Welcome to the FIRST

The newsletter of Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church
 
Kristin Heyer joins Jim Keenan and Linda Hogan as Co-Chair of CTEWC. The Yiu Sing L�c�s Chan Scholarship Launches 
October 2015

Dear Friends

Good News on a number of fronts.

At Bangalore Kristin Heyer agreed to join Linda Hogan and me as co-chair of CTEWC.  We are very happy about this, please see her comments below.

Because of gifts received, we are launching The Yiu Sing L�c�s Chan Scholarship Fund for Doctoral Students in Biblical and/ or Asian Theological Ethics at Dharmaram Viya Khestram in Bangalore. See the invitation below to contribute to the fund.

At Bangalore Shaji George Kochuthara accepted our invitation to replace Yiu Sing L�c�s Chan on the Planning Committee of CTEWC.

Right now MT Davila with Andrea Vicini have been working non-stop with preparations for Bogot� in May 2016.  More in December.

Finally we have forum essays by Carolyn Chau (canada), Osamu Takeuchi (Japan), Peter Knox (South Africa), Petr Stica (Germany) and Jutta Battenberg Galindo (Mexico).

Best wishes.  Send us articles on the Synod!

Jim
Kristin Heyer becomes co-chair of CTEWC
Fostering collaboration among ever-broader networks of colleagues whose depth of commitment and vision is the most significant work of CTEWC.  It is my hope that CTEWC initiatives-from electronic networking platforms to regional conferences to international book series-can help us collectively imagine anew spaces and modes of pursuing theological ethics: incorporating new voices (with particular attention to those excluded or vulnerable), new and dynamic directions in fields, new links between praxis and theory, new ways of being church. In so doing CTEWC also attends to spiritual renewal for sustaining moral theology in a community of freedom. The urgency of human and planetary needs today demands we in the world church respond in a spirit of courage and hope rather than fear or cynicism. A "polyhedron" model of globalization also suggests we respond from and beyond our multiplicity of local cultures. CTEWC can animate relationships that help us accompany one another in a spirit of faith and hope throughout various contexts and challenges.
 
In the coming year I am looking forward, in particular, to learning from colleagues across Latin America at May's regional conference in Bogot�; the launch of the Asian theological ethics book series along with international series' migration volume; and developing plans for the next international meeting of CTEWC in 2018.
Launch of the Yiu Sing L�c�s Chan Scholarship


The Yiu Sing L�c�s Chan Scholarship for Doctoral Students at Dharmaram.

We have been approached by a number of people who want to fund a scholarship in L�c�s Chan's name for doctoral students to pursue biblical and/or Asian ethics at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram in Bangalore.

Each scholarship is $1400 a year for three years.  

We will start by launching one each year.  

We would start this year with a commitment of $1400 to the first awardee, 

Then next year we would commit $2800 for the first two.

Finally in the third year we would have the full cohort of three with $4200 donated each successive year.

At present, we have received five ten-year commitments

One for $1500
One for $500
two for $250
and one for $150.
 
Would you be interested in participating in this scholarship fund?  If so, please contact Kristin Heyer at [email protected]
Shaji George Kochuthara Joins Asia Regional Committee

 
CTEWC FORUM essays from Canada, Japan, South Africa, Germany, and Mexico.
Regional News from Europe

Martin M. Lintner reported about the International Symposium organized by INTAMS, the International Academy for Marital Spirituality, Belgium. The Symposium with the title "Faithful Voices, Discerning Hearts: Marriage and Family in Church and Society" took place in Rome between 10 and 12 September. It provided a renewed reflection as well as fresh perspectives on a number of issues that need to be addressed, such as the relation between doctrine and pastoral practice, the sense of the faithfulness, an ethics of mercy, and indissolubility in the context of the contemporary theology of marriage. Amongst the speakers were Andrea Grillo (Italy), Eberhard Schockenhoff (Germany), Peter H�nermann (Germany), Roger Burggraeve (Belgium), Jochen Sautermeister (Germany), Clare Watkins (UK), Emmanuel Agius (Malta), Thomas Knieps (Belgium) and Serena Noceti (Italy). A special panel discussion entitled "The Church I Live in today and the Church I Long for tomorrow" was chaired by Mary McAleese (Ireland) and composed of a married couple with children and double career (Netherlands), a single person (France), a divorced-remarried couple (Italy), a parent of homosexual children (UK), a cohabitating couple planning to get married (Poland). This Symposium after an expert colloquium at the Gregorian University in Rome between 10 and 12 May was the second academic event organized by INTAMS in the perspective of the Bishop's Synod on Family and Marriage in October 2015.
 
Zorica Maros, professor of moral theology in Sarajevo, organized an International Symposium"Crimes of Violence in Ethnic Conflicts. The Decline of the Moral Imperative: Never Again!" in Sarajevo between 1 and 3 October. Introductory lecture was delivered by Prof James Keenan who has been talking about vicious structures of social formation and necessity of breaking those structures by justice and prudence, understood and lived as social virtues. On Friday, the second day of the symposium, ten lectures presented violent mechanisms that still support bad socio-political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Starting with the presentation of evil as the reality which is hardly defined but present, through social and ideological constructions, it came to the discourse about intellectuals' responsibility in the process of developing a better world and equitable society - which was the main subject of the closing lecture.
 
Konrad Glombik announced the publication of papers delivered at the meeting of CTEWC in Krakow in November 2014. The book is entitled "Theological Ethics in a Changing World. Contemporary Challenges - Reorientation of Values - Change of Moral Norms?" and was published by the Publishing House of Opole University in the book series called "Colloquia Theologica".
This publication on the understanding and tasks of Catholic theological ethics in a changing world consists of four parts. The central issue in each part is presented by four moral theologians - one from Poland, one from another East European country and one from a West European country which is finally supplemented by an ethicist from another continent.
The first part relates to the contemporary opportunities and challenges for theological ethics, viewed from a Western European perspective, which are the issues of the text written by Alain Thomasset (Paris). The Eastern European perspective is presented by Petr Stica (Prague), and the Polish perspective is described by Marian Machinek (Olsztyn). The completion of this part is from Africa and is written by Elias Omondi Opongo (Nairobi). It is about the moral leadership and the role of the Church on the African continent.
The second part of this book concerns the problem of the sustainable development of values. The paper written by Martin M. Lintner (Brixen) describes the fundamental value of every human being, which is the primacy of conscience. Maryana Hnyp (Lviv) writes about the value of the family and its multifaceted transformations. Sławomir Nowosad (Lublin) reflects on important social values, such as: solidarity and social justice and their anthropological basis. L�c�s Chan (Hong Kong) completes the reflection about the sustainable development of values with the Confucian idea of concentric circles.
The contemporary challenges for theological ethics and opportunities for the appreciation of values provoke questions on the change of moral norms, which is the issue of the third part of this elaboration. The question on the relationship between the particular and universal character of morality is referred in the text written by Ireneusz Mroczkowski (Warsaw). Julie Clague (Glasgow) attempts to answer whether contemporary discussions on moral theology are about a change of the language or of the content. The paper written by Guszt�v Kov�cs (P�cs) refers to the relation between idealism and realism in theological ethics. This reflection about the change of moral norms is supplemented by Mar�a Teresa D�vila (Puerto Rico) - a voice from Latin America.
The last part of this book contains a paper written by Inocent-M�ria V. Szaniszl� (Kosice) and refers to the issue of the scientific character of the theological reflection.
This book is a part of the research on the identity of Catholic theological ethics and its task to transmit the Christian moral message to the changing world. It neither exhausts nor closes the discussions on this topic, but is a contribution and inspiration to them. It is hoped that the book will encourage further research on the topic.
 
Inocent-M�ria V. Szaniszl� announces that the Department of Applied Ethics of College Danubius, Sl�dkovicovo, Slovakia organizes an international conference on a problem of migration entitled "Migration in the European Union" on 15th December 2015. A very special guest will be dr. Erhard Busek, ex-vice chancellor from Austria and director of the Institute of Danube Space and Central Europe. Other guests will be: professor Peter Kirschl�ger from University of Fribourg, Switzerland and Prof. em. Alois Baumgartner from Ludwig-Maximilians University from Munich, Germany. We invite all interested people to attend the conference and are looking forward to a good discussion.
 
New Publications!
Daniel Ude Asue published "Bottom Elephants," available here on Amazon.



Also, Method Mwihava published: Il ruolo della comunit� nella sessualit� africana. Published by grauseditore 2015

Zorica Maros and Jim Keenan Photo by Antonio Autiero

 
Call for papers

Asian Horizons, Dharmaram Journal of Theology

Vol. 9, No. 4, December 2015

Call for Papers

Laudato Si'


 

Laudato Si', the first encyclical that addresses the environment, is already considered as one of the most significant encyclicals of modern times. Not only Catholics, but the society as a whole has acclaimed it as a ground-breaking document. December 2015 issue of Asian Horizons invites articles on Laudato Si'. The articles can be on any particular topic or theme that the encyclical presents, or reflections on specific issues based on the encyclical.


 

Suggested Topics (only recommendations, not exhaustive):

- What is Happening to Our Common Home?: The Magnitude of Ecological Crisis

- Climate: A Common Good

- Global Inequality and the Environment

- Preferential Option for the Poor and Option for the Earth

- Interrelatedness of all Creation

- Human Roots of Ecological Crisis

- Integral Ecology

- Care for Our Common Home: Global and Local Policies and Action

- Ecological Education

- Ecological Spirituality

- Care for the Earth and Pastoral Ministry

- Laudato Si': Ecumenical and Interreligious Dimensions

- Laudato Si': An Asian Response

- Laudato Si': An Indian Response

- Laudato Si': Challenges for the Present and for the Future

 

As usual, we welcome other articles on any area of theological interest and research.

Please send your articles (4500-5000 words, including the footnotes) at the latest by 31 October 2015. Kindly include the abstract of the article in 150-200 words and a short resum� of the author in 100-150 words.

Other regular items: "New Scholars": Abstract of doctoral theses (recently defended and not yet published); book reviews.

For submitting the articles and for more details: Shaji George Kochuthara (editor-in-chief): [email protected]


 

N.B. Kindly forward this to your friends and colleagues.


 

[Asian Horizons, published from DVK, is a forum for theological reflection in the Asian context marked by economic poverty, cultural diversity and religious plurality. Although the focus is on theological reflection in the context of Asia, we also address theological developments and concerns of the universal Church and try to dialogue with the Church in various contexts. Hence we welcome authors from all over the world. Asian Horizons was launched in 2007 as a biannual. From 2011 it is published as a quarterly. We have an editorial board consisting of members from India, other Asian countries and other continents.]


 


 

Asian Horizons, Dharmaram Journal of Theology

Themes: 2015-2016

2015: Vol. 9

March: After 50 Years: Ongoing Renewal of Moral Theology

June: After 50 Years: Apostolate of Lay People

September: After 50 Years: Church of the Future

December: Luadato Si'

 

2016: Vol. 10

March: Ethics, Theology and Technology

June: Asia's Women Theologians

September: Asian Christian Heritage

December: Conscience

 

 


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Jim Keenan S.J.

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