In recent years, the image of a Catholic Church needing renewal has deepened in the German public arena. The Synodal Path identified structural aspects underlying the ecclesial crisis and proposed solutions debating issues such as clerical power, sexuality, participation, and the role of women. Considering the importance of these deliberations for the universal Church and their controversial international discussion, the need for intercultural dialogue became increasingly clear. The empirical project "Synodal Way – Global Church Perspectives" aimed to weave the polyphony of Global-Church perspectives into the debate. This volume presents the research's results and their analysis by academics from different world regions, fills a gap in intercultural mediation, and offers an inspiring contribution to the ongoing synodal dialogue.
The publication of the ESCT (European Society for Catholic Theology) with the title „Synodality in Europe“ reflects on the synodal process in Europe and challenges of theological work in view of the learning process to become a „synodal church“. The different articles lay theological foundations of synodality, they present regional and world church perspectives, they show tensions and processes of pluralisation which are understood as a „laboratory“ of synodality related to the liberating and healing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of the authors are members of different sections of ESCT (in Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain). Integrated are also a protestant and two world-church contributions.
This volume is the fruit of a "theological laboratory" initiated by the then-Centre for Child Protection and the Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church (CTEWC) called "Doing Theology in the Face of Sexual Abuse." Eventually those from the laboratory engaged those meeting for two years via "virtual tables," due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, twenty-six scholars offer insights on the crisis itself and pathways for moving forward. There is a certain urgency about this volume, which is not often reflected in works of theology or theological ethics. The sheer scale of the undermining of human dignity through sexual abuse that has occurred within the church asks questions of these disciplines and scholars within them: To what extent have we been blind to these issues? Why have our efforts in theology and theological ethics been so slow to wrestle with this crisis? How are theology and theological ethics implicated in the crisis? And how might the disciplines be constructive in responding? In this volume, we encounter a diverse range of scholars from all around the world wrestling with these and other questions.
This book focuses on the value and necessity of modern sociology to Pope Francis’s church reform project known as the Synod on Synodality. It explores the behavioral and research aspects of this latest synod, applying sociological perspectives and methods and drawing on secondary literature, media reports, and church documents. The author argues that sociology is crucial for translating the major theological concepts into behavioral and research indicators to empirically ground the overall theological framework of the synod as an ecclesial innovation rather than a revolution in the Catholic Church. The importance of sociological research methodology is emphasized to guide the synod’s complex and multi-stage qualitative data collection, which seeks to understand the synodal concerns of all Catholics in today’s world. The book addresses the need for scientific approaches to church reforms and for a nuanced complementarity between sociology and theology. It will be of particular interest to scholars of theology, religion, and sociology, as well as those actively involved in the workings of the Catholic Church.
Synod on Synodality: Is one of the most insidious action ever of a Pope in the history of humanity, since its beginning, which will definitely lead to its ultimate death. The Synod in a true Socio-Marxist-Humanistic spirit rejects the true authority given by Christ to the Church: The ultimate act of destruction of the institution founded by Christ. The Author well versed in these games shows how Francis as Pope, in a way, rejects the elite governing body and reaches out to any untrained humans (apparent empowerment in true Marxist style) in order to surreptitiously arrive at his own predetermined goal through the Synod on Synodality. The author, having been instrumental in exposing such frauds right through his youth, brings out the power game-play at work. In this people are merely used, through lies and intrigues, as a pawn, to achieve one's own insidious agenda, a predetermined end, detrimental to their Salvation. Thus the author analyses the mind-set of Francis to reaffirm the point through pertinent select examples, to keep the book short and the urgency to reach out palpable. To assuage the faithful the author briefly and logically brings out the reason for such a catastrophic situation in the Church and the way to deal with it. Ultimately, the book doesn't disappoint but consoles one in the right hope that leads to peace. Why wait, pick up a copy of the book now so as to save your soul and of the many.
No synod in modern times has grappled with so much contention and doubt from personages high in the church’s hierarchy. The author situates this in context, guiding the reader through the theological and canonical footprints leading from Vatican II to the Synod on Synodality and outlining the communio ecclesiology at the base of this Synod. The book studies the Synod documents, especially the Instrumentum laboris and the Synod Synthesis Report, drawing out certain implications for a synodal church renewed by the Spirit and becoming a “community of mutual empowerment” in mission.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES The Boundaries and Authority of Catholic Social Teaching: A Reply to John Finnis Bernard G. Prusak Struggling with Self-Love: A Thomistic Perspective on Anxious Attachment and the Vice of Self-Debasement Sheryl Overmyer Synodality in the Catholic Church: Toward a Conciliar Ecclesiology of Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Persons Ish Ruiz CATHOLIC PEACEBUILDING IN TIMES OF CRISIS Catholic Peacebuilding in Times of Crisis: Hope for a Wounded World Caesar A. Montevecchio Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation: The Challenge for Future Relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Catholic Church Maka Black Elk Walking Towards Peace: Generating Synergies at a Regional Level Isabel Aguilar Umana and Cecelia Suarez Trueba Peacebuilding in an Interfaith Context in the Great Lakes Region of Africa: The Challenges of Creating New Approaches Emmanuel Ntakarutimana, OP Imagination in Catholic Thought and Peacebuilding Eduardo Gutierrez Gonzalez BOOK REVIEWS Gary Chartier, Understanding Friendship: On the Moral, Political, and Spiritual Meaning of Love Nickolas L. Becker, OSB David C. Cramer and Myles Werntz, A Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence: Key Thinkers, Activists, and Movements for the Gospel of Peace David Kwon David DeCosse, Created Freedom under the Sign of the Cross: A Catholic Public Theology for the United States Matthew A. Shadle Christine Firer Hinze, Radical Sufficiency: Work, Livelihood, and a US Catholic Economic Ethic Mary M. Doyle Roche Kate Jackson-Meyer, Tragic Dilemmas in Christian Ethics Thomas Ryan Bradford E. Hinze, Confronting a Church in Controversy Federico Cinocca Richard Horsley, You Shall Not Bow Down and Serve Them: The Political Economic Projects of Jesus and Paul Najeeb T. Haddad Marc A. Pugliese and John Becker, Process Thought and Roman Catholicism: Challenges and Promises Simeiqi He
Synodality envisions a new way of proceeding in the Church: toward a coresponsible and participatory Church for the third millennium. It is an ecclesial model that calls for the recognition of laity as full subjects in the Church.
2020 Catholic Press Association first place award, ecumenism or interfaith relations In November 2015, Pope Francis called on theologians to explore whether normal Catholic practice should be changed to allow Christians, belonging to other churches, to share fully at the table when they take part in a Eucharist celebrated by Catholics. Thomas O’Loughlin provides his contribution to that challenge in this volume. He argues that the various ways of thinking about what we are doing in the liturgy should lead us to see intercommunion as enhancing our participation in the mystery of the Church and the mystery we celebrate. Learn more and watch Professor Tom O'Loughlin's interview with the Aqueduct Project, discussing Eating Together, Becoming One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ySkMzHtkMU
