By Anthony Barich
A leading Australian theologian will correct misconceptions about the intent and ramifications of Vatican II at a national conference of Catholic teachers this month.
Dr Tracey Rowland, author of Ratzinger’s Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI and, recently, Benedict XVI: A Guide for the Perplexed, will address the Society of Catholic Teachers Australia’s second national conference on Continuity and Rupture: Interpretations of Vatican II and Truth and Revelation from Vatican II to Pope Benedict.
Organiser Renato Bonasera, Trinity College’s Curriculum writer for Religion and Life, said the conference is a timely reminder of “the beauty of the Bride of Christ – the Church – as the 29-30 October event focuses on Vatican II’s documents which are “so beautiful and rich in what it tells us about the Church and our role in the world”.
“Vatican II’s documents tell us so much about our role as the people of God and help us to recognise our place in salvation history, as well as our call to be light to the world and salt of the earth,” Mr Bonasera said.
Among other things, Dr Rowland will discuss how the understanding of Truth and Revelation has been adopted by Pope Benedict XVI, linking it back to Vatican II, especially Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum (“Word of God”), one of the principal documents of Vatican II which concerns inspiration and interpretation of Sacred Scripture.
Ukrainian Catholic Dr Andrew Kania, Aquinas College Director of Spirituality who has been a Research Fellow and Scholar at Oxford University, will also address the conference on From East to West: Why the Church must breathe with two lungs, referring to Pope John Paul II’s quote in Lumen Orientalis (“Light from the East”).
Irene McCormack Catholic College Religious Education coordinator Stephen Spiteri and founder of Catholic apologetics blog The Spirit Magnus, will address the conference on The Laity in the heart of the Church.
He will address what lay people are called to in the life of the Church, focusing on the ecclesial movements and the dignity of the laity. Mr Bonasera will run workshops on Models of Church and Salvation Outside the Church, using Vatican II’s teachings to engage participants with a deeper understanding of the Council’s vision so they can more fully live it out. While the conference is run for and by teachers, it is also designed for anyone, including non-Catholics.
It is of particular use to teachers, Mr Bonasera said, because in the Religion and Life course introduced into Year 11 last year and Year 12 this year, teachers are required to teach key learning points of the Church, including vocations.
Contact admin@scta.org.au or 0428 106 481 for more info.