Florida Catholic | The Changing Face Of Theologians

The changing face of theologians

ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 06.18.08

“A good theologian teaches what the church teaches – as what the church teaches – whether he or she agrees with it, whether he or she is Catholic, whether he or she has a mandatum or not,”
— Terrence Tilley
Catholic Theological Society of America

MIAMI | The Catholic Theological Society of America dates back to 1946, when nearly all of its members were priests. In the intervening years, more religious women began studying theology, as well as lay men and women after the Second Vatican Council.

“I’m a layperson through and through,” said Terrence Tilley, incoming president of the society, which now includes many more women and people of color, including Hispanics, African-Americans and even African natives.

“Many more of us are laypeople. Many more of us teach in colleges and universities and fewer of us in seminaries,” Tilley said. “We don’t have the order supporting us. Our scholarships are from ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ not SJ (the Jesuits) and RSM (Sisters of Mercy).”

Tilley said he chose “generations” as the theme of this year’s meeting because of his personal experiences with younger colleagues.

“For some of my younger colleagues, the Second Vatican Council is ancient history,” said Tilley, a member of the Vatican II generation born between 1941 and 1960. He obtained his theology degree in 1976. “They have neither the baggage nor the ballast of our era.”

As for theologians in general, and their role in shaping the beliefs and practices of Catholics, Tilley said the accusation that some theologians do not teach the faith or even subvert it is “bogus.”

“A good theologian teaches what the church teaches – as what the church teaches – whether he or she agrees with it, whether he or she is Catholic, whether he or she has a mandatum or not,” Tilley said, referring to the official approval bishops give to those teaching Catholic theology in their dioceses.

Nevertheless, “the theological vocation is sometimes to push the envelope,” Tilley said, noting that in 1277, Thomas Aquinas was condemned by the archbishop of Paris for being too radical in his thinking.

“This tension is a constant. It keeps the church alive,” Tilley said. “Of course, when it gets too extreme, it tears the church apart. That’s what you have to watch out for.”

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