THE lastest gesture of support for Fr Charles Curran, Professor at the Catholic University in Washington DC, came from the Irish Theological Association last week.
Fr Curran's licence to teach Catholic theology has been withdrawn by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith because he has refused to accept the Church's teaching on matters like contraception, abortion, premarital intercourse and the indissolubility of marriage.
The ITA passed a resolution at its AGM at the Emmaus Retreat Centre in Co Dublin which expressed deep regret at the recent treatment of Fr Curran. The statement of solidarity with Fr Curran expressed concern at the constraints on theological education and research implied by his banning.
It continued "(Such actions) inhibit the role of the whole Christian community in the continuing discovery of truth, and have disastrous consequences for the development of critical and mature Christian faith".
The resolution was passed overwhelmingly by the meeting, and was only opposed by Fr Tom Norris, Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology at Maynooth.
When the result was announced, Dr Norris immediately tendered his resignation as ITA Secretary.