Catholic Theological Society of America
Encyclopedia
The Catholic Theological Society of America is a professional association mostly in the United States
and Canada
. It is a "Catholic
" organization that was founded in 1946 to promote studies and research in theology
within the Catholic tradition. It provides a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to theology, problems, and how to develop a more effective educational approach.
community a better understanding of their faith. It advances its work through annual June conventions, scholarly publications and committees that work throughout the year.
The president of the CTSA for 2007-2008 is Margaret O'Gara, of the Faculty of Theology of the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto. She will be succeeded by Terrence W. Tilley of Fordham University
for 2008-2009.
The John Courtney Murray Award
is the highest honour bestowed by the Catholic Theological Society of America, named after a theologian known for his work on religious liberty.
Theologian Roger Haight
, one of whose books was criticized by the Holy See
, is a former president of the Society. Richard McBrien
is another past president of the CTSA.
In response to Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
, the Catholic Theological Society of America set up a Task Force to study the question. The Task Force produced a report:‘Tradition and the Ordination of Women’, which concluded that ‘Ordinatio Sacerdotalis’ is mistaken with regard to its claims on the authority of this teaching and its grounds in Tradition.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a "Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
" organization that was founded in 1946 to promote studies and research in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
within the Catholic tradition. It provides a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to theology, problems, and how to develop a more effective educational approach.
Role and activities
The Society also tries to foster within the ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community a better understanding of their faith. It advances its work through annual June conventions, scholarly publications and committees that work throughout the year.
The president of the CTSA for 2007-2008 is Margaret O'Gara, of the Faculty of Theology of the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto. She will be succeeded by Terrence W. Tilley of Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
for 2008-2009.
The John Courtney Murray Award
John Courtney Murray Award
The John Courtney Murray Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Catholic Theological Society of America, named after John Courtney Murray, the great American theologian known for his work on religious liberty.-Winners of the John Courtney Murray Award :...
is the highest honour bestowed by the Catholic Theological Society of America, named after a theologian known for his work on religious liberty.
Controversies
The Society is known to honor and promote writers and works that express views contrary to the Catholic faith, and the Church has clarified the errors of several of its past presidents.Theologian Roger Haight
Roger Haight
Roger Haight is an American Jesuit theologian.He received his B.A. and the M.A. in Philosophy from Berchmans College, Cebu City, Philippines; his S.T.B. from Woodstock College, Maryland ; the M.A. in Theology and the Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Chicago; and the S.T.L. from the...
, one of whose books was criticized by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, is a former president of the Society. Richard McBrien
Richard McBrien
Richard Peter McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He is a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford and the author of several controversial books and articles discussing Catholicism. He is most well known for his authorship of Catholicism...
is another past president of the CTSA.
In response to Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis is an Apostolic Letter issued from the Vatican by Pope John Paul II on 22 May 1994, whereby the Pope expounds the teaching of the Catholic Church's position requiring "the reservation of priestly ordination to men alone." In its clear proclamation that "the Church has no...
, the Catholic Theological Society of America set up a Task Force to study the question. The Task Force produced a report:‘Tradition and the Ordination of Women’, which concluded that ‘Ordinatio Sacerdotalis’ is mistaken with regard to its claims on the authority of this teaching and its grounds in Tradition.