Bishops stress need for theology to develop from church teaching

Published: 2005-03-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine has reaffirmed the hierarchy's encouragement of creative theological work while reminding theologians that their positions must be founded on church teachings as defined by "the bishops in union with the pope." Authentic church teaching extends beyond catechetical instruction and is the foundation for "theological teaching and inquiry," said the U.S. bishops' doctrinal committee statement. The statement, approved by the committee March 14 and released March 17, expressed support for criticism from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that a book by U.S. Jesuit Father Roger Haight contains "serious doctrinal errors" and that Father Haight can no longer teach as a Catholic theologian. The bishops' statement came a month after the Catholic Theological Society of America's board of directors criticized the Vatican, saying the critique of Father Haight's book blurred the "traditional distinction" between catechetical instruction and the "speculative dimension" of theology.

Copyright (c) 2005 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .