By Sean Ryan - 25 September, 2016
Theologians from all over the world gathered in Swanick in Britain recently for the annual Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain.
Hosted at the Hayes Conference Centre, the title of the conference was ‘Sensus Fidelium: Listening for the Echo’.
It explored various ways in the Church in which people respond to and recognise Christian teachings.
Using an energetic combination of reading sessions, keynote papers, panel discussion and member contributions, the conference explored significant historical, theological and practical questions of the sensus fidelium in the life of the Church today.
Three academics from St Mary’s, Twickenham, London were among the keynote speakers.
Professor of Catholic Theology, the Rev Rod Strange gave a lecture entitled ‘Newman on Consulting the Faithful: Context and Consequences’.
Director of the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies, Dr Tarcisius Mukuka, gave a presentation entitled ‘Sensus Fidelium and the Politics of Initial Conversion of So-Called Pagans’; and Director of the Aquinas Centre Dr Anthony Towey, led a session entitled ‘Reading Together: Sensus Fidei and the Life of the Church’.
In addition, a number of other past and present theologians from St Mary’s participated in the conference.
Former academic director of theology, Rev Dr Nick King SJ gave a short paper entitled ‘Listening to the Echo: Acts 15 and an issue that could have torn the Church apart’.
Karen North, Joanna Hale, the Rev Dr Ashley Beck, Dr Duncan Macpherson and Professor Mary Grey also attended.
At the Annual General Meeting of the association, programme director for the BA in Theology and Religious Studies programme at St Mary’s, Professor John McDade, was among those elected to the committee and the senior lecturer in pastoral ministry Rev Dr Ashley Beck was elected vice-president.
Other academics to speak on the day were Rev Professor Ormond Rush of the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane; Dr Helen Costigane SHCJ, Vice-Principal, Heythrop College, University of London; and Professor Paul Murray, Director of Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University.
