Theological Studies

The author traces the history of Catholic doctrine about the fate of infants who die unbaptized: (1) from Augustine's teaching that they are condemned to hell where they suffer “the least of its pains“; (2) to the medieval doctrine of Limbo as the state in which those infants, although excluded from the vision of God, enjoy a natural happiness; (3) to the consoling words that John Paul II, in Evangelium vitae, addressed to a woman who had caused her child to be aborted, that when she had repented and was reconciled to God, she could ask forgiveness from her child who was now “living in the Lord.”

The article explores an understanding of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception viewed through the lens of mimetic theory as expounded by René Girard and James Alison. After centuries of controversy over what was eventually defined in 1854, systematic reflection is needed to relate the dogma to other dogmas and doctrines such as those on redemption, sin, and grace, and to express this systematic understanding in light of contemporary thought. Such reflection suggests a fruitful correspondence between Girard's hermeneutics and Aquinas's thought on disordered imitation and the role of rivalrous affections at the heart of sin.

Scholastic theology first saw the light of day among the masters in the twelfth-century schools of Europe. Chief among the masters of theology was Peter Lombard, whose Sentences became the textbook in the universities of Europe until the 16^th century. This article studies the theology of sex and marriage in Book 4 of the Sentences against the background of the long and difficult road marriage travelled from a familial and secular event to the sacramental world of the church.

Lumen gentium no. 16's genuine optimism for the salvation of non-Christians is nonetheless a heavily qualified one. Among other things, it applies only to those “who are, without fault, ignorant [sine culpa, ignorantes] of the Gospel of Christ and his Church.” This article examines (1) Vatican II's understanding of such “inculpable ignorance” and its relationship to the traditional concept “invincible ignorance” and (2)—more speculatively—the extent to which it might apply in modern, Western societies.

Releasing three of his four pastoral letters on August 6, the patronal feast day of El Salvador, Oscar Romero linked his Transfiguration homilies with his contributions to Catholic social teaching to reflect a theology of transfiguration rooted in three interrelated commitments: an eschatological understanding of Salvadoran history as part of salvation history; an ecclesiology firmly grounded in a view of the people of God as the Body of Christ in history; and a contemplative awareness of the ethical implications of Jesus' invitation to his disciples to accompany him from Tabor to Calvary.

Advances in medical technology provide regular opportunities to explore theological reflection and magisterial teaching at the border of science and conscience. This article reflects on one such advance involving fertility preservation for cancer patients. The authors argue that ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) poses intriguing questions for Catholic teaching and theologians about reproductive technology.

From July 24 to 27, 2010, some 600 theological ethicists from nearly 75 countries met in Trento, Italy, under the auspices of Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church. There they heard 30 plenary papers and opted to attend more than 240 concurrent presentations. This note studies the roots, mission, context, goals, and nature of the conference and its participants as a defining moment in church history.

The note treats ethical issues surrounding the 2008 to 2010 financial crisis and its aftermath, focusing on resources pertinent to Catholic economic-ethical responses. Four key, contested subjects are highlighted: economy's descriptive and normative “axis“; causes of the recent meltdown in financial markets and prescriptions for preventing future crises; work and employment effects of the Great Recession; and the urgent need to connect market economies to social, earth, and care economies in order to meet the demands of solidarity and sustainability.

The note considers recent theological commentary on the clerical sexual abuse crisis in Ireland and beyond. It examines the nature and extent of the crisis within the Catholic Church through the lens of the Murphy and Ryan Reports. These two reports together provide an invaluable resource for understanding the theological, ethical, and ecclesiological dimensions of this scandal. The note also considers “the shape of the reform” that is urgently needed within the Church under the headings of (1) the body and sexuality, (2) patriarchy and the abuse of power, and (3) church, ministry, and leadership.