November 2026

The Virtual Table on Populism, Emotions, and Religions is moving into its final phase. Members of the group met regularly online to discuss aspects of this topic, and are now preparing to host a seminar in Leuven in May 2027. The primary purpose of this gathering is to facilitate a global conversation among theological ethicists, to share analyses of populism's local manifestations, and to explore the religious dimensions of the phenomenon. Papers from next May's seminar will be published in a book, expected in Spring 2027.

Publications

SimonMary Asese A. Aihiokhai, “The Habits of Race and Faith in a Religiously Diverse World,” Horizons 53:1 (2026): 179-180.

Yves Claudel Audent Tassi Noumbissie, “Female Networks for Peace in Cameroon’s Anglophone War: Local Female Leaders Using their Role AS “Mother” to Build Peace Amidst Ongoing Conflict.” Journal of Moral Theology 15:2 (2026): 97-120.

Presentations

SimonMary Asese A. Aihiokhai, “Migrant Memories: Making Space for a Political Theological Turn in World Christianity.” Presented at the Marquette University World Christianity Conference. Hosted by the International Institute for Method in Theology at Marquette University, October 3, 2026.

_____, Book Discussion Panelist with Author: Elochukwu E. Uzukwu. Memorializing the Unsung: Slaves of the Church and the Making of Kongo Catholicism. The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2024. Presented at the Marquette University World Christianity Conference. Hosted by the International Institute for Method in Theology at Marquette University, October 2, 2026.

_____, “Markers of An Interfaith Ecological Church for Our Times: The Nigerian Context.” Presented at the CREATION: Methods and Approaches to Caring for Our Common Home Conference. Organized by the Research Institute for the Integrity of Creation – Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary at the Launching of their Journal, CREATION, September 29, 2026. Virtually.

Workshop

Janeaudes Longino, participated in the workshop on Safeguarding Policy, organized by the Institute of Missiology Missio (MWI), held in Nairobi, Kenya from 11 to 14 October, 2026.

Conferences and Presentations

The DaKaTeo (Catholic Theological Society of the Philippines) will be holding its annual conference on the theme “Prophetic Solidarities: Intersections of Theology and Social Movements in the Philippines”. It will explore the dynamic relationship between social movements and theology, asking how faith both informs and is transformed by ongoing struggles for social change and vice versa. The program includes a dialogue with representatives from social movements. For the papers that will be presented, see this link. The conference will be held on November 12-14, 2026, in Gumaca, Quezon Province.

The Association of Moral Theologians of India (AMTI) held its 36^th Annual Meeting and Conference from 16 to 18 October 2026 at Nava Spoorthy Kendra, Bengaluru. The theme, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity: Challenges and Moral Response, brought together moral theologians teaching in seminaries and theological institutions across India to reflect on one of the most pressing questions of our time: how can we make technological progress serve humanity without losing sight of what makes us human? Read a full report of the conference here.

Hoa Nguyen, “John the Baptist: The Prophet of Truth—The Dilemma of Speaking Out or Remaining Complacent.” Alliance to End Human Trafficking Conference, University of Central Florida, Florida, October 13, 2026.

Augustino Nguyễn Sung, “Từ AI, nhìn lại phẩm giá cao cả của con người” (Reflecting on the Profound Dignity of the Human Person in the Age of AI). Roundtable discussion, Institutum Dominicacum Theologiae, Saigon, Vietnam, October 17, 2026.

Mary Yuen presented at the conference on "How can the Catholic Church bring hope to people in Hong Kong," celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese. Her paper is on "Work and Development: the Contribution of the Catholic Church," presented on 11 September 2026.

Mary Yuen gave a lecture on "Moral Discernment and Responsibilities in the Contemporary World," celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Holy Spirit Seminary and the 55th anniversary of the seminary college on 1 October 2026.

Publications

Stanislaus Alla, “Choose Life: Say No to Contaminated Food.” Editorial in Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, 90/11, (November 2026), 3-8.  

_____, ‘Where are the Catholics when India is being re-set and history is being made,’ Indian Currents.

_____, ‘United with those marching ahead dreaming of a better India,’ Indian Currents.

_____,  ‘Jean Dreze’s act of Solidarity: Freedom is incomplete when others remain unfree,’ Catholic Connect.

_____, ‘When questions get louder than fear power starts to listen,’ Flashes of Insight.

_____, ‘The Sari that Speaks: Mother Teresa’s quest act of Solidarity,’ Flashes of Insight, Global Catholic.

Publications

The Institute for Christian Social Sciences at the University of Münster has published a working paper on Pope Leo XIV’s latest encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. It offers initial observations, analyses, and interpretations. The working paper is available here.

The new issue of the journal Marriage, Families and Spiritualities has been published and is now available in open access.

Julia van der Linde, Care-Praxis angesichts verletzlicher Freiheit. Theologisch-ethische Grundlagen zur Bewertung digitaler Anwendungen in der Psychotherapie (Studien zur theologischen Ethik 171), Schwabe Verlag, 2026. This book examines the ethical implications of digital technologies in psychotherapy, focusing on the asymmetrical therapist-client relationship and drawing on Hille Haker’s ethics of vulnerable agency to develop an ethical framework for the responsible use of digital applications in psychotherapy.

Giovanni del Missier/Roberto Massaro, Che «genere» di Chiesa? Etica teologica e gender studies, Edizioni Francescane Italiane, 2026. Bringing theological ethics into conversation with the social sciences and gender studies, the volume addresses questions of gender, sexual identity, embodiment, and social roles in the context of the Catholic Church.

Michael Rosenberger/Christian Spieß (eds.), Gefühle und Ethik. Überlegungen zur Überwindung des ethischen Rationalismus (Studien zur theologischen Ethik 170), Schwabe Verlag, 2026. How do emotions shape moral judgement, and can they themselves be a source of ethical insight? This interdisciplinary volume addresses these questions, challenging the primacy of reason in ethical reflection, featuring chapters from CTEWC members Stephanie Höllinger and Hille Haker.

Marie-Jo Thiel, L'Église catholique face à la crise des abus, La Procure, 2026. In her analysis of the Catholic Church’s abuse crisis, Thiel examines systemic failures, the misuse of power, and institutional cover-ups, while considering pathways towards justice for victims, effective prevention, and structural reform.

News

The 30th RSR Symposium "Les métamorphoses du théologico-politique?" will take place from November 5–7, 2026, at Loyola Paris (14 rue d'Assas, 75006 Paris). To attend this event exploring the shifting dynamics between religion and politics, registration forms must be submitted via the official Revue RSR website by October 30, 2026.

UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) has launched a new university certificate in Migrations, Vulnerabilities, Trauma and Spiritualities. Bringing together psychological, theological and sociological perspectives, the programme combines theoretical learning with practical and experiential methods. Further information about the certificate and how to apply is available here. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and places are limited.

European Regional Committee of CTEWC and the Faculty of Theology, University of Ljubljana, invite doctoral students in theological ethics to participate in the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme “Promoting the Interdisciplinary Character of Theological Ethics” (3 ECTS), taking place 3–8 May 2027 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with two preparatory online sessions in April. Interested students and institutions are kindly asked to contact Prof. Roman Globokar (roman.globokar@teof.uni-lj.si) by 15 November 2026.

On 25 November 2026, the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome will host a study day marking the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia. The event will reflect on the document’s reception and its continuing potential for renewal in the theology and pastoral practice of marriage and family. The study day will be held in Italian at the Academy in Rome. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required by 15 November 2026. Further information and registration details are available here.

Noticias

Agustín Ortega Cabrera participó como ponente en el curso de formación: “Ecología integral, buen vivir y espiritualidad. De la encíclica Laudato si' a los desafíos de Querida Amazonía”, el 17 y el 24 de octubre, como espacio para profundizar en la Ecología Integral bajo el principio de que todo está conectado, entendiendo que las crisis ambientales y sociales son una sola, además de rescatar la sabiduría amazónica del Buen Vivir, que llama a recuperar la armonía con la comunidad, la creación y con Dios.

Los miembros del CTEWC, incluidas a Jutta Battenberg, Sigrid Müller, Lisa Cahill y Valentina Nilo Covarrubias, presentaron en el III Congreso de Teólogas Latinoamericanas y de habla Alemana, "Dignidad y Equidad. Justicia para las mujeres en la Iglesia y en la sociedad" en Córdoba, Argentina, del 8 al 10 de octubre de 2026, y muchas más asistieron a la exitosa reunión feminista.

El Seminario de Bioética de la U. Iberoamericana realizó, el 19 de octubre, el Coloquio Corporalidades complejas: bioética y macrofilosofía en la era posthumana en el que intervinieron Miguel Ángel Sánchez y Tzintli Velázquez en la mesa de trabajo “Corporalidad: dolor, bioética de la escucha y subjetividad”; y Luz Elena Arozqueta y Abel Rodríguez en la mesa “Corporalidad: migración, cuerpos en búsqueda y ritualidades”.

Jutta Battenberg y Sabrina Marino participaron en Roma en el encuentro de “Iglesia de las Cosechas”, una experiencia de escucha, diálogo y discernimiento sinodal que pone en el centro la riqueza y la diversidad de las Iglesias locales, sus dones y sus experiencias, para construir una Iglesia más misionera, inclusiva y universal.

En las XXI Jornadas Internacionales de Filosofía Política “Crisis del orden global y reconfiguración del poder (geo)político”, que se celebrarán en la Universitat de Barcelona (26 y 27 noviembre) participan: Miguel Ángel Sánchez, con la ponencia “Sexualidades originarias: hacia una corporalidad y corporeidad integradoras”; Luz Elena Arozqueta con “Corporalidades migrantes bajo gestión algorítmica: desafíos bioéticos”, Tzintli Velázquez con “Más allá de las murallas: cuerpo-territorio, inmunidad y cuidado de los restos en la búsqueda de personas desaparecidas en México” y Abel Rodríguez Pacheco con “Ritualizar en un territorio herido: cuerpo, memoria y reconocimiento ante la desaparición en México”.

Únase a la presentación del libro de CTEWC Retos de la migración: perspectivas teológicas, pastorales y sociales desde la frontera, programada para el próximo 12 de noviembre, de 4:00 a 6:00 pm, en la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana. Por favor confirmen su asistencia con Jutta Battenberg.

Publicaciones 

Gasda, Élio Estanislau; Ponte, Moisés Nonato Quintela. “Discernir a história em suas revoluções: de Leão XIII a Leão XIV”. Perspectiva Teológica, [S. l.], v. 58, n. 2, p.e 02226, (2026): 1-9.

Velázquez Pacheco, Tzintli. “Crítica epistemológica de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia y emergencia del Pensamiento Social Cristiano”. La Cuestión Social 34, n. 1 (2026): 68-94.

Publications

CTEWC members Caesar Montevecchio and Meghan Clark, as well as Melinda Davis edited a special issue of the Journal of Moral Theology on Catholic perspectives on the UN Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. Articles feature CTEWC members Lisa Cahill and Yves Tassi.

Ken Butigan, Eli McCarthy, Marie Dennis, and Nicolas Paz, "Global Catholic Voices Affirm and Advance Pope Leo’s Vision of an “Unarmed and Disarming” Church Through Gospel Nonviolence," Pax Christi, September 15, 2026.

John Carter, "Algorethics and Neuro-Symbolic Military AI: Ontologies, 'Hellscapes,' Just War, and Silicon Valley," Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, vol. 21 (2026): 71-134.

Denisse Delgado Vázquez, “Cuban Migration and Remittances in Transition: Transnational Care Amid Crisis and Digitalization,” Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, American University, September 17, 2026.

Yohan Garcia, “Small Seeds, Great Hope: Living Out the Call from Magnifica Humanitas to Build the ‘Civilization of Love,’” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, October 21, 2026.  

News

Several CTEWC members are taking part in the Church of the Sheaves project, an initiative of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, launched in partnership with the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University in Chicago and the Pontifical Urban University's Faculty of Missiology in Rome. They are working together with an international team of scholars and practitioners to create educational resources on global mission today for the Dicastery. Pictured at the Church of the Sheaves conference in Rome in October: Kate Ward, Ramon Luzarraga, Meg Clark, Anna Kasaifi Perkins, Jutta Battenberg, Alex Martins, Steph Puen and Agnes Brazal.

CTEWC’s Virtual Table on Migration and Borders in the Americas is partnering with Villanova University’s Global Initiative on Migrants & Refugees in Our Common Home and CLACSO (the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities) to organize a webinar on AI and migration. The webinar will bring together perspectives from the North and South and will offer interpretation services in English. Panelists will include CTEWC member Luz Elena Arozqueta Villeda. The webinar will take place the week of November 16, 2026. Register here.

Congratulations to CTEWC member Darlene Weaver, who was recently announced as the 20th president of the University of Dayton and who will be the first woman to serve in this role.

Several CTEWC members, including Eli McCarthy, Ken Butigan, Leo Guardado, and David Cochran, presented at the Unarmed and Disarming Peace Conference in Rome, Italy, September 9-10, 2026. Find more information about the conference and view the recordings at this link.

The F.A.I.T.H. and the Future Conference — Faithful Approaches to Intelligent Technology and Humanity — invites scholars, practitioners, educators, and students to explore how faith traditions can inform the ethical development and use of AI. Held at the University of St. Thomas on Friday, February 26, 2027, we welcome proposals from graduate students, post-docs, adjuncts, independent scholars, or faculty for presentations on AI and: the Human Person, the Common Good, Faith-Inspired AI Solutions, the Environment, Bias and Justice, Education, Human Judgment, Accessibility, Privacy, and Solidarity. More information on the conference and deadline for submissions here.