Dignitatis Humane Colloquium: Dialogos Institute Proceedings Volume I

by Thomas Crean (Editor), James Bogle (Contributor), Raymond Leo Burke (Contributor)

This book contains the papers given at a historic conference on religious liberty that took place in 2015 in Norcia, Italy, in the presence of Cardinal Raymond Burke, under the auspices of the Dialogos Institute. 8 Catholic scholars from around the world met to discuss this most controversial of theological questions. Their papers focus on Vatican II’s ‘Declaration on Religious Liberty’, Dignitatis humanae, setting it in its historical and doctrinal context. The speakers debate the meaning of this document and its compatibility with other teachings of the Catholic Church. This book contains the introductory address given by Cardinal Burke, and the speeches given by the participants, revised and in some cases augmented by themselves. It concludes with an original essay arising out of the papers and subsequent discussions, in which Dr Alan Fimister of the Dialogos Institute attempts an original synthesis of the insights of the various speakers.The 2015 Dignitatis humanae colloquium was a unique occasion which brought together orthodox Catholic speakers which greatly differing views on a complex and fascinating subject. No serious student of the Church’s teaching on religious liberty, on the role of Church and State, or on the social kingship of Christ will want to be without this volume.

Genres: Catholic

222 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2017

About the author

Fr. Thomas Crean OP studied at St. John’s College, Oxford. He entered the Dominican Order in 1995, and was ordained priest in 2001. He received the licence in theology from the Institut Thomas d'Aquin in Toulouse and the doctorate in theology from the International Theological Institute in Trumau, Austria.

He has worked in parochial and hospital ministry and as a university chaplain. He has taught at various institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Reviews

[Rory Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II’s 1965 approval of Dignitatis Humanae, this Colloquium brought together some of the most prominent figures who have been writing to show that Vatican II’s religious freedom is consistent with prior Church teaching.

The essays (or speeches) cover the range of different approaches associated with Harrison, Pink, Valuet (etc). While it is good to hear their views (especially as Valuet is not easily available to non-French speakers), one problem with the format is that each presentation is stand-alone, so speakers are not challenged to defend their views. This means that individual presentations sometimes contain passing criticisms of the aspects of others in the book, but they have no opportunity to specifically respond and explain the points that were challenged. That is unfortunate as readers would have benefited from hearing how the different viewpoints can be defended.

One of the problems with the ‘religious freedom’ debate is that it is inevitably complicated by the fact that there are several issues which are challenged in Vatican II documetns, and there are multiple documents which it is said to be in conflict with, as well as there being a whole range of historical issues of Church practice, all of which are subject to differing interpretations of significance. What would have helped readers, would have been a short (and simple) attempt to break the issues down into a coherent series of sub-questions, so that those who are interested in the issues can get a sharper sense of how the sub issues overlap, and what are the actual issues that need dealing with, in order to resolve matters.

For example, some of the essays focused upon textual issues within documents. But other essays in the book focused upon Church history, and what happened at various points in the medieval era. Broadly speaking that is because there is a significant difference between what Vatican Ii had to say about religious freedom for individuals, and what its implications may (or may not be) for governments. That latter point is particularly unclear because Vatican Ii deliberately did not speak about governments. Yet there are logical implications and deductions to be made, but those conclusions are not part of the official text. So there are additional levels of complexity which can undermine the assurance of some of the presentations.

Overall, I think it is very helpful to have this convenient set of essays available. It makes a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand the Church’s position, from those who set out to explain it (rather than from those critiquing it). The essays do not assume background knowledge so they are accessible to readers unfamiliar with the issues. However, the book could have contained a clearer summary of issues, and that lack is a factor which may influence some readers’ experiences.

[Peter Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of lectures attempting to reconcile Dignitatis Humanae with prior Catholic teaching; I think Dr. Thomas Pink’s position is the most harmonious.