August First Newsletter NEWS COVERAGE OF PADOVA CONFERENCE 1. Catholic News Service (pdf) 2. Avvenire, the Catholic Newspaper of Italy published 9 articles on the Conference, all written by Matteo Liut Day 1: “Teologia morale, il mondo a Padova;” “Economia, tecnologia e diritti umani, i primi tre ambiti di riflessione e confronto;” “Stasera la Messa in Santa Giustina Martedì la chiusura” Day 2: "Da Nord a Sud sono i valori la vera bussola;" "Anche in Africa e in Asia due incontri continentali" Day 3: "VANGELO E VITA: Si è concluso a Padova il primo congresso internazionale dei teologi moralisti;" " E il «genio femminile» alimenta il confronto;" "I moralisti italiani eleggono Karl Golser" 3. John Allen, National Catholic Reporter (pdf) 4. The Tablet: " Ethics for a troubled world" NEWS FROM PARTICIPANTS REGARDING ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS Association africaine des théologiens éthiciens catholiques Le 11 juillet 2006, lors de la Première Conférence Internationale et Transculturelle des théologiens éthiciens catholiques à Padoue/Italie, les éthiciens africains présents à cette rencontre ont fondé leur Association au niveau de tout le continent. Un comité de 4 personnes a été désigné pour mettre sur pied la structure de l'Association. Les 4 personnes sont réparties par régions et par expressions linguistiques : 2 personnes, dont un anglophone et un francophone sont responsables pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest ; l'Afrique de l'est, l'Afrique Centrale et l'Afrique du sud disposent chacune d'un responsable. Deux personnes ont été désignées pour s'occuper des éthiciens africains en diaspora en Europe et en Amérique du nord. Le comité est chargé de récolter toutes les données nécessaires avant la fin de l'année en cours. Il aura sa première rencontre au mois d'avril 2007 à Nairobi où les différents projets devront être concrétisés. Bénézet Bujo BRAZIL De 11 a 14 de dezembro de 2006, será realizado, em São Paulo, o XXIX Congresso de Teologia Moral, promovido pela Sociedade Brasileira de Teologia Moral. O tema do Congresso será “ ÉTICA E A NOVA CONDIÇÃO COMUNICATIVA”. Trata-se de compreender os novos processos comunicativos em gestação no interior da nova ordem mundial, bem como suas implicações sociais, econômicas, políticas e culturais, tendo em vista o trabalho dos teólogos moralistas como colaboradores na produção de novas pedagogias éticas na sociedade. Informações e Inscrições: www.sbtmpesquisadores.org.br Ronaldo Zacharias Women Theological Ethicists Approximately sixty-five women theological ethicists from around the world participated in the international conference in Padua in July. As a member of the star-studded opening panel of the conference, Adela Cortina–distinguished anthropologist from the University of Valencia–addressed the question of what theological ethicists can do in response to the world's needs. Eight women scholars were active in the plenary sessions of the conference, either as moderators or presenters. Nearly forty served as speakers or moderators in break-out sessions focused on various topics in applied ethics. Many of these participants met together over dinner on one of the evenings of the conference. Lisa Sowle Cahill (Boston College, U.S.), host of the dinner, began with an expression of gratitude that so many outstanding women moral theologians/ethicists are now working in the field of theological ethics or in related professional positions. The dinner provided an occasion for all of these women to come to know one another more personally and to learn of the major work in which each is engaged. As an example, Dr. Edith Raidt, President of St.Augustine College of South Africa, shared with others the story of her work in the founding of this college. Part of the conversation among all the women present focused on their individual journeys into the field of ethics and their experiences as Catholic scholars or administrators in the multiple cultural contexts in which they now work. No specific plans were made to form a women's group within the international community, but there was and continues to be enthusiasm for the possibilities of networking and of collaborating in research and writing projects. Margaret Farley |