Catholic Theological
Society of America

Dear CTSA Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce that applications are open through January 9th, 2023,  for the inaugural cohort of scholars in Fordham University's new Master's in Theological Studies degree. Full information about this rigorous, two-year, 48-credit program, plus a shareable brochure, are available here and here.  Full tuition scholarships available for competitive applicants. Will you please spread the word among your faculty colleagues, and especially with your theology-passionate students who might be interested in applying?  For questions please write to hinze@fordham.edu

Thank you so much!  Christine Firer Hinze, Fordham Theology

Religion after Roe: Abortion in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
An Interfaith Conversation at John Carroll University -  Sept. 19, 2022

Watch the Video

Panelists

• Rahmah Abdulaleem, Executive Director, KARAMAH
• Julie Hanlon Rubio, CTSA Member and Shea-Heusamen Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Associate Dean at Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University
• Michal Raucher, Associate Professor, Jewish Studies, Rutgers University

In overturning Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court thrust abortion into the headlines, reigniting with new intensity one of the most painful battles of the culture wars in this country. Abortion is a complex legal question, a divisive social issue, and—for many Americans—a deeply religious matter. Too often, religious concerns are written off or warped to serve political agendas. Too often, we fail to recognize the profound convictions that motivate religious people on all sides of this issue. Join us as scholars of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam discuss the different ways in which their traditions understand abortion, and how their beliefs are lived out in a pluralistic, religiously diverse democracy.

Sponsored by The Breen Chair in Catholic Theology, The Mandel Chair in Jewish Studies, The Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, and The Tuohy Chair in Interreligious Studies.

Boston College hosting two online events acknowledging Richard Gaillardetz' contributions to the field of ecclesiology:

Friday, September 23rd  7:30 p.m. (ET) - Livestreamed

Last Lecture Loving and Reforming a Holy, yet Broken Church
Richard Gaillardetz, Boston College   

Last Lecture Livestream Link   

Saturday, September 24th    10:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (ET) - Livestreamed Conference

The Contributions of Richard Gaillardez
to the Field of Ecclesiology 
Hosted by Boston College

Conference Livestream Link

Center of Theological Inquiry - Call for Applications
Thriving in Diverse Context
A Study Program on Psychological Science 
for Researchers in Christian Theology
June 2023 - May 2025

Program made possible by grant from the John Templeton Foundation

Call for Applications - Details

Center of Theological Inquiry / Apply

A feature article, published by UCA News and printed by Singapore-based Sunday Examiner, is nominated to the Catholic Mass Media Awards 2022 this coming November.

See: https://www.facebook.com/ccfi.claretian/videos/775899616999426

The CTSA remembers John W. O'Malley, S.J.,
who died on September 11. 

See the Catholic News Service's, "Jesuit Fr. John O'Malley, church historian, teacher, author, dies at 95" (NCROnline, Sept. 12, 2022) <https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/jesuit-fr-john-omalley-church-historian-teacher-author-dies-95> to reach a beautiful reflection on Fr. O'Malley's life.

Eternal rest grant unto John, O Lord, 
and let perpetual light shine upon him. 
May he rest in peace. 
Love always, in the name of Jesus.

Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations is the journal of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations and is published by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed scholarship on the history, theology, and contemporary realities of Jewish-Christian relations and reviews new materials in the field. The Journal also provides a vehicle for exchange of information, cooperation, and mutual enrichment in the field of Christian-Jewish studies and relations. SCJR is included in the following indexes: ATLA’s Full-Text Journal Index and Religion Database; the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); EBSCO's Academic Search Complete (ASC), Historical Abstracts, America: History and Life, and Humanities International Index; Index to Jewish Periodicals; ProQuest Religion Database; and RAMBI (Index of Articles on Jewish Studies).

The CTSA prays for Rosemarie E. Gorman who died on Saturday, August 20.  Rosemarie was a longstanding member of the Society.  Her area of study was moral theology and she had ties to Fairfield University.  Rosemary's dissertation was "The Contributions of Gustave Gutierrez and Juan Luis Segunda to a Theology of Social Sin".

Eternal rest grant unto Rosemarie, O Lord, 
and let perpetual light shine upon her. 
May she rest in peace. 
Love always, in the name of Jesus.

The family will receive friends at a visitation to be held at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Monday, August 29 from 4pm to 7pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in her honor on Tuesday, August 30 at 10:30am at St. Mary’s Church in Bethel. Burial will follow in Saint Mary Cemetery, Bethel.

Obituary:  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/danbury-ct/rosemarie-gorman-10897307

To Fellow CTSA members

From Frances Forde Plude

Perhaps the term COMMUNICATION THEOLOGY is new to you, but this field has been developing like a mosaic – integrating communication and cultural studies into theology and religious thought.

Now there is an ARCHIVE of selected essays in this CT field at francesfordeplude.org

There are four digital books at the site.  Volume 1 includes technology policy texts; Volume 2 essays focus on how the digital culture affects all communities of faith on the ground; the third and fourth volumes, over 500pp each, contain Communication and Theology essays.  Volume 4 has CT texts from the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The Table of Contents of each volume consists of direct links to individual texts so each one can be searched, read easily and even printed out for use by you, students, and interested parties globally. 

All this gives access to ideas and conference materials in this developing field.

Please share this information with colleagues and students.

Dr. Frances Forde Plude, fplude@gmail.com, francesfordeplude.org

The CTSA prays for Sr. Ellen Leonard, CSJ, who died on Thursday, August 18.  Sr. Ellen was a longstanding member of the Society who served as a member of the Board of Directors in 1992 - 1994.  she was honored the Ann O'Hara Graff Award in 2004.

Sr. Ellen presented numerous times at the CTSA's annual convention.  Her presentations available through the CTSA's Proceedings are as follows:

• The Bible and the Bodies of Women:  Development of Doctrine, Definitive Teaching, and  the Case of Loisy (1999)
  
  
• Experience as a Source for Theology (1988)
  
  
• The Canadian Experience: Challenges and Contradictions for the Church (1998)
  
  
• Experience as a Resource for Feminist Thought (1992)

Obituary

Sister Ellen Leonard, CSJ

who in the 71^st year of her religious life, entered eternal life on Thursday, August 18, 2022

Visitation will take place on Monday, August 22, 2022

10:00 – 10:25 a.m.

St. Anselm’s Church

1 MacNaughton Road, Toronto ON

Followed by a celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial

Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sister Ellen Leonard CSJ (formerly Sister Loyola)

died peacefully at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence, 2 O’Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario

on Thursday, August 18, 2022, in the 71^st year of her religious life.

She was predeceased by her parents, Hugh Leonard and Mary (nee Barry) Leonard.  She is survived by her beloved sister, Anne Leonard.  She will be sadly missed by her family, her faithful friend, Mary Rose D’Angelo, sisters in community, colleagues and friends. 

Sister Ellen was born in Toronto and was baptized at Blessed Sacrament Parish. Following graduation from St. Joseph’s College School, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto in 1951, where her aunt, Sister Ignatia Leonard, CSJ was a member of the congregation.  

Sister Ellen entered the teaching profession and taught elementary school for many years before pursuing further studies and obtaining a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College in 1978.

Sister Ellen was among the first women to study theology in Canada, and to teach at the Faculty of Theology at St. Michael’s. Following Vatican 2, Sister Ellen welcomed the opportunity to teach seminarians and laity, encouraging all, and women in particular, to participate more meaningfully in Church leadership. When asked in an interview “about what are you most proud” she replied, “working with women students”.

The advancement of women’s equality was the central priority for Sister Ellen both in the Church and in academia. Through talks given in parish halls or at conferences on the role of women in theological education she educated others about women’s equality.

Sister Ellen had a joy and zest for life and loved music, bridge, painting and skiing.

She possessed a generous, joyful, spirit, incisive intelligence and was a mentor to many. She loved the study of theology and was loved by her students and colleagues at the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College.

In recent years, Sister Ellen experienced failing health and moved to the residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph, where she was assisted with her care by the very generous and dedicated staff. Sister Ellen was supported by her sisters in community as well as many close friends and colleagues.

 

Visitation will take place on Monday, August 22, 2022
at St. Anselm’s Church,1 MacNaughton Road, Toronto ON
from 10:00 - 10:25 a.m.
Followed by the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial
Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fontbonne Ministries

791 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1H6