THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF CATHOLIC LEARNED SOCIETIES AND SCHOLARS

(CLS)

In the same context as described above for the ICR, within Catholic learned societies a similar evolution was taking place. For up to 50 years many had a strong record of annual meetings with published proceedings; some published quarterly journals. Most had worked without explicit relation to one another or to the Church. After Vatican II The Canon Law Society of America developed a fruitful program of study and consultation which suggested the possibilities of creative work by scholars in other fields. Willingness and desire to cooperate in contributing to the needs of the Church was broadly shared.

When, at the suggestion of the Catholic Bi blical Association, representatives of the societies first met with representatives of the NCCB interest gravitated toward finding ways to serve the many current needs of the Church. This was responded to in a meeting the following November as the NCCB began to consult on modes of developing liaison capabilities within itself. On January 18, 1975, representatives of the societies, with some additional scholars, met at Ob late College in Washington, D.C. They resolved unanimously

that those present constitute a Joint Committee of Catholic Learned Societies and Scholars (CLS) in order to coordinate a cooperative effort both between their societies and with the NCCB. This work of coordination was understood to be concerned, first, with cooperation between the societies who in function of their proper identity and autonomy would decide concerning the development of projects; second, with the cooperation and liaison of the societies with the NCCB in relation to the objectives below; and third, with developing relations with societies and research units which are not specifically Catholic.

The purposes of the CLS, as described in the by-laws are:

1. to establish a cooperative effort and promote an attitude of mutual confidence between the Catholic scholarly community and all parts of the Christian community;

2. to provide a means of communicating information and ideas from the scholarly community to the Bishops on matters of concern to their work in the Church;

3. to receive suggestions from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and to implement areas of scholarly work needed by the Church on the many levels of its pastoral work; and

4. to carry out, on the part of the societies and scholars themselves, work needed in order to understand and respond to problems in contemporary Christian life.

The CLS consists of liaison persons from The American Catholic Hist orical Association, The American Catholic Philosophical Association, The Canon Law Society of America, The Catholic Biblical Association, The Catholic Theolo gical Society, The College Theology Society, The Mariolog ical Society of America, the North American Academy of Litu rgy, and The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, as well as Catholic scholars co-opted from other disciplines. Scholars from the physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences and the humanities are also called upon to participate in the deliberations of the CLS and the work of its committees. The initial officers were: Chairman, Donald Heintschel, Executive Secretary of the Canon Law Society of America; Secretary, George F. McLean, O.M.I., Secretary of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.

The CLS serves as a channel for information, ideas and concerns from the scholarly community to the NCCB on matters of mutual interest. For scholars it identifies needs of the bishops for analysis and inquiry at every level of their pastoral effort, the exigencies attendant on the Church's witness in the world and the problems of contemporary life requiring a scholarly Christian response.

As it is important for the CLS not only to respond to requests for research, but to develop its own positive vision of the issues on which work is needed, standing committees were constituted with the following purpose and division.

1. The purpose of these standing committees is, not to carry out research themselves, but:

a. to review the overall area for which they are designated in the light of both the full scholarly capabilities of the various disciplines and the suggestions received from the NCCB and other sources,

b. to identify present and future needs for study and research,

c. to define specific projects and/or colloquia and their priorities, and

d. to recommend to the CLS priorities among these issues and to define specific projects which it should attempt to implement.

2. The areas of these committees divide the total spectrum of scholarly concerns in the Church, namely,

a. On the Church: the life of the Church as a society with its structures, ministries and sacramental life.

b. On Christian Life and the F amily: the mission of the Church in the development of its members' life in Christ during the various stages of their development through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. This should include study of philosophical, economic, psychological and sociological influences upon family life in the present and in the future, the manner of bringing to bear combinations of these sciences with the various theological specializations for a profound Christian understanding of the problems faced by Christians in living their vocation to family life, and the nature of a religious response to these problems.

c. On Christian Witness in the World: the mission of the Church and of its members in giving witness to the transforming message of the Redeemer in all areas of public life--whether social or political, educational or economic--where man's increasing capabilities multiply the issues of justice and charity from the time before birth to that of death itself.

White Paper on Scholarship in the Church

The need for a clarification of the role of the scholar in the Church has been continuingly recognized in the various meetings of the learned societies with the NCCB. It was concluded that this could be accomplished most effectively by a white paper drawn up by an ad hoc committee of the CLS in consultation with the NCCB, accepted as a working agreement and brought to the attention of the Christian community as a whole. The work should engage the spectrum of scholarly opinion, speak to the present state of the relationship between pastoral practice and scholarship, work out areas of legitimate difference, and take account of the ongoing character of the process by which scholars contribute to the life of the Church. Work on this was delayed till after a series of meetings with the Bishops described below.

Annual Meetings of Scholars and Bishops

Work with the ad hoc committee on moral values gave assurance that a mutually enlightening cooperative effort could be developed both between the various dimensions of the scholarly community and with the bishops. This led to a series of annual meetings of scholars and bishops in which it was agreed that the contribution of scholars must not be left simply as unsolicited advice. Consultation with them as they join in their working societies and institutions coordinated through the C LS and I CR must be a matter of policy. A liaison person was appointed to the NCCB staff in order to facilitate participation in its work by the breadth of scholars in the Church. This person is to combine an internal knowledge of the NCCB and the status of its projects with scholarly creativity in order to be able to identify the research projects which need to be undertaken and to work with the CLS committees in their design. It was noted conversely that in the presentation of their findings scholars must take account of the needs of their audience. This implies that scholars not simply state positions arrived at, but provide explanation of the process by which these conclusion have been achieved, there limitations and proper application.

Cooperation with the NCCB

ad hoc Committee on Moral Values

A first task of the CLS was to assist the NCCB ad hoc Committee on Moral Values in the preparation of its document. All members of these societies were asked for written recommendations on the initial report of the Committee. From these replies twelve key issues were selected for particular attention. On each issue one or more scholars from various societies wrote background memoranda which in sum constituted a 150 page book. This material served as material for a two-day meeting and provided an opportunity for mutually enriching and corrective dialogue both between scholars of various disciplines and with the episcopal members of the ad hoc committee. It enabled the drafting committee to consult, not only scholars it had chosen--with the likelihood that they would reconfirm positions the committee already held--but scholars nominated from the various learned societies who could raise questions and make suggestions reflecting the state of the art in the related disciplines.

The following list of scholars submitted memoranda and took part in the two day advisory consultation with the members of the Bishop's committee.

A. Life in Christ

1. Christian Ethics

Jerome D. Quinn

William J. Finan, O.P.

Patrick J. Coffey

2. Virtues

Paul J. Philibert, O.P.

Jerome D. Quinn

Vincent C. Punzoo,

3. Sin

Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.

Joseph J. Kockelmans

B. The Teaching Mission of the Church

1. Magisterium and Moral Values

Joseph A. Komonchek

2. Personal Conscience and the Magisterium

John O'Callaghan, S.J.

Richard T. De George

3. Pluralism

John F. Dedek

William Hinnebusch, O.P.

C. Moral Values and an Objective Moral Order

1. "Value" and "Good"

Louis Dupré

George F. McLean, O.M.I.

2. Objective Norms of Morality

Joseph M. Boyle, Jr.

3. Moral Absolutes

Joseph Jensen, O.S.B.

Ronald D. Lawler, O.F.M.Cap.

4. Specific Questions

John T. Noonan, Jr.

John F. Monagle

D. Conscience: Its Formation and Education

1. Conscience and Its Formation

Norbert J. Rigali, S.J.

Jesse A. Mann

2. Freedom and Responsibility

Mary T. Clark, R.S.C.J.

A Biographic Inventory of Scholars: see chap. VII below.

ICR/CLS Research Agenda on Christian Life in the World: see chap. VIII below.