Folia Theologica et Canonica 1. 23/15 (2012)

SACRA THEOLOGIA - Mihály Kránitz, Theology of inculturation among churches at the beginning of the 21"' century and the role of the Catholic Theological Institutions

FOLIA THEOLOGICA ET CANONICA I (2012) 11-17

Mihály Kránitz

THEOLOGY OF INCULTURATION AMONG CHURCHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21™ CENTURY

AND THE ROLE OF THE CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS

In the 20th century the unity for the Christian churches became a way to fulfill the demand of Jesus Christ that “They may all be One”.1 The Catholic Church has accepted to join to the ecumenical movement with the Second Vatican Council. We have already some fruits of the common work among Christians but we have taken to heart the cause of this unity for churches and religions too. My analysis intends to examine how the different thinking, culture, praxis of teaching and liturgy could help the understanding of each other for promoting more unity and more peace, in the context with Catholic Institutions.

Catholic Universities and especially Faculties of Theology have to count with the bond existing between their curriculum and the Roman norms. In 1993 the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has delivered a new Ecumenical Directory (the second one in this form) to apply principles and norms for the Ecumenism.2 This document emphases the ecumenical formation in the Catholic Church, the dialogue between Christians - manifesting by meetings and gestures - desires serious preparations. We have to make the same with the members of other religions. As there is a theological discussion, it needs a scientific erudition. The declaration of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity describes at large the theoretical formation of those, who have to accomplish pastoral services, including ordained or not ordained ministers.3

The task of the theological faculties is important helping the ministers to fulfill this role. As in this area there are a lot of remarkable changes during the last fifty years, it is important for the faculties of theology of the Catholic Universities to take seriously their irreplaceable role for promoting relationships among Christians or other religions. The education of the theology in a Catholic University demands an ecumenical perspective for the whole theological education system.4 The apostolic constitution Sapientia Christiana (1979) has determined, that the theology could discuss in context with the ecumenism and

1 Jn 17:21.

2 Directory for the application of principles and norms on Ecumenism.

3 Directory for the application of principles and norms on Ecumenism, nn. 83-86.

4 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstu- ni_doc_19930325_directory_fr.html.