Theological Society Backs Vatican-Criticized Nun

By Joshua J. McElwee
Jun. 07, 2012
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/theological-society-backs-vatican-criticized-nun

ST. LOUIS -- The board of the largest membership
organization of U.S. theologians issued a statement of
support Thursday afternoon (June 7) for Mercy Sr.
Margaret Farley, a member in their ranks who was the
subject of harsh criticism from the Vatican just days
ago.

Writing that it considers Farley's work "reflective,
measured, and wise," the leadership of the some 1,500
member Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA)
says in the statement it is "especially concerned" that
the Vatican's criticism presents a limiting
understanding of the role of Catholic theology.

In a formal notification released June 4, the Vatican's
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith criticized
Farley's 2006 book on sexual ethics, titled Just Love.

Farely's positions on masturbation, homosexual acts,
homosexual unions, the indissolubility of marriage and
the problem of divorce and remarriage "contradicts" or
"is opposed to" or "does not conform to" church
teaching, the Vatican notification said.

The congregation said the book "cannot be used as a
valid expression of Catholic teaching, either in
counseling and formation, or in ecumenical and
interreligious dialogue."

John Thiel, CTSA president, told NCR that the society's
leadership decided to issue the statement Thursday
because it wanted to both acknowledge Farley as a
"distinguished theologian" and state that it is
"concerned that the CDF notification had a rather
constrained understanding of the task of theology."

"[The notification] seemed to understand that the role
of authentic Catholic theologians was to simply repeat
what the magisterium teaches," said Thiel, a theologian
at Fairfield University.

"And even though that is a part of the role of the
theologian, the board also considered it important to
say that theologians are always in the business of
considering all questions . that are important to
consider."

While Thursday's statement from the CTSA leadership does
not debate the conclusions drawn by the Vatican
congregation regarding Farley's book, it says the
Vatican's move "risks giving the impression that there
can be no constructive role in the life of the Church
for works of theology" that attempt to:

"give voice to the experience and concerns of ordinary
believers;"

"raise questions about the persuasiveness of certain
official Catholic positions;" or,

"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," the statement, signed by the
ten-members of the CTSA's board, continues.

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"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."

Thursday's statement from the CTSA comes as the group is
beginning an annual four-day conference. The Farley
matter is expected to come up in both side conversations
and formal discussions.

The agenda for the event includes a full "business
meeting" Friday of the society members in attendance,
expected to number in the several hundreds. At that
meeting, a number of theologians familiar with the
procedures of the society tell NCR, a larger statement
regarding the Farley case may come up for a vote.

At last year's CTSA gathering, held in June, the
society's membership overwhelming approved a statement
of support for St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, whose
book Quest for the Living God was sharply criticized by
the U.S. bishops' in March 2011.

The theologians are also expected to tackle a number of
other hot-button issues at this year's gathering,
including the U.S. bishops' opposition to a
controversial federal contraceptive mandate, economic
reform, and what procedures Catholic hospitals should
consider as abortions.

The theme of this year's convention, the group's 67th,
is "Sacrament/s and the Global Church." There are to be
four separate plenary addresses, as well as a bevy of
breakout sessions on a multitude of issues.

Among the issues to be addressed in the plenary sessions
is the state of sacramental theology since the Second
Vatican Council, the effect of globalization of the
world church, and the role of gender theory in
theological questions.

The nearly 50 breakout sessions include:

A discussion on the impact of the U.S. bishops' 1986
pastoral letter Economic Justice for All, which is
celebrating its 25 anniversary. Present at that session
is to be retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland,
who chaired the bishops' committee responsible for
drafting the letter;

A panel discussion on "Church and government" expected
to address the U.S. bishops' opposition to a mandate
from the Health and Human Services Department requiring
coverage of contraceptives in health care plans;

A session on "Theological responses to the Arab Spring;"

A discussion on news in 2010 that Phoenix Bishop Thomas
Olmstead had revoked the Catholic status of a hospital
in his diocese following the termination of an 11-week
pregnancy to save the life of the mother in 2009. That
presentation, titled "The Case Not Heard: Moral
Methodology and the Phoenix `Abortion' Debate," is to
include presentations from a theologian at Boston
College and a representative of the Catholic Health
Association.

This week's gathering will also see the formal selection
of new leadership for the CTSA.

Susan Ross, a professor of theology and a faculty
scholar at Loyola University Chicago who was named
president-elect of the group last year, is expected to
formally replace Thiel as president.

Richard Gaillardetz, the Joseph McCarthy professor of
Catholic systematic theology and the group's current
vice president, is expected to be named its president-
elect, which sets him to take the helm of the society in
2013.

The society is also expected Saturday night to name the
recipient of its John Courtney Murray Award, the highest
honor bestowed by the CTSA.

Previous recipients of the award include both Farley,
who was named the recipient in 1992, and Johnson, who
won in 2004. Last year's honoree was Fr. James Coriden,
a prominent canon lawyer and professor at the Washington
Theological Union.

Full text of the statement by the CTSA leadership
regarding the Farley matter follows.

[Joshua J. McElwee is an NCR staff writer. Look for more
reports from him as the CTSA gathering continues.]
--------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------
STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CATHOLIC
THEOLOGICAL 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 A. 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 "Notification" 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
Jozef 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

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