Archbishop Curtiss on implementing the theology 'mandatum'

Archbishop Elden Curtiss

Contents - Apr 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain' - Peter Westmore John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family to open in July 2001 - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Former Townsville Bishop's admissions on liturgy practices - Bishop Raymond Benjamin Is Townsville the model for Ballarat's priest shortage? - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop Curtiss on implementing the theology 'mandatum' - Archbishop Elden Curtiss US parishioners more outspoken about church "renovations" - Zenit News Service Thomas More Centre Summer School 2001: "Building a Culture of Life" - Michael Daniel How to avoid banal, superficial liturgies - Bishop Kevin Manning Rights of unborn are inalienable - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Tanzania's Father Winfried makes return visit to Australia - Martin Sheehan Letters: Melbourne RE texts (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Sponsorship (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Legal action (letter) - Chris Joseph Letters: Inaccuracy (letter) - Fr Michael Kalka PP Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: ACU Syllabus (letter) - John Kelly Letters: Stations of the Cross (letter) - Charles Bignold Letters: Good responses (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Letters: Dress code (letter) - Raymond de Souza Review Article: A 'silly book' from ACU professor of theology - Frank Mobbs Books: Keeping The Faith: Making a Difference by Wilson D. Miscamble - Michael Daniel (reviewer) JESUS - Jubilee Edition Video - Johanna O'Farrell (reviewer) Books: 'Contraception: The Hidden Truth' by Christine de Stoop - Katie Forster (reviewer) Books: The Apostles' Creed, Defend the Faith and other apologetics topics - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse, by Roland J. Worth - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Reflection: Giving witness to the Gospel of Life - Rebecca van Rensburg

The following is an edited transcript of Archbishop Elden Curtiss of Omaha's contribution to a discussion on the 'mandatum' for Catholic theologians, during the US bishops conference on 15 November 2000. The 'mandatum' indicates a commitment to the local bishop by a theologian to teach theology in line with the Catholic Faith. The text is available courtesy of 'Voices', the publication of Women for Faith and Family.

From a practical viewpoint, bishops are concerned about undergraduates at universities, and the quality of the theology that they are receiving there. At the graduate level, there has to be an understanding of the difference between exposure to a lot of speculative ideas and the kind of undergraduate religious base that needs to be provided for students - and the expectation of Catholics, if they send their children to a Catholic college or university, that that grounding is going to take place.

From my perspective, I would expect those who are teaching undergraduates at the university to seek the mandatum: to say, "Yes, I am teaching in line with the Church and can be trusted to [do so] with these young people who are being sent to a Catholic university". It would be my obligation to have them seek that and to dialogue with them if, for some reason, they did not. I would want to know why, and make public the fact that there were teachers who said they were professors of Catholic theology, but would not be seeking the mandatum.

It is not just a matter of take it or leave it - that is not the intention of Pope John Paul or of Ex Corde Ecclesiae. There was concern expressed around the world that if people send their children to a Catholic college or university they are going to be grounded in the Faith, and not led in directions that call into question the teachings of the Church.

The bishops' committee [on the mandatum] will offer us some guidelines, but all of us in our own situation are going to have to follow those guidelines. I have to follow them according to my conscience as the chief catechist in the archdiocese.

I don't think there is a division between catechetics and theology at the undergraduate level. That has been part of our problem - a problem to which we, the Church and the Holy Father have been responding. The Holy Father expects us to do that - so I don't think we're playing games.

If we are playing games, if it does not make any difference whether somebody asks for a mandatum or not, or whether the bishop is going to grant it or not, well, then, this is an exercise in futility.

In conscience, I have to try to implement this. Anybody who wants to say "I'm teaching Catholic theology" in the Omaha Archdiocese ought to seek the mandatum, and I ought to be in dialogue with them about that. Otherwise I don't think I am fulfilling my obligation as teacher.

As for enforcement, if I declare that this person does not have a mandate to teach Catholic theology in this university, it is going to have some impact as regards the constituents, the public that is out there, the parents who think their children are getting a [religious] base - the reason they chose to send them to a Catholic university. You cannot force anybody, but you can certainly have an impact if you say, "This teacher does not have a mandatum from me."

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 3 (April 2001), p. 7