VATICAN CITY (CNS): The Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education released new norms for institutes teaching religious studies in an effort to guarantee the consistent quality of instruction and ease the recognition of degrees coming from the world’s different ecclesial establishments.
The 20-page instruction, approved by Pope Benedict XVI in June, is titled “Reform of the Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences” and was released by the Vatican September 25.
These specialised institutes were established after the Second Vatican Council to offer lay Catholics and consecrated religious in-depth instruction in theology and sacred studies.
Particularly in Europe and especially in Catholic countries like Italy and Spain, the institutes primarily served as a means to prepare educators to teach religion in primary and secondary schools, both public and private.
However, through the so-called Bologna Process, European countries have been trying to guarantee that the kind of education received in one European Union nation is comparable to and compatible with education received in other EU countries.
The process also aims to standardize requirements needed to receive undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The Vatican said it published the various reforms necessary for ecclesial institutes specialising in religious studies in an effort to conform to Europe’s new requirements, to establish uniform high standards for theological study and to detail the requirements and responsibilities of every institute.
Msgr. Angelo Zani, undersecretary of the education congregation, said there is a rich diversity of different types of religious institutes dedicated to religious studies.
He said lay Catholics in the United States can attend a Catholic college or university to receive academic religious formation and a degree in theology or religion, which is recognised by state or regional authorities.
However, he said, these degrees “do not enjoy ecclesial recognition” as determined by the apostolic constitution “Sapientia Christiana” (“Christian Wisdom”).
That constitution, promulgated in 1979, established new norms for the universities and faculties that operate under a papal charter and offer special church degrees in philosophy, theology and canon law.
