Subject: VISnews 110322
Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 55
ENGLISH
TUESDAY, 22 MARCH 2011
SUMMARY:
- Reform of Ecclesiastical Studies of Philosophy
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
REFORM OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES OF PHILOSOPHY
VATICAN CITY, 22 MAR 2011 (VIS) - At 11.30 a.m. today in the Holy See Press
Office a press conference was held to present the newly-published Decree on
the Reform of Ecclesiastical Studies of Philosophy. Participating in the
event were Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for
Catholic Education; Bishop Jean-Louis Brugues O.P., secretary of the same
dicastery, and Fr. Charles Morerod O.P., rector of Rome's Pontifical
University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
Cardinal Grocholewski explained how the normative documents concerning
ecclesiastical studies - and hence also philosophy - currently comprehend
John Paul II's 1979 Apostolic Constitution "Sapientia christiana" and its
norms of application issued in the same year by the Congregation for
Catholic Education. "Nonetheless", he said, "'Ecclesia semper est
reformanda' in order to respond to the new demands of ecclesial life in
changing historical-cultural circumstances and this also (perhaps
especially) involves the academic world".
The reasons for the reform are, the cardinal explained, "on the one hand,
the shortcomings in philosophical formation at many ecclesiastical
institutions, where precise points of reference are lacking especially as
regards the subjects to be taught and the quality of teachers. ... On the
other hand there is the conviction - expressed in John Paul II's 1998
Encyclical 'Fides et ratio' - of the importance of the metaphysical
component of philosophy, ... and the awareness that philosophy is
indispensable for theological formation". For this reason today's decree of
the congregation aims to re-evaluate philosophy, above all in the light of
that Encyclical, ... restoring the 'original vocation' of philosophy; i.e.,
the search for truth and its sapiental and metaphysical dimension".
The preparation of the text dates back to 2004 when the congregation
established a commission of specialists in philosophy. That commission,
possessing both intellectual and institutional expertise and representative
of the principal linguistic and geographical areas, was charged with
presenting a reform project. The definitive version "was ratified in the
Congregation for Catholic Education's ordinary meeting of 16 June 2010",
while Benedict XVI "approved 'in specific form' the modifications made to
the Apostolic Constitution 'Sapientia christiana' and confirmed the rest of
the text 'in common form'. In fact", the cardinal explained, "only three
articles of 'Sapientia christiana' have been reformed while the vast
majority of the modifications concern the congregation's own applicative
norms".
For his part Bishop Brugues focused on some of the details of the new
reform in ecclesiastical theological faculties, including the length of the
course which from now on will last three years. As regards the syllabus,
"the document adds a subject: ... logic, and in particular highlights the
role of metaphysics", he said. The reform will likewise affect academic
staff who must be full-time and adequately qualified.
The reform also concerns the first cycle of studies in ecclesiastical
faculties of theology and affiliated institutes, defining the duration of
formation and explaining that "strictly philosophical disciplines must
constitute at least sixty percent of the number of credits in the first two
years". This condition also holds for affiliated major seminaries.
In his remarks the rector of the Angelicum affirmed that "the study of
philosophy helps theologians to an awareness of their own philosophical
criteria, to examine them critically and to avoid imposing a conceptual
framework incompatible with the faith on their theology or preaching. In
order to be correct, critical reflection on philosophical theories must seek
the truth beyond appearances. A non-Christian philosopher cannot be useful
to theology whereas a Christian philosopher who wishes to prove the
existence of God can have the opposite effect".
OP/ VIS
20110322 (600)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 22 MAR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Donald F.
Hanchon of the clergy of the archdiocese of Detroit, U.S.A., episcopal vicar
and pastor of the parish of the Holy Redeemer, and Fr. Michael J. Byrnes,
also of the clergy of Detroit, vice rector and dean of formation at the
Sacred Heart Major Seminary, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Detroit
(area 10,106, population 4,556,000, Catholics 1,515,000, priests 641,
permanent deacons 191, religious 1,552). Bishop-elect Hanchon was born in
Wayne, U.S.A. in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1974. Bishop-elect Byrnes was
born in Detroit in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1996.
NEA/ VIS
20110322 (110)
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