Comparative theology is a relatively novel theological approach that revolves around a practice of comparative reading of authoritative religious documents. The International Theological Commission’s Theology Today: Perspectives, Principles and Criteria (2012) develops a systematic-theological elaboration of the specificity of Catholic theology. Our author investigates the question whether and to what extent Theology Today may endorse

Otto Semmelroth played a major role in advancing the notion of the church as sacrament at Vatican II. His preconciliar works as well as his participation in working groups and committees were instrumental in introducing this systematic concept into the 1963 draft of Lumen gentium. His commentaries on the document disclose how his own understanding

Vatican II introduced the principle of “organic growth” to describe its preferred postconciliar liturgical reform process. Botanical interpretations have dominated scholarly readings of this analogy and restricted the emergence of richer analogies for understanding liturgical change. This article interprets “organic growth” in the liturgy via the analogy of neuroplasticity both to explore historic and prognostic

The past two decades have seen significant developments in the field of biblical ethics. The article looks at these in three dimensions so as to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the efforts of biblical scholars and Christian ethicists. The author perceives that a more integrated approach to biblical ethics, collaboration on various levels, innovation

Since the final report of the extraordinary synod of 2014 made no mention of conscience, this note proposes a notion of a socially oriented and accountable conscience as opposed to the contemporary understanding of the term “conscience” among US Catholics, that is, as dissenting from the law. Turning to the European use of “conscience” that

Technology is transforming the human body into a cyborg by making it a part of cyber networks. Transhumanists and posthumanists argue that technology will enable humans to overcome bodily limitation by reaching a technological immortality. The authors discuss recent literature on anthropological approaches and ethical implications about this technological promise. They suggest that the “Body

The revival of Scholasticism by Pope Leo XIII with his encyclical Aeterni Patris (1879) had been in preparation for at least half a century. He hoped that Thomism would not only give the Church a complete program for revival of the sacred sciences but also enable the Church to effectively confront modernity. Leo’s chosen instrument

The article focuses on what connects the Modernist crisis and the crisis surrounding la nouvelle théologie. Focusing mainly on the work of Ambroise Gardeil, O.P., and Léonce de Grandmaison, S.J., the author shows that representatives of a so-called “third way” (between Modernism and anti-Modernism) were the spiritual fathers of the protagonists of la nouvelle théologie.

This article attempts to bridge the post-Vatican II “conservative–liberal” divide in theology by appealing to the interpretive category of aesthetics. It delineates two aesthetical sensibilities toward Catholic tradition in the contemporary Church—a classical sensibility and a developmental sensibility for the traditionally beautiful. Regarding both as authentically Catholic, the author explores the differing styles of theology