From Moral Theology to Ecclesial Ethics
Anna Abram
Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge , United KingdomAbstract
The paper explores shifts and turns that over the centuries have influenced moral thinking and instructing on moral matters within the Roman Catholic tradition. The purpose of this exploration is to shed light on the current status of moral theology and identify areas for future developments. The paper proposes ‘ecclesial ethics’ as one of such areas. It views moral theology as a dynamic discipline, shaped by pressures, invitations and demands of the day. It claims that for moral theology to be relevant today, some fundamental questions (including the purpose of the discipline) must be revisited. It argues that practical realities in the lives of individuals, communities and the church as well as the Planet must be at the forefront of moral theological considerations. Contemporary moral theologians and/or theological ethicists (the paper considers this distinction) are a diverse and, we dare to add, divided group. The paper argues that building bridges in a polarised world (including the world of moral theology) needs to be a priority. The overall aim of this study is to respond positively to the call for renewal of moral theology as voiced in the ‘Decree on Priestly Formation’ of the Second Vatican Council and in several statements made by Pope Francis.
Keywords:
moral theology, ecclesiology, ecclesial ethicsReferences
Abram A (ed.), The Future of Catholic Theological Ethics, “Religions”, I 2018 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/ethics [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Ambrose, On the Duties of Clergy, http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/0339-0397,_Ambrosius,_De_Officiis_Ministrorum_Libri_Tres_[Schaff],_EN.pdf [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Aquinas T., Summa Theologiae: Latin Text and English Translation, Introduction, Notes, Appendices and Glossaries, London-New York: New Blackfriars 1963.
Bretzke J.T., A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology, Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press 2004.
Conscience: Writings from “Moral Theology” by Saint Alphonsus, trans. R. Gallagher, Missouiri: Liguori 2019.
Curran C., Catholic Moral Theology in the US: A History, Georgetown UP 2008.
Farley M., Ethics, Ecclesiology, and the Grace of Self-Doubt, in: M. Farley (ed.), Changing the Questions: Explorations in Christian Ethics, New York: Maryknoll 2015.
Francis, Letter from Pope Francis to moral theologians gathered in Sarajevo, https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/07/26/letter-pope-francis-moral-theologians-gathered-sarajevo [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Francis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, https://w2.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia_en.pdf [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Keenan J.F, McGreevy F. (eds.), Street Homelessness and Catholic Theological Ethics, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis 2019.
Keenan J.F., Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition, NY: A Sheed & Ward Book 2004.
Keenan J.F., Notes on Moral Theology: Moral Theology and History, “Theological Studies” 62 (2002), p. 86-104.
Kim A., An Introduction to Catholic Ethics since Vatican II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2015.
Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Loiano S. da, Guarcino G. da, Grizzana M. da, Institutiones theologiae moralis ad normam iuris canonici, Taurini: Ex Officina Libraria Marietti 1935.
Lombard P., The Sentences, trans. Giulio Silano, 4 vols. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies 2007-2010.
O’ Connell T., Principles for a Catholic Morality, New York: Seabury Press 1978.
Pius IX, Syllabus of Errors, https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9syll.htm [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Regan E., ‘The Bergoglian Principles: Pope Francis’ Dialectical Approach to Political Theology, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/12/670/htm [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Rotelle J. et al. (eds.), The Works of Saint Augustine. A Translation for the 21st Century, 46 vols., New York: New City Press 1991–2019.
Salzman T.A., Lawler M.G., The Sexual Person: Toward a Renewed Catholic Anthropology, Washingon DC: Georgetown University Press 2008.
Second Vatican Council, ‘Decree on Priestly Formation’ Optatam Totius, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_optatam-totius_en.html [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Selling J., Reframing Catholic Theological Ethics, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2016.
The Didache (‘The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations, first century AD, http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Vatican News, Pope: moral theology must get “hands dirty” with concrete issues, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-moral-theology-must-get-hands-dirty-with-concrete-issues.html [accessed: 22 II 2020].
Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge
doktor nauk filozoficznych w zakresie teologii, etyki i psychologii moralnej; w latach 1993-2017 była związana z Heytroph College, przynależącym do University of London, Wielka Brytania, gdzie m.in. była kierownikiem Wydziału Nauk Społeczno-Pastoralnych i kierownikiem programu magisterskiego z Etyki Współczesnej; wykładała teologie moralna, etykę filozoficzna i etykę miedzy-religijna; obecnie rektor Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology w Cambridge, Wielka Brytania. Obszary badawcze: etyka cnoty, rozwój moralny, etyka eklezjalna, katolicka nauka społeczna. Niektóre ważniejsze publikacje: Education for Truth in a Climate of Fake News: Conversation with Thomas Aquinas, Bernard Williams, Wolfgang Künne and Pope Francis, “Louvain Studies” 42 (2019), p. 3-25; The Future of Catholic Theological Ethics, guest editor of the special issue of “Religions”, I 2018, http://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/ethics Philosophy, Theology and the Jesuit Tradition: ‘The Eye of Love’: (co-ed. with: P. Gallagher, M. Kirwan, London: Bloomsbury 2017); Moral Imagination and the Art of Solidarity, w: J. Salamon (red.), Solidarity Beyond Borders: Ethics in a Globalising World (Bloomsbury Studies in Global Ethics), London: Bloomsbury 2015, p 47-66; Sukces przez porażke moralną: Szekspirowski Król Lear and biblijny Król Dawid’, w: A. Glab (red.), Literatura i etyka: Antologia tekstów (Literature and Ethics: Anthology), Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2014, p.25-40. Adres do korespondencji: aa2008@cam.ac.uk.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.
