Jesuit Father Jacques Dupuis, theologian, dies in Rome at age 81

Published: 2004-12-29

ROME (CNS) -- Jesuit Father Jacques Dupuis, an expert on the theology of religions and the subject of a controversial Vatican investigation, died at age 81 in Rome. The Belgian-born priest died of an apparent stroke Dec. 28 after being hospitalized the night before, according to Jesuit officials in Rome. His funeral was scheduled for Dec. 30 at the chapel of Rome's Gregorian University, where he taught for many years. For years Father Dupuis was known among experts in the theology of religious pluralism. Late in his career he made headlines when the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith investigated and criticized his book, "Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism." After three years of investigation, in 2001 the Vatican backed away from its initial finding of "serious doctrinal error" in the book, but said there were "ambiguities and difficulties on important points which could lead a reader to erroneous or harmful opinions."

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