George Tavard
Encyclopedia
Reverend George H. Tavard (February 6, 1922 – August 13, 2007) was an ordained member with the order of the Augustinians of the Assumption, and lectured extensively in the areas of historical theology, ecumenism
, and spirituality
.
from 1951-1952. He then came to the United States
as a permanent resident in 1952, ascertaining full naturalized citizenship status in 1960.
in Pittsburgh, where he would teach for six years. During his tenure at Mount Mercy College, Pope John XXIII
named Tavard a peritus conciliaris at Vatican II, where he also served as a consultant to the Pontifical Secretariat for the Unity of Christians. After departing Mount Mercy College, Tavard taught at Assumption College
, Penn State University and Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio
, where he retired in 1990.
Father Tavard was a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Preparatory Commission ("Malta Report", 1968), and then of the
Anglican-Roman Catholic International Conversations (ARCIC-1: "Final Report," 1983) until 1983, when he was assigned to the International dialogue of the RC Church and the World Methodist Council. He was part of ARC-USA (Anglican-Roman Catholic Conversations in the USA) and of Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in the USA from the beginning. He lectured and written extensively in the areas of historical theology, ecumenism, and spirituality.
He was an official Catholic observer at the Faith and Order Conference in Montreal
, 1963, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Denver, CO, 1980, and the delegate of the Catholic Church at the meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Panama
, 1997.
, focusing on bridging the gaps between Roman Catholicism and Protestant sects of Christianity as well as between Christianity
and Judaism
. He voted for the Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, which constituted a starting point for bi-lateral dialogues between churches. While he recognized that the Papacy and many churches would be reluctant to fully embrace one another, he stressed the importance of education for church officials in pressing for rapprochement with Christians of all denominations. While he conceded that consolidation under one church was not feasible, he still implored theologians and lay Christians alike to discuss their views, seek as much common ground as they could find and leave it to God from there. He detested the manner in which the Catholic Church treated other sects and their leaders. For example, he beseeched the Catholic brass to cease with the hundreds of years of condemnations of Martin Luther
and to accord him a place of honor instead.
vocations. While he acknowledged that a referendum allowing women to be ordained would fail in a referendum amongst American Catholics, he pointed out that it would succeed amongst French Catholics and thus was an unavoidable aspect of future Catholicism.
, questioning the moral compass of those who supported American involvement there. He asserted that it was a civil war and that only the well-being of the people in that country should guide American policy with regard to Vietnam. He argued that the fact that one side was Communist did not matter and that the American government was using the “Communist” tag to exploit the fears associated with that term amongst the American public in order to wage a war he deemed immoral and unjust.
Books =
Awards =
Archival Collections =
Reverend George H. Tavard, A.A., Papers, Marquette University
http://www.marquette.edu/library/collections/archives/Mss/GHT/ght-index.html
Marquette University Archives and Special Collections contain much of Tavard's work. The collection includes his Published and Unpublished Works (1949–1999), Lectures (1948–1994), Correspondence (1952–1994), Correspondence, (1958-1967-Restricted)
Subject Files(1915–1998), Audio and Videotape Recordings(1958–1997), Second Vatican Council (1960–1968, 1970, 1982).
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
.
Early life
George Tavard was born on February 6, 1922, in Nancy, France. He entered a religious community known as the Augustinians of the Assumption and was ordained in 1947. At that point, Tavard began doctoral studies at the Faculties theologiques de Lyon. He held the Doctor of Sacred Theology from Lyons, and he taught theology at Capenor House in Surrey, England from 1949–1951 and the Princeton Theological SeminaryPrinceton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
from 1951-1952. He then came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a permanent resident in 1952, ascertaining full naturalized citizenship status in 1960.
Career
Tavard accepted a teaching position at Mount Mercy CollegeMount Mercy College
Mount Mercy University is a four-year, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1928.-Mount Mercy University:...
in Pittsburgh, where he would teach for six years. During his tenure at Mount Mercy College, Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
named Tavard a peritus conciliaris at Vatican II, where he also served as a consultant to the Pontifical Secretariat for the Unity of Christians. After departing Mount Mercy College, Tavard taught at Assumption College
Assumption College
Assumption College is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college located on 185 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts. Assumption has an enrollment of about 2,117 undergraduates...
, Penn State University and Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
, where he retired in 1990.
Father Tavard was a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Preparatory Commission ("Malta Report", 1968), and then of the
Anglican-Roman Catholic International Conversations (ARCIC-1: "Final Report," 1983) until 1983, when he was assigned to the International dialogue of the RC Church and the World Methodist Council. He was part of ARC-USA (Anglican-Roman Catholic Conversations in the USA) and of Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in the USA from the beginning. He lectured and written extensively in the areas of historical theology, ecumenism, and spirituality.
He was an official Catholic observer at the Faith and Order Conference in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, 1963, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Denver, CO, 1980, and the delegate of the Catholic Church at the meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 1997.
Ecumenism
Tavard was best-known for his emphatic support of ecumenismEcumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, focusing on bridging the gaps between Roman Catholicism and Protestant sects of Christianity as well as between Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. He voted for the Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, which constituted a starting point for bi-lateral dialogues between churches. While he recognized that the Papacy and many churches would be reluctant to fully embrace one another, he stressed the importance of education for church officials in pressing for rapprochement with Christians of all denominations. While he conceded that consolidation under one church was not feasible, he still implored theologians and lay Christians alike to discuss their views, seek as much common ground as they could find and leave it to God from there. He detested the manner in which the Catholic Church treated other sects and their leaders. For example, he beseeched the Catholic brass to cease with the hundreds of years of condemnations of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
and to accord him a place of honor instead.
Women’s Roles in the Church
Tavard raised the issue of women’s roles within the Catholic Church in his 1973 book, Women in Christian Tradition, one of the first major theologians to do so. While he remained a part of the minority for his view that women needed a bigger role in the Catholic Church, he insisted that the ordination of women was not only fair but also necessary to the survival of the church. Tavard predicted that within fifty years of the book’s publication, women would be able to be ordained and priests would be allowed to marry. True to his ecumenist beliefs, Tavard cited the models of Protestant churches when prescribing a remedy for the waning numbers of CatholicCatholic
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"...
vocations. While he acknowledged that a referendum allowing women to be ordained would fail in a referendum amongst American Catholics, he pointed out that it would succeed amongst French Catholics and thus was an unavoidable aspect of future Catholicism.
Vietnam War
Tavard opposed American policy in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, questioning the moral compass of those who supported American involvement there. He asserted that it was a civil war and that only the well-being of the people in that country should guide American policy with regard to Vietnam. He argued that the fact that one side was Communist did not matter and that the American government was using the “Communist” tag to exploit the fears associated with that term amongst the American public in order to wage a war he deemed immoral and unjust.
Books =
- The Thousand Faces of the Virgin Mary ISBN 978-0814659144
- Vatican II and the Ecumenical Way ISBN 978-0874627299
- The Church, Community of Salvation: An Ecumenical Ecclesiology ISBN 978-0814657898
- The Starting Point of Calvin's Theology ISBN 978-0802847188
- The Contemplative Church: Joachim and His Adversaries ISBN 978-0874627268
- Paul Tillich and the Christian Message Lib of Congress No. 61-7227
- From Bonaventure to the Reformers, 2005, Marquette University Press, ISBN 0874626951 ISBN 9780874626957
Awards =
- 1965 Honorary D.D., Bexley Hall Seminary at Kenyon CollegeKenyon CollegeKenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
, Ohio - 1974 John Courthey Murray Award, Catholic Theological Society of America
- 1981 Medal of St. Augustine of Canterbury, granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury
- 1999 Catholic Press Association Book Award, for "The Spiritual Way of St. Jeanne d'Arc"
- 2002 Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, Duquesne UniversityDuquesne UniversityDuquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, Pittsburgh, PA
Archival Collections =
Reverend George H. Tavard, A.A., Papers, Marquette University
http://www.marquette.edu/library/collections/archives/Mss/GHT/ght-index.html
Marquette University Archives and Special Collections contain much of Tavard's work. The collection includes his Published and Unpublished Works (1949–1999), Lectures (1948–1994), Correspondence (1952–1994), Correspondence, (1958-1967-Restricted)
Subject Files(1915–1998), Audio and Videotape Recordings(1958–1997), Second Vatican Council (1960–1968, 1970, 1982).
See also
- Marquette University Special Collections and University ArchivesMarquette University Special Collections and University ArchivesThe mission of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives of Marquette University is to collect, arrange, describe, preserve, and service records of enduring historical value for research, instructional, and administrative use...
- Marquette UniversityMarquette UniversityMarquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...