Four Asians in International Theological Commission

Four Asians are among the thirty members of the ninth International Theological Commission . Pope Francis has nominated ,according to a Vatican press release issued on September 23.

Those selected from Asia to serve on the commission until 2019 are: Father Thomas Kollamparampil from India, Father John Junyang Park from Korea, Father Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III from Philippines and Father Gaby Alfred Hachem from Lebanon.

Father Kollamparampil of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate is a professor at Dharmaram Vidyakshetram in Bangalore. Father Park is a theology professor at the Archdiocesan Major Seminary of Seoul.Father Timoner is the Prior Provincial of the Philippines Dominican Province.

The appointments, as usual, have been carried out after extensive consultations with Episcopal Conferences throughout the world and the Synods of the oriental Eparchies.

The International Theological Commission, instituted by the Servant of God Paul VI on 11 April 1969, has the task of assisting the Vatican, and in particular the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in examining the most important and current doctrinal questions. The Commission is composed of theologians from various schools and nations, eminent for their scientific excellence and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church.

Representing Asia at the eighth Commission that is to be concluded now, there were one representative each from China, Lebanon, Philippinesand India.

The ninth Commission’s five-yearly term (2014-2019)began with the pontifical appointment of its thirty new Members on July 26. This will also be a jubilee period for the Commission, which celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its institution on 11 April 2019.

The number of representatives from Europe, Asia and Australia remain same compared to the previous term – 14 representatives from Europe, 4 from Asia and 1 from Australia.  The number of appointees has increased for three continents–5 from South America (previously 3), 3 from Africa (previously 2) and 3 from North America (previously 2).

Also, there is a notable increase in the number of female theologians. Women now constitute 16% of the Commission’s members, a sign of growing female involvement in theological research.

Source: ucanews.com (Sept. 25, 2014)