Catholic Theological
Society of America

Celebrated Australian theologian Anthony Kelly RSsC passed away on March 4, 2024.  The author of over 20 books dealing with fundamental topics in systematic theology as well as sacraments, ethics and ecology, he also wrote poetry and hymns.  He was President of Yarra Theological Union (1980-1985, 1994-1997) and of the Melbourne College of Divinity (1984-1985). He was member of the International Theological Committee from 2004-2014. His intelligence was matched by his humor and his humanity, and he left a lasting mark on theology in Australia and beyond. (I was privileged to know Tony, but this notice is posted on behalf of CTSA member Catherine Cornille, a longtime close friend of Tony)

Longtime CTSA member James L. (Jake) Empereur, SJ, died in the early morning hours of February 24, 2024, at St. Camillus Jesuit Community, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was 90 years old. Jake taught and published in the fields of liturgical and sacramental theology and Christian spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and Graduate Theological Union for twenty-four years and then ministered and taught in the Diocese of San Antonio for twenty-seven years, where he had an instrumental role in the restoration of the historic San Fernando Cathedral. His numerous publications included La Vida Sacra: Contemporary Hispanic Sacramental Theology (with Eduardo Fernandez); Spiritual Direction and the Gay Personality; The Liturgy That Does Justice (with Christopher Kiesling); Models of Liturgical Theology; and Worship: Exploring the Sacred. (Written by Bruce T. Morrill, S.J.)

May Jake's soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

• The Thirteenth-Century Debates on Human Freedom seminar will take place at Schloss St Emmeram, Regensburg, Germany, from Wednesday, July 3, to Sunday, July 7, 2024. Organized by Institutum Studiorum Dominicanorum from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in partnership with the Thomistic Institute, this seminar explores the thought of 13th-century philosophers and theologians on the nature of human freedom. We are looking for applications from graduate students and postdocs of various disciplines who have a serious interest in medieval thought. More information. 

• The Thomistic Institute’s Graduate Colloquium on Contemporary Thomistic Christology will take place at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, from July 29 - August 3, 2024. Our graduate colloquia provide emerging scholars from various Ph.D. programs the opportunity to meet and collaborate with fellow young scholars. Additionally, participants can benefit from the wisdom and guidance of senior scholars. We are looking for applications from current Ph.D. students in philosophy, theology, and related fields. More information.  

The application deadline for both events is March 15, 2024. Please disregard the application deadline listed on the Regensburg poster and webpage.  

The University of Dayton is accepting applications for our Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant program. Campus Ministry GAs serve undergraduate students by journeying with them to cultivate faith, foster spiritual growth, and form Christian leaders through spiritual mentoring and discipleship, leading small groups, facilitating retreats, planning worship, coordinating service and justice initiatives, and more. Each GA has a unique ministerial portfolio, is mentored by a seasoned campus minister, and engages in a holistic ministerial formation. Assistantship covers tuition for the MA in Theology or Pastoral Ministry, room and board for 2 years, and a stipend. Positions are filled on a rolling basis, beginning in February. 

Join Michael Ossorgin on the Russian Question with renowned scholar and theologian Terrence Tilley to discuss his book The Karamazov Case: Dostoevsky’s Argument for His Vision. Tilley’s book uncovers the polyphonic novel’s hidden layers, revealing religious, philosophical, and social insights. Tilley’s book transcends traditional approaches, offering a deeper understanding of unity, hope, and sacramental themes.

Orthodox Christian Studies Center events are free and open to the public

See The Russia Question

Fordham's ongoing TR project – "Taking Responsibility: Jesuit Educational Institutions Confront the Causes and Legacy of Clergy Sexual Abuse" – is sponsoring two webinars this spring. 

We hope you will consider joining us for one or both. Details below.

Part I: Memorializing Clergy Sexual Abuse-- March 18, 12pm-1:30pm ET

An interdisciplinary conversation about ethics, means, and the meanings of public memorials related to clergy sexual abuse.

In this webinar, three scholars will explore questions about whether, when, and how communities can contend–together, as communities–with the history and memory of the Roman Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis. With expertise in trauma studies, liturgy, theology, and history, our panelists ask about the ethics, means, and meanings of various efforts to remember clergy sex abuse, as well as those who suffered and defied it. 

Part II: Whose Stories Are They? Catholic Sex Abuse Records and the Issue of Transparency-- April 10, 4:30pm-6pm ET

Springing from a recent legal settlement that promised an Abuse Documents Archive in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, this webinar asks questions about the meanings, limits, and promise of “transparency” in the effort to understand and ameliorate the Catholic clergy abuse crisis. 

What is to be learned, gained, and achieved in opening up the archives of Catholic sex abuse? What kind of healing follows from transparency, if any? Beyond respecting the wishes of survivors who prefer privacy, are there any other limitations to consider? What does transparency have to do with Catholic theology or with the practices and disciplines of Catholic experience? 

Join us as four experts–an archivist, a canon lawyer, a survivors' attorney, and an historian–tackle these and related questions.

Free and open to the public. Registration is required.

For additional information, please contact takingresponsibility@fordham.edu 

Co-sponsored by the Department of Theology, Fordham and the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies.

The CTSA remembers and prays for longstanding member M. Theresa Moser, RSCJ, who died early this morning, Friday, February 9.  Theresa served as the CTSA Secretary from 2004 - 2013, and as interim secretary in 2018.

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

Villanova U. is again accepting applications for our Graduate Resident Ministry program.  If you know of current seniors or recent alums who may be discerning a path in ministry, please consider suggesting it to them.  It offers mentoring in a variety of ministry experiences partially tailored to the interests of each student while also providing full-tuition for a 48-credit M.A. in Ministry and Theology, room & board for 2 years, and a $12K/year living stipend.  The deadline for priority consideration is February 1^st, but applications received in March and April will still be considered.

Last year the CTSA Board recommended that, following the publication of this year's volume of the CTSA Proceedings, I begin to share with the CTSA membership some of the Proceedings readership data that I share with the Board in my semi-annual editor's reports. Please find readership data for November and December 2023 below. As a reminder, every volume of the CTSA Proceedings is available online at https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ctsa/issue/archive.

Readership Data For November 2023

• Total Article/Report Downloads: 14,085
• Top Three Most Downloaded Articles/Reports:
• • Regina Wolfe, "Bioethics and Healthcare" (Volume 57 [2002]) - 101 downloads
  • William C. Spohn, "Jesus and Ethics" (Volume 49 [1994]) - 81downloads
  • Emily Reimer-Barry, "Another Pro-Life Movement is Possible" (Volume 74 [2019]) - 78 downloads

Readership Data for December 2023

• Total Article/Report Downloads: 8,131
• Top Three Most Downloaded Articles/Reports:
• • Michael J. Cantley, "The Biblical Doctrine of Original Sin" (Volume 22 [1967]) - 178 downloads
  • Ellen Leonard, "Experience as a Source for Theology" (Volume 43 [1989]) - 160 downloads
  • William C. Spohn, "Jesus and Ethics" (Volume 49 [1994]) - 121 downloads
  • Myles M. Bourke, "Rudolph Bultmann's Demythologizing of the New Testament" (Volume 12 [1957]) - 121 downloads

John Sheveland, editor,  Theology in a Post-Traumatic Church

https://orbisbooks.com/products/theology-in-a-post-traumatic-church?_pos=1&_sid=72f402fd5&_ss=r

Richard Gaillardetz, Ecclesiology for a Global Church: A People Called and Sent, revised edition 

https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781608339952?_pos=1&_sid=0d3867a69&_ss=r

Ilia Delio, The Not-Yet God: Carl Jung, Teilhard de Chardin and the Relational Whole

https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781608339921?_pos=1&_sid=b59d139de&_ss=r

Daniel Horan, Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism

https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781626985445?_pos=1&_sid=2f387ba6f&_ss=r

Rosemary Carbine, Nevertheless, We Persist: A Feminist Public Theology

https://orbisbooks.com/products/nevertheless-we-persist-a-feminist-public-theology?_pos=1&_sid=43b825489&_ss=r

Leo Guardado, Church as Sanctuary: Reconstructing Refuge in an Age of Forced Displacement

https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781626985407?_pos=1&_sid=a34e6a87e&_ss=r