Catholic Theological Society of America Says Vatican is Wrong About Theologians' Job

The National Catholic Reporter says that the Catholic Theological Society of America, "the largest membership organization of U.S. theologians," has started it's annual four-day conference (this year in St. Louis)--and that the first order of business was for its Board of Directors to issue a statement defending Sister Margaret Farley against Vatican criticism that her popular book on sexual ethics does not reflect official teachings.

The statement notes that Professor Farley is a past president of the CTSA and a recipient of its John Courtney Murray Award.  NCR reminds us that at its conference last June, the society issued a similar defense of Sister Elizabeth Johnson, whose book Quest for the Living God had been criticized by the U.S. bishops in March 2011.

John Thiel, CTSA president, told NCR that the society's main concern regarding Margaret Foley was to dispute and challenge the Vatican's position "that the role of authentic Catholic theologians was simply to repeat what the magisterium teaches."

Against the Vatican's view, the CTSA's statement declares:

"Professor Farley's purpose in her book is to raise and explore questions of keen concern to the faithful of the Church.  Doing so is one very legitimate way of engaging in theological inquiry that has been practiced throughout the Catholic tradition."

As I point out in my doctoral dissertation (link at right), the church would have no official positions unless theologians had argued the issues first.  And the only way the limits of the official positions can be discerned is for theological analysis and discussion and debate to continue.  The Vatican, of course, would like us to forget how its teachings became official and how, inevitably, every official position superceded a previous one.

The text of the CTSA's statement and a list of signers follows:

STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CATHOOLIC THEOLOLGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA ON THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH'S "NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE BOOK JUST LOVE:  A FRAMEWORK FOR CHRISTIAN SEXUAL ETHICS BY SISTER MARGARET FARLEY, R.S.M." (March 30, 2012).

On June 4, 2012, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a "Notification" entitled "Regarding the Book Just Love:  A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics by Sister Margaret A. Farley, R.S.M."  The "Notification" judged that, in a number of respects, Professor Farley's book presents positions on matters of sexual ethics that are contrary to the teaching of the Magisterium.

We, the undersigned members of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Theological Society of America, wish to note that Professor Farley is a highly respected member of the theological community.  A former President of the CTSA and a recipient of the Society's John Courtney Murray Award, she has devoted her life to teaching and writing on ethical issues and has done so in ways that have been reflective, measured, and wise.  Her work has prompted a generation of theologians to think more deeply about the Christian meaning of personal relationships and the divine life of love that truly animates them.  The judgment of the "Notificaition" that a number of Professor Farley's stated positions are contrary to the teaching of the Magisterium is simply factual.  In our judgment, however, Professor Farley's purpose in her book is to raise and explore questions of keen concern to the faithful of the Church.  Doing so is one very legitimate way of engaging in theological inquiry that has been practiced throughout the Catholic tradition.

The Board is especially concerned with the understanding of the task of Catholic theology presented in the "Notification."  The "Notification" risks giving the impression that there can be no constructive role in the life of the Church for works of theology that 1) give voice to the experience and concerns of ordinary believers, 2) raise questions about the persuasiveness of certain official Catholic positions, and 3) offer alternative theological frameworks as potentially helpful contributions to the authentic development of doctrine.  Such an understanding of the nature of theology inappropriately conflates the distinctive tasks of catechesis and theology.  With regard to the subject matter of Professor Farley's book, it is simply a matter of fact that faithful Catholics in every corner of the Church are raising ethical questions like those Professor Farley has addressed.  In raising and exploring such questions with her customary sensitivity and judiciousness, Professor Farley has invited us to engage the Catholic tradition seriously and thoughtfully.

Signed,

John E. Thiel, Ph.D.
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
President

Susan A. Ross, Ph.D.
Loyola University
Chicago, IL
President-Elect

Richard R. Gaillardetz, Ph.D.
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Vice President

Mary Ann Hinsdale, I.H.M., Ph.D.
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Past President

M. Theresa Moser, R.S.C.J., Ph.D.
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Secretary

Josef D. Zalot, Ph.D.
College of Mount St. Joseph
Cincinnati, OH
Treasurer

Michael E. Lee, Ph.D.
Fordham University
Bronx, NY

Kathleen McManus, O.P., Ph.D.
University of Portland
Portland, OR

Judith A. Merkle, S.N.D. de N., Ph.D.
Niagara University
Niagara, NY

Elena Procario-Foley, Ph.D.
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY

June 7, 2012