Welcome to the FIRST

The newsletter of Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church
 
February 2017

Dear Friends,
 
 
Here we are with the FIRST once again. 
 
And here we are in the United States with extraordinarily challenging times with the present president.  I know the impact of this presidency on other peoples, but it is of a daily, catastrophic nature that we wake each day to yet another pathetic program or policy.  I say this because he has made life much more burdensome for so many, already after the first week in office.
 
But now for what we are doing at the FIRST. 
 
Sr. Anne Celestine Achieng Oyier Ondigo, FSJ, has finished her semester post doctoral fellowship here at Boston College and we are happy to share with you her report.
 
Jan Jans has very kindly provided us with a report on his visiting professorship in Manila at De La Salle University.  If you are interested in doing the Visiting Professorship in Manila, Nairobi, or Bangalore, please check out our program.
 
Among our Forum pieces are two reflecting on truth: Inge Gabriel from Austria on the importance of ethics in the post-truth era and Michael Jaycox on What is Truth ... in the Trump administration, Sr. Solange Ngah from Cameroon writing on healing practices in Africa, Stan Alla from India on Reconciliation, and from Puerto Rico Jorge Ferrer on Bioethics.
 
Finally there's a report from North America.
 
We will have more on Sarajevo next FIRST.
 
Best,
 
Jim

Sr. Anne Celestine Achieng Oyier Ondigo FSJ
Congratulations to Sr. Anne Celestine Achieng Oyier Ondigo, who has completed her time at Boston College's Jesuit Institute as a post-doctoral research scholar. Read her account of her time and experiences at Boston College here.





Visiting Professor Program Update: Ja Jans in Manila
Here's a Picture of Ja Jans with his colleagues and students in his Visiting Professors Program that he did in Manila last year.  Read his account here, then think of applying for the CTEWC Visiting Professors Program





Featured Forum Articles:

Stanislaus Alla,  Reconciling Peoples


Michael P. Jaycox, What is Truth?

North America Report
By:  Anna Floerke Scheid
The North American Regional Committee met in New Orleans at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Christian Ethics to discuss the planning process for the upcoming 2018 Sarajevo conference.  We would like to extend an invitation to anyone attending this year's Catholic Theological Society of America Convention in June to join us for the CTEWC sponsored Selected Session where we will engage in some discussion of plans for the Sarajevo conference.  The Selected Session, titled, "Ecological Conversion, Spirituality and Solidarity" will be moderated by Nichole Flores, and will include papers from Christopher Vogt and Bill O'Neill.

European Report
By:  Roman Globokar
Yearbook on Reformation from Brixen/Bressanone
 
The new volume of the Brixen Theological Yearbook (Brixner Theologisches Jahrbuch/Annuario teologico Bressanone)  has been published:

World event Reformation: Impulses and Impacts
 


Latin America Report
By:  Emilce Cuda
1ª. Miguel Ángel Sánchez Carlos, de México, ha publicado el artículo titulado: "Condiciones de posibilidad para el diálogo entre la ética teológica y la cultura urbana contemporánea", en la Revista Iberoamericana de Teología, de la Universidad Iberoamericana. Este artículo ha salido con fecha de julio-diciembre 2014 debido a retrasos en la edición de la revista. Se encuentra íntegro en esta dirección: http://revistas.ibero.mx/ribet/index.php?id_volumen=20 

El autor puede enviar el artículo a quien esté interesado, escribiéndole a:angel.sanchez@ibero.mx
 
2ª. Miguel Ángel Sánchez Carlos, de México, ha iniciado el proyecto de investigación: "Ética de lo urbano en perspectiva teológica. Un enfoque metodológico", dentro de la línea de investigación: "Mundo actual, intervención creyente y teología", del Depto. de Ciencias Religiosas de la Universidad Iberoamericana.
El autor parte de la siguiente hipótesis:
·         La ética es, en primer lugar, la capacidad humana para sopesar la orientación de la propia existencia, a partir de valoraciones racionales por las cuales se puede explicar esa orientación. Esta existencia se da forzosamente en un contexto determinado que la condiciona, y a su vez, ese contexto se ve afectado por esa existencia.
·         En segundo lugar, uno de los resultados más importantes de este ejercicio racional es formular criterios o normas que sirven como directrices para socializar esa orientación de la existencia humana, mismas que se consignan en códigos de conducta o en legislaciones sobre las diversas temáticas que trastocan o cuestionan el sentido de la existencia.
·         Existen dos aspectos que en la actualidad son de capital importancia para desarrollar la dinámica antes ética mencionada, a través de una metodología consistente: uno es el aspecto científico de la ética, a través de cuyo desarrollo el ser humano puede dar razón de sus principios o conclusiones de una manera más convincente ante distintas disciplinas humanas. Otro es el carácter urbano de esa ética, como contexto sociocultural, mismo que se expresa principalmente en un lenguaje simbólico.
·         Ahora bien, una teología cristiana que pretenda dar razón de una ética que le sea peculiar, puede tener en cuenta estos dos elementos, el carácter científico y el urbano, los cuales le permitirán entablar un diálogo abierto y fructífero con la sociedad secular, para una dar una mejor razón de la esperanza que orienta sus opciones éticas.
Los objetivos del proyecto son los siguientes:
Objetivo general.
·         Determinar las características de una ética de lo urbano en perspectiva teológica, en vistas al fortalecimiento de una disciplina que dialogue de forma interdisciplinar con diversas ciencias humanas.
Objetivos específicos.

1° Identificar las características de la cultura urbana en México, particularmente las relacionadas con la toma de decisiones y sus formas simbólicas de expresión.
2° Sustentar la capacidad humana para orientar la existencia, la toma de decisiones y el comportamiento, a partir del aporte de disciplinas como la neurociencia y la neuroética.
3° Interpretar desde la tradición teológica cristiana los aportes de la ciencia y de la cultura urbana, en vista a una comprensión actualizada del compromiso cristiano.
Articulación:
Este proyecto está articulado con el Seminario de Ética Teológica y Mundo Actual, en el que participan alumnos de la Maestría en Teología y Mundo Contemporáneo del Departamento de Ciencias Religiosas, mismos que tienen reuniones quincenales de trabajo, y ya se han presentado en Congreso Latinoamericano de CTEWC, en Bogotá Colombia, el año pasado.

Si alguien está interesado en articularse con este proyecto de investigación, puede escribir a: angel.sanchez@ibero.mx



Book Release:

Christian and Post-Humanism Ethics

by
Mário Marcelo Coelho


Book Release:

An Ethics of Mercy: On the way to meaningful living and Loving

by Roger Burggraeve

Save The Date: 


Call for Papers: 
CALL FOR PAPERS: GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF EVIL / DAS BÖSE VERANTWORTEN
 
SOCIETAS ETHICA'S 54TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE | VOLOS, GREECE  | 24 - 27 AUGUST 2017
Philosophers and theologians have reflected upon the 'problem of evil' throughout history. Explanations of the very term and the origins of evil and the ways evil is expressed remain contested. This conference invites scholars of moral philosophy and theological ethics to address this complex theme both as an ethical category and in concrete contexts.

Through different parallel sessions, Societas Ethica will address the major moral questions regarding evil. These sessions will focus on:
-         Evil as an ethical category
-         Phenomenology of violence
-         Evil and the Shoah
-         Theology, metaphysics, and evil from different religious perspective (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, Islam)
-         Religion and violence
-         Plural moral cultures and the question of evil
-         Ethics and structural violence
-         Trauma theories: psychology and philosophy
-         Interpretations of current politics trends: nationalism, authoritarianism, neofascism
-         Xenophobia, islamophobia, and antisemitism in Europe and beyond
-         The shadow of colonialism, slavery, and racism, and modern forms of forced labor, human trafficking, and racism in the economic global order
-         Migration, the refugee crisis, and the European Border policies
-         Open channel for Ph.D. students: presentation of dissertation projects
 
Paper proposals should contain no more than 800 words (excluding bibliography), and clearly present a moral question or argument addressing one of the aforementioned topics. The deadline is April 01, 2017. Papers can be presented either in English, German, or French.
 
 
Societas Ethica - the European Society for Research in Ethics - has more than 270 members from approximately 35 countries. Led by the current president Dr. Hille Haker (Loyola University Chicago), Societas Ethica endeavors to stimulate contacts between scholars in different countries, surpassing political, ideological and religious curtains.

Call for Papers: 
Call for Papers: 2017 Salzburg Conference in Interdisciplinary Poverty
Research Focus Theme: Religion and Poverty University of Salzburg, 21 & 22 September 2017 Deadline for submissions: 31 March 2017

The Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research of the University of Salzburg happily announces the call for papers for its 2017 Salzburg Conference in Interdisciplinary Poverty Research. The focus theme of the conference will be religion and poverty. The Keynote Speakers in 2017 will be Paul Cloke, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter, Adam Dinham, Professor of Faith & Public Policy and Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London, and Emma Tomalin, Professor of Religion and Public Life at the University of Leeds, where she is director of the Centre for Religion and Public Life. Possible topics for the focus theme sessions are, among others, the relation of religion and poverty and inequality in different states and world regions, religion as a factor in development, faith-based organisations and poverty alleviation, extent and causes of poverty and social exclusion of religious groups and minorities, religious perspectives on poverty, and theological responses to poverty and inequality. Please submit abstracts for single papers and panels via the submission form on the conference homepage. The deadline for submitting abstracts for single papers and panels is 31 March 2017. Decisions will be communicated until 30 April 2017.
Call for Papers: 

Asian Horizons, Dharmaram Journal of Theology
Vol. 11, No. 5, March 2017
Call for Papers
Amoris Laetitia
Amoris Laetitia (AL), published following the two Synods on the family - the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops 2014 and the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops 2015 - has evoked a lot of discussion not only in the academic circles, but also among the pastors and the faithful in general. Expectations of changes, in particular about some of the debated issues were high. But, has AL has changed anything in the moral teaching of the Church? Even months after its publication, the debate is going on and the interpretations given by different bishops and theologians differ. Similarly, AL has put forward challenging questions regarding the approaches in moral theology and pastoral practice. The application of the Natural Law, Discernment of Conscience, Law of Gradualness, etc. are some of them.
March 2017 issue of Asian Horizons attempts to contribute to the ongoing discussion on Amoris Laetitia .
Suggested Topics (only recommendations, not exhaustive):
- Experience and Challenges of Families
- Christian Vision of the Family according to Amoris Laetitia
- Marriage Preparation Programme: A Critical Evaluation
- Responsible Parenthood and Parenting
- Conscience and Formation of Conscience in Light of Amoris Laetitia
- Continuity and Discontinuity of the Tradition in Amoris Laetitia
- Is there any Change in of the Church Teaching in Amoris Laetitia ?
- The Spirituality of the Family
- Irregular Situations and Pastoral Care of the Family
- Principles for Pastoral Care of Couples in Difficult and Irregular Situations
- Communion for the Divorced and Remarried Couples
- Accompanying, Discerning and Integrating Weakness
- Amoris Laetitia: Psychological Perspectives
- Amoris Laetitia: Feminist Perspectives
- Natural Law in Amoris Laetitia
- Theological and Pastoral Approach of Pope Francis
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 January 2017.  Kindly include the abstract of the article in 150-200 words, 5-7 Keywords and a summary of the CV of the author in 100-150 words.
Other regular items:  "New Scholars": Abstract of doctoral theses (recently defended and not yet published); Reports and Statements of important conferences, Book Reviews.
For submitting the articles and for more details: Shaji George Kochuthara (editor-in-chief): kochuthshaji@gmail.com
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: 2016-2017
2016: Vol. 10
March: Ethics, Theology and Technology
June: Asia's Women Theologians
September: Asian Christian Heritage
December: Conscience
2017: Vol. 11
March: Amoris Laetitia
June: Protestant Reformation after 500 Years
September: New Faces of Religious Fundamentalism and Violence
December: Asian Christologies

Application Posting:
Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, NJ

The Center invites applications for its resident program in Princeton, NJ, during the 2017-18 academic year, when it will convene an international community of research scholars in its interdisciplinary  Inquiry on Religion & Migration

Applicants offer a research proposal on any aspect of the topic. Scholars in the program, (a) work full-time on their projects in the optimal research environment at the Center, and (b) contribute to a regular colloquium on work in progress. The collaborative thinking of the resident research community is enhanced by a symposia series with leading thinkers on the topic, including Peter Phan, David Hollenbach, and Saskia Sassen.

The Call for Applications with further information on the inquiry topic and resident program can be found on the Center's website at:


The Inquiry on Religion & Migration is the first of four inquiries in the Center's Global Concerns Project, 2017-21.  Later inquiries will consider religion and inequality, religion and violence, and religion and the environment. For more information, go to:

Online Courses: 
Online short courses offered by Catherine of Siena College (University of Roehampton) are off to an excellent start, and students from different parts of the globe are signing up and enjoying them. So far, students have been able to take courses on Women and the Catholic Church, Migration Matters, Violence against Women and Spirituality and Social Action. Here is a comment from one of our students:
 
I found V iolence against women: War, the Domestic Sphere and Religion profoundly educative, inspiring and eye-opening. Learning the various course themes from the standpoint of a man and a religious leader, I was awakened to crucial aspects pertaining to violence against women I was oblivious to owing to patriarchal cultural upbringing and espoused religious traditions that were often characterized by marginalization and oppression of women. Evidently coming from highly informed positions of the subject area, the course instructors presented the material in a thought-provoking manner that shaped strong gender-conscious theological convictions in me. I strongly recommend religious leaders of different faiths to take this course.
 
Details of upcoming courses, and information about how to register and apply for a bursary can be found at  http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Catherine-of-Siena/. Email  catherineofsiena@roehampton.ac.uk for more information.

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Jim Keenan S.J.

Editor  

 

Trevor R. Jones

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(jonesvu@bc.edu)