Monika Hellwig
Encyclopedia
Monika Hellwig was a German
-born United States
-based British
academic, author, educator and theologian. A former nun, she left her order to pursue her career, which would lead to her being named as President/Executive Director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
(1996–2005).
, from which she received degrees in law (1949) and social science (1951).
She briefly relocated from England to the United States thereafter, where she both attended Catholic University
for her master's degree in theology (1956) and joined the Washington chapter of the Medical Mission Sisters
, a Roman Catholic religious order for women. A few years into her career, she returned to the University for a doctoral degree in theology (1966).
, one of the few women allowed as an unfettered observer at Council sessions. Fourteen years after she took her vows, Hellwig's order released her to permit her other work. Thereafter, in addition to lecturing at many universities, Hellwig taught for more than three decades at Georgetown University
, including six years as the Landegger Distinguished Professor of Theology.
She wrote many books, including Understanding Catholicism (1981), Jesus, the Compassion of God (1992), and The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World (1976). As President of the Catholic Theological Society of America
, Hellwig in 1986 signed a controversial letter in support of Father Charles E. Curran
, a Catholic University of America (CUA) professor, who "had been stripped of his authority to teach in Catholic universities because of his dissent from the church's teachings on such issues as contraception and homosexuality." In 1996, became president and executive director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, retaining the position until a few months before her death. She was a senior research fellow at Georgetown's Woodstock Theological Center at the time of her death.
referred to Hellwig's "[n]ear encyclopedic knowledge of Catholicism, which might be expected of the coauthor of the Modern Catholic Encyclopedia."
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic, author, educator and theologian. A former nun, she left her order to pursue her career, which would lead to her being named as President/Executive Director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, or ACCU, is a voluntary association of delegates from Catholic institutions of higher learning. It was founded in 1899 by fifty-three delegates from Catholic colleges across the United States...
(1996–2005).
Early life and education
Monika Hellwig was born in 1929 to a Catholic father and a Dutch mother. With Jewish grandparents, she moved several times to avoid the Nazis. First, the family moved to the Netherlands, where Hellwig's father was killed in a car accident. Later, to avoid the Nazis invading the Netherlands, the eight-year-old Hellwig and her sisters were sent to Scotland to a boarding school. She was briefly reunited with her mother in 1946, but her mother died soon after the reunion. That same year, aged 15, she began her higher education at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, from which she received degrees in law (1949) and social science (1951).
She briefly relocated from England to the United States thereafter, where she both attended Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
for her master's degree in theology (1956) and joined the Washington chapter of the Medical Mission Sisters
Medical Mission Sisters
The Medical Mission Sisters are a religious congregation of women in the Roman Catholic Church founded in 1925 and dedicated to providing the poor of the world better access to health care. They were formerly officially known as the "Society of the Catholic Medical Missions".-History:The...
, a Roman Catholic religious order for women. A few years into her career, she returned to the University for a doctoral degree in theology (1966).
Career
As a nun, Hellwig was a research assistant to a Vatican official during the Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, one of the few women allowed as an unfettered observer at Council sessions. Fourteen years after she took her vows, Hellwig's order released her to permit her other work. Thereafter, in addition to lecturing at many universities, Hellwig taught for more than three decades at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, including six years as the Landegger Distinguished Professor of Theology.
She wrote many books, including Understanding Catholicism (1981), Jesus, the Compassion of God (1992), and The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World (1976). As President of the Catholic Theological Society of America
Catholic Theological Society of America
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...
, Hellwig in 1986 signed a controversial letter in support of Father Charles E. Curran
Charles Curran (theologian)
The Rev. Charles E. Curran is a moral theologian. He currently serves at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, as the Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor of Human Values.-Biography:...
, a Catholic University of America (CUA) professor, who "had been stripped of his authority to teach in Catholic universities because of his dissent from the church's teachings on such issues as contraception and homosexuality." In 1996, became president and executive director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, retaining the position until a few months before her death. She was a senior research fellow at Georgetown's Woodstock Theological Center at the time of her death.
Personal life
Hellwig adopted two sons and a daughter, who survived her. She retained her British nationality while working and living in the United States.Death
Hellwig died on 30 September 2005, aged 75, at Washington Hospital Center from a cerebral hemorrhage. Following her passing, the National Catholic ReporterNational Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
referred to Hellwig's "[n]ear encyclopedic knowledge of Catholicism, which might be expected of the coauthor of the Modern Catholic Encyclopedia."
Education
- University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
- law degree (1949), social science degree (1951) - Catholic University of America - master's degree in theology (1956), doctorate