Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) –
This year the International Theological Commission concludes its
eighth five-year term, which began with the pontifical appointment of
its members on 19 June 2009.
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.
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. Muller, 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, O.P., 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, Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., (U.S.A.), and
Professor Barbara Hallensleben (Switzerland, of German nationality).
Five other female theologians have been appointed for the new term:
Sister Prudence Allen, R.S.M., (U.S.A.), Sister Alenka Arko, Com.
Loyola (Slovenia-Russia), Moira Mary McQuenn (G.B. – Canada),
Tracey Rowland (Australia), Marianne Schlosser (Germany – Austria).
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.
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.
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 Comission 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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