Preprint / Version 1

Interdisciplinarity as a Means to Effectively Engage with the Abuse in Mission and Church

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  • Jean Messingué Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48604/ct.136

Keywords:

theological education, pastoral care, interdisciplinarity, mission, church, sexual abuse, Africa, dialogue, Pope Francis, vulnerability, Ubuntu

Abstract

Concluding Remarks: Religious transformation and theological education transformation is not a byproduct of the knowledge informed by a faith that is taught but the end of the process: allowing people to become new beings, integrally transformed. However, framing relevant educational objectives will not be enough to design religious and theological education as a transformative process. The process is key. The process, the how is very important. Yet, the process seems to be a forgotten and neglected dimension of theological education. The transformation takes place in the process. The quality of the product depends highly on the process, not only on the intention or expected outcomes. In Veritatis Gaudium, Pope Francis invites us to review the content as well as the pedagogy of ecclesiastical studies. It highlights the content and the pedagogy in order to initiate a courageous cultural revolution in ecclesiastical studies in a creative but faithful way. Within the process of theological education is the interactions.
How do we practice theological education? How shall we practice religious and theological education in order to instigate a transformation process? How do we operationalize religious and educational objectives? A transforming understanding of faith through reason implies a need to seek an effective way of doing theology and religious training, which has an immediate implication on life and the praxis. Interdisciplinarity, dialogue, and systemic connection between theology and pastoral care are concrete attitudes that Pope Francis suggests creating a new way of doing theology for our time.

Author Biography

Jean Messingué, Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus

Jean Messingué SJ teaches pastoral theology and pastoral counseling at the Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus, Côte d'Ivoire. He is the acting director at this Institute and founder of the program of multidimensional counselling for laity.

For more articles by Jean Messingué SJ please see IxTheo.

References

Arthur Ciaramicoli and Katherine Ketcham. The Power of Empathy. England: Penguin Books, 2000.

Pope Francis, "Veritatis Gaudium", Vatican, 2018.

Pope Francis, “Letter to the Church in Chile”, 2018.

Pope Francis, "Fratelli Tutti", Vatican, 2020.

Brad C. Hambrick. Vulnerability : Blessing in the Beatitudes. New York: P. & R Publishing, 2012, p.7.

David H. Jensen. Graced Vulnerability: A Theology of Childhood. New York: Pilgrim, 2005.

Roberto Sirvent. Embracing Vulnerability: Human and Divine. Oregon, Eugene: Pickwick Publications, 2015.

Marie-Jo Thiel. L’Eglise Catholique face aux Abus Sexuels sur Mineurs. Paris : Bayard, 2019.

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Posted

2021-12-15