Church officials examine writings of theologian Father Peter Phan

Published: 2007-09-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Church officials are examining the writings of a Vietnamese-American theologian, Father Peter Phan, who has written numerous books, including "Being Religious Interreligiously" in 2004. "There has been correspondence and dialogue" between Father Phan and the U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine, according to Father Thomas Weinandy, a Capuchin Franciscan who is executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices. Father Weinandy told Catholic News Service Sept. 13 he could not comment on the private dialogue in order to "respect the privacy of Father Phan and the work of the committee." A story published Sept. 12 by the National Catholic Reporter said the Vatican had concerns about Father Phan's 2004 book, saying it is "notably confused on a number of points of Catholic doctrine and also contains serious ambiguities." An official at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the congregation had no comment on the report. Father Phan could not be reached for comment by CNS Sept. 13. The priest of the Dallas Diocese came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975. He holds the Ellacuria chair of Catholic social thought in the theology department at Georgetown University in Washington.

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