A leading Trinity College academic has called for better investment in theologians to enrich parish and diocesan life, and to make theological formation more accessible to all.
Dr Fáinche Ryan, Associate Professor in Systematic Theology at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin, recently appointed President of the European Society of Catholic Theology said that while many theology graduates pursue careers outside the Church, it is essential that some be supported through paid employment in pastoral settings.
“I think we in the Church also have a responsibility to create possibilities for paid employment for some people who study theology,” Dr Ryan said. “People always tell me well, there’s no money – but we do have money for some things. I also think we could probably get money if people saw how their money was being spent – particularly if it was being spent in employing people to work in parishes and dioceses. Perhaps every diocese should have a theologian employed.”
Dr Ryan said she regards her new European role as both an academic and ecclesial responsibility. “It’s a role for people. It’s a role for everyone. You’re not just concerned with university education and theological education in the university. One of our main concerns is to have a theological voice in society, in the Church, amongst everyone at the various levels.”
She said theology can help strengthen Catholics’ sense of belonging within the Church, saying: “If people can become more literate theologically, they will feel a stronger ownership and membership of the Church and maybe then they can make more informed decisions about staying or leaving.”
