Catholic Theological
Society of America

The CTSA remembers and prays for longstanding member Sr. Agnes Cunningham, S.S.C.M.  who died yesterday, Wednesday, January 22.

Agnes Cunningham was awarded the prestigious John Courtney Murray Award in 2001.  She served as the CTSA's President in 1977 - 1978; twice as a member of the CTSA Board of Directors (1969 - 1970 and 1978 - 1980); and as CTSA Secretary from 1970 - 1976.  

Eternal rest grant unto Agnes, 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

The following work of Agnes Cunningham, S.S.C.M. are available via the CTSA Proceedings archives:

Cunningham, A. “The Ministry of Women in the Church” Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 24 (1969).

Cunningham, A. The Role of Woman in Church and Society. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 28 (1973).

Kosnik, A., Modras, R., Schulte, J., Carroll, W., & Cunningham, A., Research Report: The CTSA Committee on the Study of Human Sexuality. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 30 (1975).

Cunningham, A.. Presidential Address Theology for a Future Church: Science, Wisdom, Ministry. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 33 (1978).

Cunningham, A., (Convener) Panel: Toward a Theology of Peace: Foundations of Christian Peace. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 38 (1983).

Cunningham, A. (Convener) Modernity / Postmodernity: The State of the Question for Contemporary Catholic Theology. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, vol. 46 (1991).

The following article was shared with the CTSA when Sr. Agnes Cunningham Professed for 80 years:

The CTSA offers its condolences to the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary Community. 

Link to Obituary and Funeral Arrangements 

For over five decades, The Ecumenist, edited by Gregory Baum, published essays and reviews of books engaging societies, cultures, and churches in the North Atlantic hemisphere from an emancipatory perspective rooted in the gospel. In 2018, The Ecumenist revitalized its name to Critical Theology, to more accurately reflect its mission and values, and added two new editors. The journal continues to be published by Novalis and to produce four issues a year, which feature theological reflection with liberative intent and praxis. In 2023 the journal adopted an open-access online format. Subscriptions are now free. The website for the journal, along with back issues of The Ecumenist and Critical Theology, can be found at https://criticaltheology.net/.

If you share this theological orientation or are interested in it, please consider subscribing to Critical Theology or asking the library of your affiliated institution to subscribe. To register for a  subscription, go to https://en.novalis.ca/products/critical-theology.

If you are interested in contributing an article or book review to Critical Theology, if you would like a book reviewed therein, or if you require further information, please contact Don Schweitzer at don.schweitzer@saskatoontheologicalunion.ca .

2025 Corcoran Chair Conference

Responding to Crisis: Reparative Reasoning in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Center for Christian-Jewish Learning, Theology
Boston College

Sunday, April 6, 2025, 1 - 6 p.m. (ET)

How do Abrahamic traditions respond to societal and religious crises? Conference sessions will examine such issues as climate change, sexual abuse, and dangerous technologies. Participants will raise such questions as: What religious groups lead efforts to address such crises? What assumptions and beliefs guide them? What skills and methods do they bring to this work? And what processes of investigation, reasoning, reflection, and testing can assess this work?

Corcoran Conference Panelists
Lisa Cahill (Boston College)
Boyd Taylor Coolman (Boston College)
Nauman Faizi (LUMS, The Lahore University of Management Sciences)
Kevin L. Hughes (Villanova University)
Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski (Boston College)
Ruth Langer (Boston College) 
Seyd Zainuddin Moulvi (University of Virginia)
Paul Murray (Durham University)
Peter Ochs (Boston College / University of Virginia)
Stephen Pope (Boston College)
Ilma Qureshi (University of Virginia)
Randi Rashkover (William & Mary University)
Matthew Tapie (Saint Leo University)
Jason Welle (Boston College)
Laurie Zoloth (The University of Chicago)

RSVP to attend in-person: Email cjlearning@bc.edu
RSVP to join virtually: Zoom registration

Christopher Vogt/Kate Ward, eds., Bothering to Love: James F. Keenan's Retrieval and Reinvention of Catholic Ethics

https://orbisbooks.com/products/bothering-to-love-james-f-keenans-retrieval-and-reinvention-of-catholic-ethics?_pos=3&_sid=112a8ff3e&_ss=r

Massimo Faggioli, Theology  & Catholic Higher Education 

https://orbisbooks.com/products/theology-and-catholic-higher-education-beyond-our-identity-crisis?_pos=1&_sid=483410bda&_ss=r

Roger Haight, Facing Race: The Gospel in an Ignatian Key

https://orbisbooks.com/products/facing-race-the-gospel-in-an-ignatian-key?_pos=1&_sid=96de91e2a&_ss=r

The CTSA remembers and prays for M. Kathleen Flanagan, SC, a former member of the Society.

Eternal rest grant unto Kathleen, O Lord
and let perpetual light sine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

Kathleen was a theology professor at the College (now University) of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.  As a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, NJ., she was a member of the group that transcribed, annotated and published the collected writings of (St.) Elizabeth Bayley Seton.  Kathleen died on January 6. (Sister Regina Bechtle, SC, CTSA member, 1/14/25).

Sister Kathleen Flanagan's Obituary

The CTSA remembers and prays for longstanding member Eileen Burke Sullivan.  The CTSA Board of Directors, the membership and I offer our condolences to her brother, Kevin F. Burke, S.J., Regis University, and family.

Eternal rest grant unto Eileen, O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

Eileen Burke-Sullivan, S.T.D., professor emerita at Creighton University, died on November 30, 2024, and was buried at St. John's Church on the Creighton campus on December 7th. Eileen was a member of the CTSA during the years after completing her doctorate in 2003 and joining the Creighton theology department. 

Eileen Burke-Sullivan's Obituary

 

Thomas Hughson SJ published Neanderthal Religion: Theology in Dialogue with Archaeology, Foreword by Neil Ormerod (Wipf and Stock Pickwick Publications, 2024)

It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the next WFTL webinar:

 

Gaza & Middle East: The Theologians’ Global Call and Responsibility

 

January 24th, 2025

11 AM- 1 PM EST

[English-Spanish – translation will be provided)

 

Speakers:
Dr. Kwok Pui-lan (USA)
Dr. Nicolas Panotto (Argentina/Chile)
Dr. Carlos Mendoza Álvarez (Mexico/USA)
Dr. Viola Raheb (Palestine/Austria)

 

The war in Gaza and the Middle East, ignited on October 7, 2023, has global repercussions far beyond geopolitics, intersecting with religion, neocolonialism, and biblical imaginaries. These realities raise urgent theological and ethical questions, demanding a global response.

 

Three non-Palestinian theologians will reflect on how Palestine intersects with their own theological work. Dr. Kwok pui-Lan will discuss the topic from a Asian and American perspective; Dr. Carlos Mendoza Alvarez will do the same, especially from a Mexican perspective; and then Dr. Nicolas Panotto, from an Argentinian and Chilean perspective. How do they figure out their theological responsibility to Palestine, the Middle East, Israel, and justice? In a Liberation perspective, how do they connect Palestine and their own contexts? Then, the Palestinian theologian, Dr. Viola Raheb, will assess what has been presented, exploring its relevancy for the people of Palestine.

 

REGISTER NOW https://bit.ly/GazaWebinarWFTL

 

PLEASE SHARE  https://www.facebook.com/events/770515811926807

 

 

 

Every year, the CTSA invites submissions for the Catherine Mowry LaCugna Award for the best academic essay by a new scholar.  If you are a new scholar with an important contribution being made (or know of such a new scholar), please make sure the essay is included in the deliberations of the committee.

Submissions are due by midnight (Eastern) time on January 31, via the Catherine Mowry LaCugna Award Submission Form.  

More information on the submission process, prize and criteria for selection can be found on the prize web page.  We look forward to reading your work!

Congratulations to CTSA member John Segun Odeyemi on the publication of his book The Mass: Through Him, With Him and In Him (Released 1/7/25).  

John Segun Odeyemi approaches the question of the Holy Mass (Eucharist) by a triadic system; Sacred Scriptures, the catechesis of Pope Francis on the Eucharist, and the voices of the most contemporary theological American minds.  Even though there are many excellent works on the Eucharist from biblical times, through the Middle Ages to our time, his language, style and theological approach gives a fresh way into approaching this great gift.  According to John Segun Odeyemi, at the very heart of the Church's understanding of the Mass is that it points us to heaven and draws heaven down to the world, a prelude to the banquet of life that is promised.  Odeyemi pays particular attention to situating the actions that takes place at the celebration of the Mass, from the beginning to the end within the framework of the biblical understanding, especially from the Old Testament.  this is not just another book on the Holy Mass, it  is a book about the beauty, sanctity and grace of the sacrament which is also known as "the bread of life" and "food for the journey".  (Citi of Books, 2025).