New 5 Year Term of International Theological Commission
Sept. 23, 2014
The
following is a press release concerning the conclusion of the eighth five-year
term of the International Theological Commission and the appointment of the new
members for the ninth five-year term.
The
conclusion of the eighth five-year term
This
year the eighth five-year term of the International Theological Commission,
which began with the pontifical appointment of its Members in June 2009, will
conclude.
As
is known, the International Theological Commission, instituted by the Servant
of God Paul vi on 11 April 1969, has the task of assisting the Holy See, and in
particular the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in examining the
most important and current doctrinal questions. The Commission is composed of
theologians from various schools and nations, eminent for their scientific
excellence and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church. The Members — no more
than thirty in number — are appointed by the Holy Father “ad quinquennium” upon
proposal by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith and following consultation with the Episcopal Conferences. During the
course of its history the Commission has published 27 documents, with the
approval of its President.
The
Holy See wishes to express special gratitude for the competent and
conscientious theological service provided by the Members of the Commission
during the term that is about to draw to an end. Three documents have been
published during this term: Theology today. Perspectives, Principles and
Criteria (approved in 2011 and published in 2012); God the Trinity and
the Unity of Humanity: Christian monotheism and its opposition to violence
(approved in 2013 and published in 2014) and the more recent Sensus fidei in
the life of the Church (approved and published in the current year 2014).
In reality, the work of the Commission has been more extensive, as it has also
offered valuable contributions on other issues on behalf of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the primary task of the Commission.
The
appointment of Members for the ninth five-yearly term
(2014-2019)
On
26 July 2014, with the appointment by the Holy Father Francis of thirty new
Members, the Commission began its ninth term. This will continue until 2019,
which will also be a jubilee period for the Commission, which celebrates the
fiftieth anniversary of its institution on 11 April 2019.
As
usual, in view of the aforementioned appointments, during this last year
extensive consultations have been carried out with Episcopal Conferences
throughout the world, as well as the Synods of the oriental Eparchies. On the
basis of the responses received, Cardinal Gerhard L. Müller, prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented to the Holy Father a
preferential list of candidates. Taking these proposals into consideration, the
Pope appointed the theologians who are to form the Commission, at the same time
renewing the appointment of Fr Serge-Thomas Bonino, op, of France as secretary
general.
With
regard to the provenance of the Members, there is an increased number of
extra-European appointees in the new composition of the Commission. As well as
the 14 representatives of Europe (compared to 14 in the previous term) there
are 5 from South America (previously 3), 4 from Asia (previously 4), 3 from
Africa (previously 2), 3 from North America (previously 2) and 1 from Australia
(previously 1).
Furthermore,
there is a notable increase in the contribution of female theologians. In the
two previous terms, the Commission benefited from the presence of two renowned
theologians, Sr Sara Butler, MSBT, of the United States of America, and
Professor Barbara Hallensleben from Switzerland, of German nationality. Five
other female theologians have been appointed for the new term: Sr Prudence
Allen, RSM, of the United States of America, Sr Alenka Arko, Com. Loyola of
Slovenia-Russia, Moira Mary McQuenn of Great Britain-Canada, Tracey Rowland of
Australia, Marianne Schlosser from Germany, of Austrian origin. Women now
constitute 16% of the Commission’s members, a sign of growing female
involvement in theological research.
In
2014 it was also decided to further diversify the ecclesial provenance of the
members, in relation to their religious status and the particular charisms they
represent.
At
the first meeting, which will take place from 1 to 5 December in plenary
session, the three themes to be considered over the coming years will be
selected.
The
first meeting of the new members, which will take place in plenary session at
the premises of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is
traditionally held in the first week of Advent — from 1 to 5 December. The
three themes to be considered by the Commission over the coming years will be
selected.
New
access to the Commission's web page (www.cti.va) on the Vatican website
The
International Theological Commission has renovated and enriched its page on the
Vatican website (www.vatican.va), which offers all its documents in various
languages, among the section of Commissions linked to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith. All the documents published by the Commission are
available for consultation, usually in ten or more languages. The Commission
has now taken a further step to facilitate consultation while conserving all
its documentation on the official site of the Holy See (www.vatican.va), by
establishing a new link (www.cti.va).
Referring
to the initials of its Latin name, Commissio Theologica Internationalis,
the new link has the advantage of being identical for various languages, such
as Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Aside from offering a page
dedicated to the Commission, the new link also offers the reader the possibility
of selecting the language without returning to the Vatican homepage. It is
hoped that this new and easier to use page will be a useful tool for
stimulating dialogue by enabling an increasingly effective communication of the
Commission’s theological patrimony both within and beyond the Church.
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