Who we are
The aim of the European Society for Catholic Theology is to promote the academic discipline of Catholic theology primarily at the intersection where Church and society meet. As a systematic reflection on ‘faith seeking understanding’, Catholic theology engages in interdisciplinary research and education which is loyal and yet constructively critical vis-à-vis the Church, while at the same time meeting the highest academic standards of the academy. The Society offers itself as a service both to the Church and to society across Europe by supporting its members, both lay and cleric, in engaging with the many questions which challenge Christian faith as well as contemporary European culture. The organization aims to encourage the communication, promotion and support of theological education, research, and services. ESCT publishes a bi-annual journal in which the diverse problems that challenge contemporary theological debate in Europe are explored and discussed. Every two years, the society also organizes an international congress.
Presidium
Prof. Dr. Fáinche Ryan
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jean Ehret
Prof. Dr. Michael Quisinsky
Prof. Dr. Nenad Polgar
Melanie Spranger
Prof. Dr. Dominik Opatrný
Prof. Dr. João Manuel Duque
Young Curatorium
Caitríona Cunningham
PhD Student at Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland
Gabriel Ewodo Evina Messomo
PhD Student at the Pontifical Lateran UniversityRome, Italy
Emmett O’Regan
Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin
Severin Parzinger
Dr. phil., Institute for Catholic TheologyUniversity of Osnabrück, Germany
Bram Schreurs
Doctoral researcher (FWO) at the Faculty of Theology and Religious StudiesKU Leuven, Belgium
Former Presidents
| Peter Hünermann Tübingen, Germany (1989–1995) Honorary President | Sigrid Müller Wien, Austria (2011–2013) |
| Hans Van Der Ven Nijmegen Netherlands (1995–1998) | Martin Lintner Brixen, South Tyrol (2013-2015) |
| Gerhard Larcher Graz, Austria (1998–2001) | Pierre Van Hecke Leuven, Belgium (2015-2017) |
| Leo Karrer Fribourg, Switzerland (2001–2004) | Marie Jo-Thiel Strasbourg, France (2017-2019) |
| Lieven Boeve Leuven, Belgium (2005–2009) | Milos Lichner Bratislava, Slovakia (2019-2021) |
| Eamonn Conway Limerick, Ireland (2009–2011) | Margit Eckholt Osnabrück, Germany (2021-2023) |
Congresses
2023 Pécs, Hungary
EUROPE: Spiritual Resources for the Future Vice-president: Gusztáv Kovács WEB
2021 Osnabrück, Germany
Creation – Transformation – Theology (August 28th – 31st, 2019) Vice-president: Margit Eckholt WEB
2019 Bratislava, Slovakia
Hope. Where does our Hope lie? (August 28th – 31st, 2019) Vice-president: Milos Lichner SJ
2017 Strasbourg, France
Philadelphia: The Challenge of Fraternity. Le défi de la fraternité (August 30-September 2, 2017) Vice-president: Marie Jo-Thiel
2015 Leuven, Belgium
The Soul of Theology: on the Role of Holy Scripture in Theology (September 17th–20th, 2015) Vice-president: Pierre Van Hecke
2013 Brixen, South Tyrol
Gott in Frage: Religiöse Sprache und säkulare Sprachen (August 29th -September 1st, 2013) Vice-president: Martin Lintner
2011 Vienna, Austria
Grenzen der Leiblichkeit (August 25th-28th, 2011) Vice-president: Sigrid Müller WEB
2009 Limerick, Ireland
Eager Longing of Creation: Interdisciplinary Theological Perspectives on Ecology and Economy Vice-president: Eamonn Conway
2007 Leuven
2004 Fribourg and Geneva
2001 Graz and Maribor
1998 Nijmegen
1995 Freising
1992 Stuttgart
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