March 1st, 2008 Newsletter  Download as Word document.March
First, 2008 In
this issue Reports
from Kenya: Page 3 Upcoming
Conferences: Page 6 Leuven, Belgium, 'Responsibility, God and Society: Theological Ethics in Dialogue' May 2008 Tilburg, Netherlands 'Think Again, Interculturally' November
2008 Previous
Conferences: Page 8 South
Africa, HIV Prevention Conference Indonesia,
National Association of Ethicists Meeting India,
National Symposium on Natural Moral Law News
From Centers and Institutes: Page 9 USA, Post-Doctoral Fellowships at Woodstock
Center, Washington, D.C. USA, National Leadership Roundtable on Church
Management South
Africa, Applied Ethics USA, Markula
Center Book
News: Page 11 Applied
Ethics in a World Church:The Padua Conference, edited by Linda Hogan,
May 2008 New Spanish language edition of Catholic
Theological Ethics in the World Church New Filipino edition of Catholic
Theological Ethics in the World Church Festschrift
for Margaret Farley Women
and HIV/AIDS Other
news New
Books from…: Page 12 Enrico Chiavacci Philomena Cullen, Bernard Hoose, Gerard Mannion Julia Fleming Eric Genilo Shaji George Kochuthara David Matzko McCarthy and M. Therese Lysaught Elias Opongo and Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator Stephen Pope Renzo Pegoraro Kerstin Schlögl-Flierl Fabrizio Turoldo Paul Valadier Günther
Virt Wanted:
Information Sharing: Page 13 Query
from Marilyn Martone KENYA Planning Committee Member, Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, writes in America Magazine about the new settlement in Kenya Here is the link http://www.americamagazine.org In addition he reports to us from Hekima College in Nairobi The Hekima Lenten Peace Campaign got off to a good start! Actually, it started on Sunday, 3 February, 2008. Members of the organizing committee were present at all the Masses at our local parish (Our Lady of Guadalupe) to distribute peace postcards. We were able to distribute about 6,000 postcards. At nine o’clock this morning we gathered for Ash Wednesday Eucharist in Hekima Chapel before setting out to town. Our main objective was to deliver the cards to one of the two largest supermarket chains in Kenya known as Uchumi. After weeks of negotiation they agreed to distribute the cards. It means that their cashiers will give out a postcard to every customer at the tills. It’s a very efficient way of reaching a wide section of people. Today we were able to distribute postcards at six major Uchumi branches in different parts of the city. We also made a long stop at the Catholic Bookshop, which is located downtown. The bookshop is a meeting place for Christians from all over Nairobi and beyond. So we spent quite some time there distributing the cards and talking to people. The Pauline sisters who run the bookshop will also be giving out the postcards to their customers. From the bookshop we took a walk downtown giving out postcards and inviting every recipient to pray for peace and make a commitment to peace in Kenya. People were very receptive to the idea; some asked for extra copies. By chance we ran into Benjamin Mkapa, ex-president of Tanzania, who is part of Koffi Annan’s team of mediators. He was glad to get a postcard, and we hope he shares it with the rest of the mediators. On occasion we were challenged to preach “justice” and not “peace.” The opposition that some people have set up between these two concepts is indicative of how much the crisis has polarized our society. We also stopped at the Anglican Cathedral. The Provost had earlier accepted to distribute the peace postcards to his congregation – about 7,000 of them! Rev. Sawe was very welcoming and promised to distribute the postcards during Sunday Service this weekend. By the time we returned to Hekima in the evening we had distributed 24,000 postcards. That’s a very good start! So far we have received donations to print 50,000 copies. This weekend we’ll distribute postcards in four parishes, including Holy Family Basilica, which is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, and draws people from all walks of life. One of the parishes we’ll be visiting this weekend is Christ the King. CTK is located at the heart of Kibera slum. It’s only accessible by foot through ramshackle mud, cardboard and tin houses. Kibera has been a hotbed of violence since the disputed presidential results of 27 December, 2007. As a group we feel that Hekima College is making a modest but important contribution to the return of peace in Kenya. The politicians are talking; we are talking too, by inviting people to become instruments and facilitators of peace wherever, whoever they are. We are grateful for your support which has made this initial phase of the Lenten Peace Campaign possible. Depending on how much donation we get, we plan to run radio ads of St. Francis’ Prayer for Peace during Lent. If all goes well, it would be on air four times a day, in English and Swahili, on Catholic FM Radio Waumini. Another suggestion we are looking at is to rent a huge billboard (12m x 10m) at one of the major traffic intersections in town. The politicians had their faces on such billboards during the campaign season. It will send out a powerful message to have them replaced with the Prayer for Peace. All that will depend on how much funding we are able to raise. Thank you for making this possible: you are an instrument of peace in Kenya! We are praying for you.
Update 2 The
entire country waits with bated breath for the outcome of the Annan-led
National Dialogue and Reconciliation talks. But we are not idle: Hekima
Lenten Peace Campaign continues to spread the message of peace to different
parts of the country. Since the launch of the initiative students of
Hekima College have distributed over 50,000 postcards of St. Francis
of Assisi’s Prayer for Peace. We have distributed them in public places,
several parishes and Small Christian Communiities, and more parishes
are asking for postcards. Catholic Radio Waumini FM 88.3 now broadcasts
the prayer four times a day in English (7:45AM & 5:15PM) and Swahili
(11:58AM & 2:15PM). Major outlets of Uchumi Supermarkets are
distributing the prayer postcards. This week we got permission to distribute
postcards at four outlets of Nakumatt Supermarket, which is the largest
chain of departmental stores in Kenya. During the coming week we plan
to distribute postcards in campuses of some private and public universities.
We are also working on sending postcards to all the Catholic Dioceses
in Kenya. Through the generosity of peace-loving Kenyans and friends
abroad, we are able to print more cards and spread the message of peace
far and wide. We envisage a long road ahead for all the people of Kenya.
Long after a political settlement has been reached, lives will still
need to be healed, broken relationships mended and justice restored.
All this will succeed only in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
Our commitment to peace is for the long haul. God is a God of peace.
We are grateful for your generosity, solidarity and commitment to peace
in Kenya. You can contact Orobator at wadoghe@yahoo.co.uk Bill O'Neill reports We
can get updates from The Jesuit Hakimani Centre (JHC), a Research, Formation
and Advocacy faith based organisation in collaboration with Hekima Institute
of Peace studies and International relations (HIPSIR)… See their February
newsletter: http://www.jesuithakimani.org Paul Chummar reports From
2005 to 2007 the Catholic University of Eastern Africa sponsors an Interdisciplinary
Theological Session: "Justice, Reconciliation and Peace" with
13 Paper Presentations. Paul is presenting "The Encumbrance of
Evil and Freedom through Reconciliation: A Scholastic-theological and
Moral-psychological Analysis" on 6th March. UPCOMING
Conferences Jean Vanheessen, reports from Leuven, Belgium On
the International Conference 'Responsibility, God and Society' (Leuven,
May 7-10, 2008). The website of the KULeuven conference is http://www.theo.kuleuven.be Jan Jans reports from Tilburg,Netherlands Master Class on Intercultural Ethics at Tilburg University, November 2008 Invitation and Call for
Papers. The Centre for Intercultural Ethics, CIE, based
at Tilburg University, the Netherlands (http://www.tilburguniversity The CIE is honoured to announce that two eminent scholars in the field of intercultural ethics have agreed to lead the master class: professor Gavin D’Costa from Bristol University, UK, who has written on ethical issues from within what might be termed a well defined religious community and professor Walter Lesch, from Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, who has written on several intercultural topics. Over a two day period on campus, the master class will provide participants with the opportunity to meet with other scholars in the field, as well as contribute to the ongoing debates and discussions that arise out of a desire to speak and think ‘inter-culturally’. Participants will also be given an opportunity to present an academic paper on a topic of their choice and gain feedback from experts in the field. In order to ensure vivid exchange and debate, the number of participants is limited to 20. A selection of the papers will be published in the recently founded CIE Series ‘Intercultural Ethics’ (Peeters Publishers, Louvain) in 2009. All submitted proposals will be assessed by a committee and the chosen participants will be informed of the decision before July 1st. The deadline for submission of the full paper is October 8, 2008. During the actual master class, participants will receive feedback on their work from professors D’Costa and Lesch. The aim of the master class is to rethink some of the current ethical issues from a specific intercultural perspective, thus taking seriously both the task of ethics to frame ethical issues adequate to the practical problems at stake and implementing the intention to reflect ethical problems whilst recognizing the plurality and mixing of cultures in Western societies. Practical information: • CIE master class November, 5-7, 2008; first meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 17.00 hours; closure on Friday, Nov. 7, at 16.30 hours. • We are looking for contributions on practical/specific issues as well as those that focus on more theoretical intercultural concerns: - Practical issues such as the need to rethink moral issues as they might arise in the context of a Western hospital, for instance, is a key intercultural issue. How should we understand the term ‘autonomy’ when confronted with cultural settings and the hierarchy of moral values of Turkish patients; or the area of ‘little ethics’ - etiquette in the public domain - where on an every day basis cultural and moral frictions take place between citizens and residents of different (cultural or sub cultural) backgrounds. Papers that address these practical issues are most welcome, especially if they link up intercultural theories with intercultural experiences. In this context, Frans Vosman, who holds the chair of christian ethics and spirituality, will present a paper on the theme of honour as it is perceived and interpreted in different cultures, thereby highlighting its capacity to contribute to an intercultural political ethics. -Papers that address the more theoretical aspects of intercultural ethics are also welcome. In particular, the committee is looking for papers that attempt to show the limits of various theories as a means to understanding and making sense of intercultural issues, such as the clash of high theories, e.g. a neo-kantian theory of justice with a ‘religious based’ theory, developed in the context of Muslims legal scholars; or the comparison of ethical theories on the concept of community. Papers should demonstrate the relevance (i.e., strengths and limitations) of intercultural theories by giving practical, contemporary examples. In this context, Jan Jans, director of the CIE, will present a paper outlining the current status quaestionis and the stakes of a normative intercultural ethics. • Enrolment: If you are interested in participating in this master class, please send an email to the assistant of the CIE, mrs. Marcia Smits (cie@uvt.nl) before August 1st, 2008. • Call for papers: any ethicist at PhD or postdoc level is welcome to participate. We will invite a limited number of scholars who have sent us a draft of their paper (800 words max., stating problem(s), question(s), theories that are used, plus some (extra) info on your present research: deadline June 1, 2008) to submit a complete paper before October 8, 2008. The paper in its final form should not exceed 8500 words, including footnotes. All papers that are to be presented in the master class should not exceed 20 mins. Together with the contributions of D’Costa, Lesch, Jans and Vosman, the CIE will publish the paper in its final form if it satisfies the scholarly standards of its committee. • Costs: the conference fee is € 250,00 and comprises accommodation for 2 or 3 nights, full board, as well as transport to and from the campus. There are 3 grants available of € 400,00 each for scholars from Eastern Europe and others who can demonstrate the need for it. It is expected that this bursuary will cover the conference fee and contribute to travel expenses. All conference fees should be paid before October 1st, 2008. In case of illness, or any other extenuating circumstances, payments will be reimbursed with a € 50,00 deduction. However, all cancellations must be confirmed before November 1st; otherwise the paid amount will not be reimbursed. • Language: English, both for the master class and the publication. A paper in its final form shall be handed in to the editor only when your own native speaking translator/corrector approves it of. • Further information:
for practical issues, please contact mrs. Marcia Smits, tel. 0031-13-4662782
/ email cie@uvt.nl; for background issues please contact dr. Jan Jans,
Director CIE, tel. 0031-13-4662595/ email: jan.jans@uvt.nl PREVIOUS
CONFERENCES Ronaldo Zacharias (Brazil) reports "Theological
Consultation on HIV Prevention" An international gathering of 34
Christian theologians, and ethicists as well as people directly involved
in and affected by the HIV pandemic, met 28 January - 2 February in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants over 20 countries shared different
views and teachings on HIV prevention and identified values that undergird
their shared commitment to stop the spread of HIV and eradicate AIDS.
A document for wide distribution summarizing the theological reflection
and views that were articulated during the Consultation, outlining some
common principles and values, will be published by the beginning of
March. The Consultation was sponsored by The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance,
a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations
cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS. Maria Cimperman
(USA), Margaret Farley (USA), Beate Jakob (Germany), Bryan Massingale
(USA), Enda McDonagh (Ireland), Emmanuel Modikwane (South Africa), Burchard
Schlömer (Germany) and Ronaldo Zacharias (Brazil) were the Catholic
participants of the Consultation. Armanda Ryanto, CM (Indonesia) reports On January 25-26, 2008 there was a meeting of Association of the Ethicists in Indonesia (HIDESI or Himpunan Dosen-Dosen Etika se Indonesia) in Widya Sasana Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Malang, discussing ethics of global issues. There were 46 ethicists participants from Catholic, private, Moslem as well as state universities throughout the country. The meeting was sponsored by the Association and the Widya Sasana Institute of Philosophy and Theology at Malang, East Java, Indonesia in which I am currently rector. The meeting lasted two days exploring vividly various topics of ethics such as ethics in medicine, business ethics, environmental ethics, and metaethics [exploration of local wisdom that could be sources of ethical analysis]: Prof. Dr. Aloysus Agus Nugroho on the business ethics of Emmanuel Velasquez Dr. Armada Riyanto on metaethics in Javanese Tradition of Ruwatan, escaping from curse of BATARA KALA Dr. Irmayanti on environmental ethics [global warming] Dr. Sintak on ethics in EMB (evidence medicine base) Drs. Charis Zubair on ethics based on Javanese literature. Dr. Rudi on ethics in taking care of aging persons The meeting was so fruitful. HIDESI was founded by Prof. Dr. Franz Magnis Suseno and Prof. Dr. Kees Bertens.
Shaji George Kochuthara (India) reports: A
National Symposium on Natural Moral Law was conducted at Dharmaram Vidya
Kshetram (Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy, Theology and Canon Law),
Bangalore, India, from 3-6 December 2007. Besides moral theologians
from different Pontifical Faculties in India, representatives of different
religions and people working in social, cultural and educational fields
participated at the Symposium and presented papers. The papers will
be published shortly from Dharmaram Publications, Bangalore. NEWS
FROM CENTERS and INSTITUTES Tom Reese in the USA reports on the Post-doctoral Fellowship Program in Washington DC at the Woodstock Center The Woodstock International Visiting Fellows Program provides the opportunity for postdoctoral scholars to carry out a personal research project at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. The international visiting fellows enjoy support from the Woodstock senior fellows, Georgetown faculty, and other scholarly and academic resources located within the Washington, D.C. area. This academic year, Woodstock welcomed four international visiting fellows, two of which are experts of Islam--Daniel Madigan, S.J. and Thomas Michel, SJ. Both Madigan and Michel have not only written extensively on Islam and Muslim-Christian relations, but have also served as high-level advisers to the Vatican and the Society of Jesus. Dan Madigan served on the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims and Thomas Michel served, for 10 years, as the Secretary for Interreligious Dialogue for the Society of Jesus and Ecumenical Secretary for the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. In addition, both Madigan and Michel have taught advanced courses in Islamic Studies and Interreligious Dialogue throughout the world. Father Madigan and Father Michel are taking this fellowship opportunity to reflect upon their many years of experience. For example, Madigan’s main project will be authoring a book on Christianity for Muslims, based on his seven years experience teaching introductory Christianity courses and synthesizing seminar to Muslims. Yvonne Kavuo Kambale, is a Congolese HIV/AIDS expert, counselor, and consultant. Prior to coming to Woodstock, Ms. Kambale worked as a HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor for the European-based Christian groups United Evangelical Mission. Professionally, over the course of 14 years, she has gathered a combination of grassroots, frontline, and international experience and skills in designing and implementing community-based HIV/AIDS intervention programs. At Woodstock, Kambale will be researching the experiences and behavioral changes of youth in the context of HIV/AIDS in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The project will also seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the influence that spirituality, beliefs and values, can have on people’s behavior and health. David Kaulem, an expert in Catholic Social Teaching, comes to Woodstock from Zimbabwe where he recently assisted with the drafting of a Pastoral Letter entitled, “God Hears the Cry of the Poor,” a letter which affirms the support of morally legitimate political authority and denounces the acquisition of power through violence, oppression and intimidation. In addition, Dr. Kaulem served as Regional Coordinator for the African Forum for Catholic Social Teachings and was an Assistant Professor at the University of Zimbabwe where he previously earned a master’s degree and doctorate in philosophy. While at Woodstock, Dr. Kaulem will be researching the role of the Catholic Church’s social teachings in the social justice transformation of eastern and southern Africa. The Woodstock Theological Center is now accepting fellowship applications for the 2009-2010 academic year. Please visit the program website for application information. You may also contact the fellowship program office by email wtc-vf@georgetown.edu Website http://woodstock.georgetown Kerry Robinson, Executive Director, National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management in the USA, reports: Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Catholic Dioceses, Parishes and Nonprofits The US Conference of Catholic Bishops makes clear that sound Christian stewardship “must include the most stringent ethical, legal and fiscal standards” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response). Strengthening the management of human and financial resources is of paramount importance for the Catholic Church’s mission to be effective. Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Catholic Dioceses, Parishes and Nonprofits offers Catholic institutions a framework to be ethical and accountable in their operations, governance, human resources, financial management and fundraising. Eight guiding principles are provided, along with fifty-five standards providing detailed performance benchmarks that will enable Catholic organizations to strengthen their operations. The National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management identified the very effective secular code published by the Standards for Excellence Institute and adapted it for specific utility in the Catholic context, ensuring that the standards are in full compliance with canon law and serve to strengthen Church governance. When Catholic institutions live up to the highest standards and best practices in temporal affairs, levels of transparency and accountability are raised and their mission becomes even more effective. For
further information visit www.nlrcm.org/standards or email standards@nlrcm.org Dr Marilise Smurthwaite, Head and Coordinator Department of Applied Ethics at St Augustine College of South Africa reports: Greetings
to you from South Africa and St Augustine College. We have two publications
which include articles which may be of relevance: one is our university
journal St Augustine Papers, the other is Praxis. Journal
for Christian Business Leadership.
Both these publications publish articles on ethical issues
although neither is devoted exclusively to theological ethics. We are
also participating in the conference to be held at Notre Dame in June
on Business Education at Catholic Universities: Exploring the Role
of Mission-Driven Business Schools. University of Notre Dame, Notre
Dame, Indiana. June 11-13, 2008. Dr. David DeCosse at Markkula Center, Santa Clara, USA reports On "Ethics, Doping,
and the Future of Cycyling." Greg LeMond, the Tour de France
champion in 1986, 1989, and 1990, will speak on February 17, 2008, at
Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., on the topic, "Ethics,
Doping, and the Future of Cycyling." LeMond has been an outspoken
opponent of doping in cycyling. His remarks are on the website of the
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at SCU: http://fora.tv/2008/02/17 BOOK
NEWS Sue Perry, editor at Orbis, reports The
second volume from the Padua conference, Applied Ethics in a World
Church: The Padua Conference, edited by Linda Hogan, will be available
from Orbis Books at the end of May 2008. Planning Committee Member Tony Mifsud from Chile reports Andrés
Telesca, editor of Editorial San Benito (Buenos Aires, Argentina) is
translating and publishing the Spanish language edition of Catholic
Theological Ethics in the World Church. More information in
the next newsletter. Planning Committee Member Agnes Brazal from the Philippines reports Catholic
Theological Ethics in the World Church will come out in the Philippines
with Ateneo Press in 2008. More information in the next newsletter. I am happy to report Maura
Ryan and Brian Linnane have edited A Just and True Love (Notre
Dame University Press) a festschrift to honor former Planning Committee
member Margaret Farley. Contributors include, Charles Curran, Lisa Cahill,
Anne Patrick, M. Cathleen Kaveney, Jean Porter, David Hollenbach, William
O'Neill, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Leslie Griffin, Maura Ryan and Brian
Linnane. Mary Jo Iozzio, USA, reports An international collection
on Women and HIV/AIDS entitled Calling for Justice throughout the
World has just been submitted to Continuum and should be available
by November. Most of the 25 contributors were at Padova. Joseph Zalot, USA, reports He
has co-authored with Benedict Guevin, OSB a book coming out this month
titled “Catholic Ethics in Today’s World.” It’s an undergraduate-level
ethics text that explains what the RCC teaches about a variety
of contemporary ethical issues. It’s being published by St. Mary’s
Press and the link is http://college.smp.org/ItemDeta NEW
BOOKS from 2007 Enrico Chiavacci,
Theologia Morale Fondamentale, Cittadella Editrice. Philomena Cullen, Bernard
Hoose, and Gerard Mannion, ed., Catholic Social Justice: Theological
and Practical Explorations, Continuum. Julia Fleming, Defending
Probabilism: The Moral Theology of Juan Caramuel, D.C.: Georgetown
University Press. Eric Marcelo Genilo,
John Cuthbert Ford, SJ: Moral Theologian at the End of the Manualist
Era, Georgetown University Press. Shaji George Kochuthara,
The Concept of Sexual Pleasure in the Catholic Moral Tradition,
Gregorian University Press. David Matzko McCarthy
and M. Therese Lysaught, ed., Gathered for the Journey: Moral Theology
in Catholic Perspective, Eerdmans. Elias Opongo and Agbonkhianmeghe
Orobator, Faith Doing Justice: A Manual for Social Analysis, Catholic
Social Teachings and Social Justice,
Paulines Africa Publications Stephen Pope, Human
Evolution and Christian Ethics, Cambridge. Renzo Pegoraro, Hospital Based Bioethics: A European Perspective, Piccin
Kerstin Schlögl-Flierl,
Das Glück- Literarische Sensorien und theologisch-ethische Reacktionen,
Studien der Moraltheologie 36, LIT Verlag. Fabrizio Turoldo, ed.,
La globalizzazione della bioetica: Un commento alla Dichiarazione Universale
sulla Bioetica e I Diritti Umani dell UNESCO,
Gregoriana. Paul Valadier, Détresse du Politique, Force du Religieux, Éditions du Seuil. Günther Virt, Damit
Menschsein Zukunft hat: Theologische Ethik im Einsatz für eine humane
Gesellschaft, Echter Verlag. WANTED:
INFORMATION SHARING Marilyn Martone from USA writes: Can we build some kind of international bibliography on "Women, Children, and Justice"? Could the newsletter provide some way of gathering resources from theologians around the world? Suggestions? Send them to MARTONEM@stjohns.edu But also send them to
me (James.Keenan.2@bc.edu) too! REPORT YOUR NEWS TO ME FOR THE APRIL NEWSLETTER…. By March 25 |