Catholic Theological
Society of America

Congratulations to member Peter Feldmeier on the publication of his book Wisdom from the World's Religions: A Guide to Basic Human Questions (Orbis Books, Dec. 2022).

Good morning, everyone. I am more than half way through my term as CTSA President, but still not sure what is expected of me beyond my specific duties. But let me take on the role here of official greeter - to wish you all a Happy New Year, and blessings for 2023.

Let us reflect with gratitude mixed with sadness on the many good things of this past year, and also on the horrific news items of 2022. Let us be thankful for all the ways we have tried, in our Society, to think and pray with the Church, for the Church, in today's vast world of many faiths and none. And let us realize how much more we have to do, as best we can.

I would be remiss not to mention the death today of Benedict XVI, retired pope, retired bishop of Rome. We all will have many memories of him, but for now let us simply pray that this good and holy man may now rest in the Lord's peace. See also my personal blog about him, here.

Peace, Frank

Member Joseph Bracken was interviewed on WSET radio and television in St. Louis about his latest book Reciprocal Causality in an Event-Filled World.  Fr. Bracken engaged in conversation about the differences between a fixed hierarchy of beings from God to prime matter in classical metaphysics and an ever-changing hierarchy of incomplete entities in process of becoming more than what they are now. The sponsoring organization was The Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology with Fr. Sebastian Mahfood, O.P., as its current director. View the interview free of charge:

WCAT Radio - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/52191688

WCAT TV - https://youtu.be/814kKBo6ooc

Fordham's Graduate School of Religion has a new Advanced Certificate in Jesuit Studies offering the opportunity to explore the Jesuit tradition in Spirituality, History, and more.  Courses are primarily online with a one-week summer intensive.  For more information visit www.fordham.edu/gre.

The CTSA remembers prays for longstanding member David F. Kelly who died on December 9th.

David F. Kelly attended The College of The Holy Cross and received his PhD from The University of Toronto. He was a Professor of Medical Ethics at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Eternal rest grant unto David, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

My book Moving Into the Ecumenical Future: Foundations of a Paradigm for Christian Ethics, a Pickwick Publication from Wipf and Stock appeared in November. It brings together my backgrounds in moral theology, developmental psychology, and ecumenism. The idea to write came while I was on a retreat at a Trappist monastery. The spiritual thread in the book comes from Saints Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal.

The CTSA hosted the virtual event Synodality and Listening Reports from the Field on Monday, December 5th.  Sixty-nine members attended the event.

Panelists:

• Kristin Colberg, Associate Professor, St. John's School of Theology and Seminary; Member of the Theological Commission Assisting the Synod of Bishops
  
  
• Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor of World Christianity and African Studies; Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology, De Paul University; Heads the "Doing Theology from the Existential Peripheries Project"
  
  
• Edmund Chia, Sr. Lecturer, co-Director of Interreligious, Australian Catholic University; Former Executive Secretary, Office of ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Federation of Asian Bishops Conference 

Moderator:  Elyse Raby, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Santa Clara University

Breakout Questions Directed to Attendees

What causes perplexity in your region? Or your local church, or classroom, on this,?  What do people need to know in order to become a more synodal church?

As Stan Chu Ilo framed his question, "How can the synodal process lead to local transformative praxes that avoid asymmetrical power relations? As theologians, what do we do with the stories we have heard?"

Questions to Panelists upon Return to Large Group

1.    Where do we go from here; and how do we start now?  How do we keep it local?

2.     How might the “listening energy” around interreligious dialogue and ecumenism help us with synodality? And vice versa — how might becoming a more synodal church help Catholics in interreligious dialogue and ecumenical conversations?         

3.     Is there any explanation for the particular resistance to the synodal process on the part of (certain sectors) of the U.S. Church?

4.     Do you see the Bishops/dioceses continuing with Synodal listening and discernment, or, are you concerned it’s been a “one and done” process?

5.     How will the dynamics of power (bishops) at the next level receive, effect, or maybe filter the strong gathering of voices that has occurred at this level?  What’s next, and what are the best ways we in our roles as teachers, pastors, CTSA can use our gifts to assure the furtherance of this synodal dynamic going forward?  (Esp. since in many of our dioceses the local bishops did not engage the first stages of the synodal process with much enthusiasm.

6.     How can the CTSA encourage its members to engage the synod process at the local level?

7.     How many dioceses in the US participated in the Synodal process in this first phase?  2) How will we know what effect hearing from ‘the peripheries” (LGBTQ, women, NONES, etc.). had on the bishops who are listening to them? Where is that being captured in the process? 3) It causes perplexity that one of the largest dioceses in the US (Detroit) did not participate (Archbishop Allen Vignoran, said “we had a diocesan synod in 2016)

8.     Most common perplexity: how can synodality unfold without dealing radically with the abuse and its cover up? Next common perplexity: similar concern for queer lives and relationships.

Chat Comments following Breakout Sessions

• "The Spirit is out of the bottle; the conversation is not going back."  Where do we as theologians go from here?
  
  
• How could religious be included in the synanodal process?
  
  
• Are there other documents of collected voices from the margins? How do we access them?
  
  
• Arch Vigneron in Detroit says that we had a synod in 2016 so there is no need to participate. Wonder what he would say to Francis when Francis asks about synodality in Detroit? Women religious, social justice groups, the two Jesuit parishes and a few others had listening groups and sent their reports to LCWR and Rome. But what a missed opportunity for the People of God here.
  
  
• “Called to reimagine our ecclesiology” !

The event was coordinated by the
Ad hoc Board Committee on Virtual Events

Elyse Raby, Chair (2021 - 2023)

Christina Astorga (2022 - 2024)

Mary Kate Holman (2022 - 2025)

The Board of Directors offers its sincere appreciation to the presenters and to the Committee for their excellent presentation and development of the event 

The event was not recorded as recording permissions were not fully granted.

Lumen et Vita's* Spring Graduate Conference 

"Scripture in the Christian Life: A Source of Inspiration and Conversation."

Conference Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023

Keynote speaker: Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Perkins School of Theology - Southern Methodist University 

Abstracts are due on January 23rd, 2023 and should be emailed to lumenetvita@bc.edu. Remote and virtual attendance and presenting are possible.  Detailed Call for Papers see Spring Conference Call for Papers 2023

*Lumen et Vita is the graduate theological journal of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Cheah, Joseph, Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, Catholic Social Teaching (Orbis Books, Dec.1, 2022).

Book review by Thomas Hampton, Asbury Theological Seminary:  https://aatfweb.org/2022/12/22/anti-asian-racism-myths-stereotypes-and-catholic-social-teaching/

Dear friends and colleagues,

  I write in my capacity as a book review editor to ask that you get in touch with me if (a) you enjoy reading academic books in languages other than English, and (b) are willing to entertain a request to review such a book for Theological Studies.  I can't guarantee that you would receive such a request, but I am very much looking to compile a list of theological scholars who have the wherewithal to read and review books in (among others) Spanish, French, German, and Italian.  

If this appeals to you, could you reach out to me at jashley@nd.edu ?  Thank you in advance for helping me in my work.

Matt Ashley
Book Review Editor, Theological Studies