Theology school strives to keep Second Vatican Council alive

Published: 2003-11-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Thirty-five years ago, amid race riots, assassinations, the Vietnam War and war protests, Catholic church leaders were trying to come up with ways to implement the documents of the recently completed Second Vatican Council. At that time in Washington, where there were 14 Catholic schools of theology, six religious communities decided to pool their resources to form what was then called the Coalition of Religious Seminaries. The school opened in 1968 with 221 students and 57 faculty members. The goal was to help seminarians link their theological education with practical ministry experiences. And that same goal, now extended to women religious and laity, continues today for the school now known as the Washington Theological Union. It is almost unique in its collaborative effort, similar only to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, which was also founded in 1968.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .