Pope Francis has unequivocally stated that women cannot be ordained as priests; however, he emphasised the important role they have to play in the life of the Church. In an interview with America Magazine, Francis responded to a question posed by Kerry Webber, executive editor of the magazine published by the Jesuits of the United Read more
Pope Francis had some suggestions for the International Theological Commission (ITC) when they met at the Vatican last Thursday. More women Francis suggested that the prestigious ITC could consider including more women in their group. Not because it’s the ‘done thing’ according to current fashion, he added. Rather, Francis suggests, women bring a different intellectual Read more
Students are losing faith in religious higher education, so the evidence suggests. Earlier this year a prime specialist theology and philosophy institution in the UK, Heythrop College, closed its doors after 400 years of teaching. Founded in 1614 by the Society of Jesus, and part of the University of London since 1970, Heythrop had a mission Read more
Theologians in Germany were recently invited to speak to the nation’s Catholic hierarchy about the clergy abuse crisis and they used the rare opportunity to chastise the more than 60 bishops for being too slow in pushing for major Church reform. The theologians were given an entire “study day” to address the German Bishops’ Conference Read more
Over 140 theologians, educators and lay leaders have called for all the bishops in the United States to resign. Just as Chile’s 34 bishops resigned in May after revelations of sexual abuse and corruption, US bishops should also submit their resignations to Pope Francis. Doing so would show the public an act of penance and Read more
(UCAN) A top Vatican official challenged Filipino Catholic educators and theologians to practice what they preach and become “credible witnesses” to church teachings. “We need witnesses,” said Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education, at the Ateneo de Manila University on March 10. He said four Missionaries of Charity nuns who Read more
Two hundred theologians have declared that reform of the Roman Curia must be widened to become reform of the whole Church. The theologians, from throughout the world, issued a declaration at the end of a theological congress in Germany earlier this month. The title of the gathering in Munich was “Opening the Council – Theology Read more
A New York Times columnist has hit back at theologians and other academics who queried his professional competence to write on Catholicism. Last month, columnist Ross Douthat wrote several pieces about the synod on the family in Rome. He suggesting, among other things, that clear factions among the bishops have emerged, that Pope Francis favours Read more
Cardinal George Pell has said that the first task of bishops is not to be theologians but to teach, explain, and defend the Church’s faith and morals. The Australian cardinal delivered his intervention at the synod on the family in Rome last week, and an extended form of it was posted to the Catholic Herald’s website. Read more
Who should be included in the definition of the faithful and who of these are “absent” were among questions put at a recent US theological conference. Earlier this month, the annual meeting of the Catholic Theological Society of America grappled with the issue of the “sensus fidelium” or “sense of the faithful” of the whole Read more