a Catholic theology of married life and sexuality and a theology of children that the couple shares with Christ's thoughts and actions.

Knowledge Production in the Balkans

AbstractUntil the 1990s, secular feminism prevailed in the socialist Balkan countries, while religious feminism appeared only as an exception in the works of certain Catholic theologians. After democratic changes, gender equality was reaffirmed, but there was no dialogue in feminist knowledge production between secular and religious feminists. This paper presents initiatives by religious scholars and activists aimed at overcoming the secular‐religious divide in achieving gender equality. It looks at two key regional initiatives: Believers and Citizens, and the Feminism and Religion online school. These initiatives established collaborations between feminist scholars from various academic disciplines, religions, and worldviews and connected activists from civil society organizations and religious communities. The interreligious and interdisciplinary nature of these initiatives is unique not only in the Balkan region but also in the world.

“Making the Holy Obscene”: A Thematic Analysis of Freudian Psychoanalysis in the Catholic Press

This study completed a thematic analysis of the U.S. Catholic newspapers in the Catholic News Archive to assess the characterization of psychoanalysis in the Catholic press. References to psychoanalysis in the Catholic press peaked in the 1960s and diminished starting in the 1970s, parallel to its rising popularity and later disappearance from the larger public landscape. The qualitative themes identified Catholic concerns about the presence of pansexuality (referring to the theory that sexuality is the sole explanation of all psychopathologies) and determinism in psychoanalytic theory and the overlapping territory between confession and psychoanalysis, but overall a clear desire for reconciliation between two anthropologies. The identified themes demonstrate the differences in how Catholicism and psychoanalysis conceptualize psychological suffering and the effective interventions to reduce the suffering. Contemporary psychoanalysts and Catholic theologians are encouraged to continue the historical collaborations to use each of their strengths to address the urgent needs of the Church and society.

From Dangerous Memory to Dangerous Hope: Reading the Theology of Johann Baptist Metz

From the perspective of theological anthropology, the article aims to explore the possibility of hope in the contemporary world. It draws on the work of the Catholic theologian Johann Baptist Metz and presents the struggle for hope in three areas that were central to Metz and his time. All relate to the question of suffering. Specifically, these are Metz’s conversation with Marxism, in which he develops an eschatological concept of creative hope; the topic of post-Holocaust theology, which must speak out on behalf of the victims of violence and at the same time work with the silence that remains after the victims no more exist; and, finally, a post-idealist approach in theology that will be able to critically view its own Eurocentrism. Contemporary contexts are in some ways different from Metz’s. Still, one can benefit from his honest efforts, at least methodologically. The article concludes by relating Metz’s ideas to some selected contemporary issues, such as the relationship between activism and spirituality. The article notes a certain affinity between Metz’s thought and the pontificate of the current Pope Francis, especially with regard to a commitment to reality.

Receiving Each Other's Gifts

Using the example of the Lord's Supper and the eucharist, this article seeks to show the conditions which make a common liturgical celebration a gift of God to the community of believers in Jesus Christ. The form chosen is a dialogue between two theologians, both members of the German “Ecumenical Study Group of Protestant and Catholic Theologians”: Friederike Nüssel (Protestant, Heidelberg) and Dorothea Sattler (Roman Catholic, Münster). The focus is the group’s study “Together at the Lord's Table.” Based on extensive research the study group has formulated the vote to be invited to join in the celebration of the eucharist and the Lord's Supper, trusting in the self-giving presence of Jesus Christ. Ecumenical sensitivity in the shaping of liturgies is an obvious consequence. Individual confessional traditions have preserved an asset that others today can experience as a gift in the form of a reminder of the common origin: the celebration with shared bread and the chalice offered to all (in the background is the controversy over the lay chalice), the binding lectionaries and the remembrance of the dead. The criticism of the vote of the Ecumenical Study Group, especially from the Roman Catholic doctrinal side, primarily relates to the topics of ministry and understanding of the church. The Ecumenical Study Group advocates that eucharistic celebrations be led by duly ordained persons. The contribution is framed by introductory remarks on basic questions of ecumenical hermeneutics and by an outlook on the great importance of interdisciplinary theological study work from an ecumenical perspective.

Uniwersytet jako stały element kultury europejskiej w myśli Josepha Ratzingera – Benedykta XVI

Aim: The aim of the text is to present the role and threats facing universities from the perspective of a Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI. The challenges universities face are: the unity of reason and faith, truth and the question of academic community. Theologian points to the lack of these elements in modern science, where the focus has been on technical skills at the expense of other needs. Methods: The research strategy used includes the application of the hermeneutic method, which has proved helpful in the analysis and interpretation of source texts. In addition, elements of a descriptive method and a comparative method were used as part of the methodological approach. The second one was used to present the structure of the relationship in question, while the comparative method was used by the author to juxtapose the theologian's reflections with the conclusions of other scholars on the issue. Results: The results of Ratzinger's reflection show that focusing mainly on the development of technical skills is not sufficient both for the structure of the university and for society as a whole. The theologian emphasises that science has an impact on the world, producing effects that can be useful or destructive for human beings. The former prefect suggests that it is necessary to rethink the role of faith and truth in the context of education. In this light, he acknowledges the important role of Catholic universities, which can exemplify the harmonious coexistence of truth, reason and faith, realising that these elements can complement rather than exclude each other. In the context of the university community, Benedict XVI notes the loss of an authentic bond between students and teachers as a result of academic specialisation. He warns against the utilitarianism and pragmatism of universities, stressing that their true idea is the search for truth. Ratzinger encourages the integration of faith and knowledge in universities, pointing out that truth, spiritual development and an authentic academic community are crucial to the university's role in society. Coclusion: The theologian emphasises that faith is not a constraint on development, but stimulates dialogue, reflection and an informed approach to the consequences of actions. Similarly, truth, dialogue and ethical responsibility are the foundations by which the university should be guided. The basis for analysing Ratzinger's thought on the issue of universities is a collection of his works: Opera Omnia T. IX/1 - Faith in Scripture and Tradition. Hermeneutics and principles of Catholic Theology, and the works: Introduction to Christianity, Europe: Today and Tomorrow Oryginality: The work is the new approach by analysis of Ratzinger-Benedict XVI’s thought in the context of contemporary society, from a cultural studies perspective

The Question of Beauty and the Aesthetic Value of the Image of the Mother of God in Pastoral Care and Catechesis

Ancient philosophers attached great importance to the ideals of unity, truth, goodness, and beauty as the path to the greatest good. Beauty expressed through works of art can open the eyes of the mind and heart and direct the human spirit to transcendence. The beauty of art awakens inner emotionality, evokes elation in silence, and leads to “coming out of oneself”. The concept of beauty is inextricably linked to Catholic theology and preaching. Beautiful sacred images were a source of theological messages, intercession, and entry into the transcendental world. Medieval Gothic cathedrals had images on the walls as a basic tool of catechesis. Even in today’s teaching of young people, images play a crucial role. The world of symbols enables Christians to connect everyday life experiences with theological messages. The image of the Virgin Mary is the best example of recognizing personal life situations, with the story of a mother who loved her child, accepted the suffering and death of her own son, and together with St. Joseph formed a holy family, which is the image of an imperfect family in which each person recognizes himself. All these aspects of the life of the Virgin Mary could form the basic concepts of the Christian understanding of beauty. In modern thought, the concept of beauty is understood quite narrowly (we are talking about narrowing the meaning of the concept of beauty). In the first part of this paper, we focus on the philosophical concept of beauty with a brief historical overview, then we point out the difference between transcendental beauty and aesthetic beauty. Beauty appeals to the human being and opens the heart to the transcendent, to God, who is the source and fullness of beauty, beauty itself. The originality of the article is in its presentation of the understanding of the Christian concept of beauty through the figure and image of Mary, the Mother of God. The experience of the beauty of Mary and Mary’s life story enables the believer to have a different perspective on the perception of his own life and thereby opens him to the transcendent, to a personal relationship with God, who is eternal Beauty.

Notae Ecclesiae

Unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity, or in Latin known as Notae Ecclesiae, are formulations of faith regarding the Church, confirming her essential attributes that make the Church the Church. In history, these attributes have made their contributions for the teaching of faith, for the apologetical tasks and, lately, as principles and criteria in doing Catholic theology. Thus, evidently, presenting the Church’s mysteries in their essential aspects, these notae have flexibility to be used as theological instruments in dogmatics, catechesis, apologetics, and even in theological methodology. Seeing these facts, it is hoped that dealing with these marks of the Church there are inspirations for further development for theology and also for the life of the Church.