Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of: Justice After War: Jus Post Bellum In The 21st Century, Jacaranda Turvey Tait

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Pope John’S Pacem In Terris And The Call For Global Governance, Thomas Massaro

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Mental Health And Disability Theologies Through Dialogue Between The Disciplines, Emily Heidick

Obsculta

This piece places some voices from theologies of mental health in dialogue with voices from disability theology. While far from exhaustive, this piece seeks to spark insight into how theology and society at large contemplates mental health and disability. Specifically, this piece seeks to challenge assumptions about suffering and calls for greater understanding and inclusion.

Idolatry In Ancient Rome Can Be A Teaching Tool Today, Garrett S. "Faustino" Miller Oblsb

Obsculta

This essay analyzes idolatry from the context of both the early Christians before the 3rd century as well as the interpretation of the modern day through looking at the early Christian martyrs and their defiance of Rome as an act of abstaining from the sin of idolatry while seeing how contemporary Christians can abstain from idolatry in the modern era, learning from ancient wisdom how to battle this sin.

2025 Document For Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day Soirée, Stacy Penk, Diana Symons

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

No abstract provided.

Review Of For God And My Country: Catholic Leadership In Modern Uganda, John Ashworth

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Playing God: American Catholic Bishops And The Far Right, Daniel R. Dileo

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Essay: Receiving Pope Francis’S Condemnation Of Nuclear Weapons, William J. Collinge

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Eco-Virtue Ethics And Anthropological Commitments Of Laudato Si’ And Laudate Deum: Towards A Renewed Integral Ecology, Ugochukwu Stophynus Anyanwu

The Journal of Social Encounters

The Fourth Chapter of Laudato Si’ (LS) of Pope Francis deals with the theme of ‘Integral Ecology’ from a religious tradition. This chapter can be interpreted as the fulcrum of the encyclical because of the density of its anthropological and ethical considerations. The theme of this chapter has informed a more emphatic presentation in the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum (LD) on the climatic challenges confronting humanity. Both documents, with incomparable courage and novelty, offer enriching ethical discourses for advancing social, cultural, and human ecology in consonance with social justice, common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity. They contain the magisterial appeal that …

To Till And To Keep: Following The Ethical Imperative To Care For Creation Through Gender Exploration And Expression, Phoebe Carstens

Obsculta

In light of the recent USCCB document regarding 'the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body,' this essay explores an alternative, transgender-affirming ethical framework drawn from Pope Francis's Laudato si’. Within this framework, gender-affirming care is presented as fulfilling the call to care for creation through exploration and cultivation of the self.

Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical And Anthropological Explorations., Noreen L. Herzfeld, Matthew J. Gaudet, Paul Scherz, Jordan J. Wales

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Books

What does it mean to consider the world of AI through a Christian lens? Rapid developments in AI continue to reshape society, raising new ethical questions and challenging our understanding of the human person. Encountering Artificial Intelligence draws on Pope Francis's discussion of a culture of encounter and broader themes in Catholic social thought in order to examine how current AI applications affect human relationships in various social spheres and offers concrete recommendations for better implementation. The document also explores questions regarding personhood, consciousness, and the kinds of relationships humans might have with even the most advanced AI. Through these …

Conscience In The Catholic Church, Hang Geum Augustine Osb

Obsculta

This paper deals with the topic of “conscience” in the Catholic Church. It explores the historical origins from the patristic and monastic traditions to the theologians in the medieval period and then also in the post-conciliar era through the lenses of canon law, catechism, and papal encyclicals. Finally, the author highlights the significance of conscience in monastic life as "mirror" of self-reflection.

The Relationship Between Marital Life And Celibacy In The Catholic Church, Saint-Gilbert Nortilus

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

Despite the inordinate number of debates on celibacy, there is still a widely-held notion that celibacy is a problem in the church which needs reform in relation to the status quo proposed by the twenty first century. This paper seeks to shed light on the topic by juxtaposing its reality with that of marriage in light of church teaching. Analyzing the works of Evert, Skudlarek, Salzmann and Kelly, this paper seeks to shine theological light on the reality of the priestly celibacy with the assertion that it is a reality not clearly outlined to the world and that this reality …

Just Peace Framework: A Brief Primer, Eli S. Mccarthy

The Journal of Social Encounters

This short primer will describe the basic components of a just peace framework. Then I will describe the recent trajectory of Catholic and Christian discourse on just peace, as well as engage a related discourse at the United Nations on sustaining peace.

Transition And Transcendence: An Approach To Constructive Transgender Theology With Insights From Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza And Karl Rahner, Maggie Nadalin

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

Recent attempts at theology impacting transgender individuals from the Catholic bishops in the United States have not only angered and disheartened many but have also failed to address transgender individuals as human persons. Relying on motifs devoid of scientific dialogue, the bishops’ attempts at applying theology to individuals of transgender experience ignores decades of research in both the worlds of the physical and social sciences.

This paper is an attempt to frame the discussion around transgender individuals in a space where theology and science are able to dialogue for their mutual enrichment. Drawing from the experience of the author as …

Review Of Social Justice And Subsidiarity: Luigi Taparelli And The Origins Of Modern Catholic Social Thought, William J. Collinge

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Essay: Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen: A Still And Quiet Conscience, William L. Portier

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Archbishop Denis Hurley: ‘Ecclesiastical Che Guevara’ Or ‘Guardian Of The Light’?, Anthony Egan

The Journal of Social Encounters

Archbishop Denis Hurley, OMI (1915-2004) was a major figure in mobilising the Catholic Church’s struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Rooted in Catholic Social Thought and an active participant and implementer of Vatican II, he led by example, moving the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) into one of the foremost religious defenders of human rights. His theological skills and personal courage translated in ecumenical and interfaith activities that served justice and peace. He supported conscientious objectors and faced prosecution for exposing state atrocities in Namibia.

Hindu Nationalism And Indian Christian Response!, Dhinakaran Savariyar

The Journal of Social Encounters

Indian democracy is fast recast as Hindu nationalism which neither honors the country’s constitutional secularity nor upholds its tradition of diversity (religious, cultural, and linguistic), inclusivity, and pluralism. The forged uniformity avowedly seeks to construct the “one” India - one religion (Hindu), one culture (Hindu), and one language (Hindi). Falsely representing a Hinduism under attack from ‘invader’ religions, nationalist ideologues arouse the base emotions of the unsuspecting majoritarian community and stoke their fears against the minorities, particularly Christians. Conscientious challenging of such imposed homogeneity is met with charges of sedition and profiling as anti-national foreign stooge. At this critical juncture, …

Review Of A Pilgrim People: Becoming A Catholic Peace Church, William J. Collinge

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Glory Of The Lord Whose Likeness Is As The Appearance Of A Human Being/Adam: A Study Of Ezekiel’S Son Of Man/Adam Anthropology, Timothy R. Schmeling

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

Ezekiel has often been criticized as a dehumanizing book. Still it is alternative humanisms that have done so much to dehumanize mankind with the totalitarianism of self-deifying individualism or the totalitarianism of collectively-imposed manmade metanarratives. Far from being a dehumanizing book, the objective of the son of man/Adam is certainly to purge his hearers of all anthropologies of autonomy and license, but this Adamic priestly prophet does this to eschatologically resurrect in them an anthropology of dependence and true freedom. Reasserting the creation theology and anthropology of Genesis, Ezekiel insists that authentic humanism, Edenic humanism (i.e., the original humanism), is …

Converting Consumerism: A Liturgical-Ethical Application Of Critical Realism, Benjamin Durheim

Theology Faculty Publications

Critical realism as a lens of thought is not new to theological inquiry, but recently a growing number of theologians have been using its conceptual frameworks to guide their thought on how social structures function theologically, and how ethics might function in light of its insights. This article pulls these developments into the nexus of liturgy and ethics, applying critical realist categories to contemporary understandings of how liturgical celebration (and the structures thereof) form, inform, and/or malform Christian ethical imaginations and practices. The article begins with a brief survey of the main tenets of critical realism and their histories in …

The Craftsman Mirroring The Creator: Explorations In Theatrical Theology, Andrew Noah

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This will be my presentation given to theology faculty on Scholarship and Creativity Day required for the Theology Capstone course. I will be discussing the idea that when doing theology in a theatrical mode, it becomes a way to focus on God working in the world and our call as the audience to take part in the performance. Because God does not just exist in the abstract, but makes Godself known through the senses, theatre, as a sensual art, becomes the perfect mode to explore and make relevant God’s divine revelation.

Toward A Theology Of Infertility And The Role Of Donum Vitae, Kathryn Lilla Cox

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Publications

A theology of infertility is needed to help couples and the broader ecclesial community understand the theological implications of infertility. Infertility raises questions about human freedom, finitude, embodiment, childlessness, and parenthood. In this article, dominant cultural assumptions surrounding each of these areas when considering reproductive technologies are sketched. Official Roman Catholic teaching on reproductive technologies (Donum Vitae), while rejecting most forms of such technologies, does provide a viable response to the presupposition that reproductive technologies resolve infertility. Given the dominant cultural assumptions and insights from Roman Catholic teaching, this article advocates for several ecclesial changes when considering infertility. …

Locating Practical Theology In Catholic Theological Discourse And Practice, Kathleen A. Cahalan

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Sharing And Accepting Of Gifts In The Feeding Of The Five Thousand, Corein Brown

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

Moral Theology Haiku, Mary Lavoy

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

Chauvet And O’Connor: An Encounter Of Sacramental Life And Aesthetics, Betsy Cunneen

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

Second-Grade Children Speak: Artistic Expression Of Sin And Forgiveness In The Sacrament Of Reconciliation, Jennifer Beste

Theology Faculty Publications

Despite a long-standing historical debate in Catholicism about whether second grade is an age-appropriate time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, there has been a virtual absence of Catholic children's own voices and perspectives about this sacrament and its spiritual and moral effects. Joining a growing number of religious scholars who stress the need to engage in child-centered research, I conducted a qualitative study interviewing Catholic second graders about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The purpose of this article is to analyze their drawings of this religious ritual. According to many psychologists and art therapists, children can best capture how they …

Modern Usury: The Moral Challenge Of Credit Cards In Light Of Catholic Teaching And Practice In The Past And The Present, David R. Smoker

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

No abstract provided.