Pope names new slate of members to International Theological Commission

September 23, 2014

Pope Francis has named a slate of 30 theologians to five-year terms on the International Theological Commission, the advisory body that assists the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in examining doctrinal questions.

The prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the commission’s ex officio president. Father Serge-Thomas Bonino, a French Dominican appointed secretary-general of the commission in 2011, retains his leadership role.

Vatican-watcher John Allen of Crux commented that among the 30 theologians named to the panel, "the thing that truly jumps out is the preponderance of figures regarded by most Catholics in the know as fairly conservative." Among the commission’s new members are Tracey Rowland, dean of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne, and Sister Prudence Allen, formerly a philosophy professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.

Also joining the commission is Father Thomas Weinandy, who, while executive director for the Secretariat of Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was critical of dissenting trends in American theology.

 

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Further information:

• Rinunce e nomine (Holy See Press Office)
• Comunicato della Commissione Teologica Internazionale (Holy See Press Office)
• Maybe Francis isn’t after a lurch to the left, but a new balance (Crux)
• Dangers seen in Catholic use of Enneagram (CWN, 2/2/12)
• Theology in 'crisis,' says head staff member for US bishops' doctrine committee (CWN, 8/7/11)
• US bishops’ chief doctrine official criticizes leading American theologian (CWN, 1/20/10)