Church officials examine book by theologian Father Peter Phan

Published: 2007-09-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Church officials are examining a book written by a Vietnamese-American theologian, Father Peter Phan, for possible ambiguities on the unique role of the Catholic Church in the framework of religious pluralism. "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 Phan is a member of the theology department at Jesuit-run Georgetown University in Washington. 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 Sept. 12 story by the National Catholic Reporter said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has voiced concerns about Father Phan's book, "Being Religious Interreligiously: Asian Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue," published in 2004 by Orbis.

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