NOTRE DAME SEMINARY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

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1 NOTRE DAME SEMINARY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Course Syllabus for DT 504 ECCLESIOLOGY AND ECUMENISM Instructor: Christopher T. Baglow, Ph.D. Semester: Spring Time: MON/WED 8:00-9:25AM Office Hours: SJ 110/MON 1:00-3:00 PM Place: Classroom #2 Phone: , ext. 710 I. Course Description The course presents the Church s doctrine about herself as it is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, especially in the doctrinal development of the Second Vatican Council. Topics covered include the Church as sacrament, papal primacy and authority, the relation between universal Church and local churches, the Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and the Church s teaching on ecumenism. Envisioned Outcomes: Students will be able to demonstrate and articulate an understanding of the foundation, structure, properties and function of the Church as found in the Scriptures, Tradition, and the Magisterium. Students will be familiar with Vatican II s Lumen gentium, Unitatis redintegratio, and Ad gentes. Finally, students will be able to communicate an authentic ecumenism based on the Church s teaching about herself and her relation to other Christian churches or ecclesial communities. II. Course Rationale The Church is not an institution devised and built by men... but a living reality... It lives still throughout the course of time. Like all living realities it develops, it changes... and yet in the very depths of its being it remains the same; its inmost nucleus is Christ... To the extent that we look upon the Church as organization... like an association... we have not yet arrived at a proper understanding of it. Instead, it is a living reality and our relationship with it ought to be life. (Romano Guardini, The Church of the Lord) III. Course Goals/Intended Outcomes Students will be able to articulate the essential doctrines of the Church s unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. Students will be able to address difficult questions regarding the Church with theological depth, such as the ecclesial reality of non-catholic Christian communities and salvation outside of the visible Church. Students will be able to understand interreligious dialogue and Christian ecumenism in the light of Vatican II as essential activities of the Church, flowing from her selfunderstanding. 1

2 IV. Instructional Methods 1) Lecture/Q&A 2) Dedicated Student Reading followed by Seminar Discussion 3) Book Reviews V. Texts (Note: Students should have a critical edition of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use alongside required texts) Bouyer, Louis. The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism. Translated by A.V. Littledale Reprint, Princeton, NJ: Scepter, Kereszty, Roch. Christianity Among other Religions: Apologetics in a Contemporary Context. Edited by Andrew C. Gregg. Staten Island, NY: Alba House, Ratzinger, Joseph. Called To Communion: Understanding the Church Today. Translated by Adrian Walker. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, Thomas Aquinas. Commentary on the Letters of Saint Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians (Latin-English Edition). Translated by Matthew L. Lamb and Fabian R. Larcher. Lander, WY: Aquinas Institute, SELECTIONS LOCATED IN PUBLIC FOLDER Books for Reference: Bretzke, James T. Consecrated Phrases: A Latin Theological Dictionary. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, O Collins, Gerald and Edward G. Farrugia. A Concise Dictionary of Theology. Revised and expanded edition. New York: Paulist Press, VI. Bibliography Congar, Yves. The Mystery of the Church. Translated by A.V. Littledale. London: Geoffrey Chapman, True and False Reform in the Church. Translated by Paul Philibert. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, De Lubac, Henri. The Splendor of the Church. Translated by Michael Mason. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, Catholicism: Christ and the Common Destiny of Man. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, The Church: Paradox and Mystery. New York: Alba House, Corpus Mysticum: The Eucharist and the Church in the Middle Ages. Translated by Gemma Simmonds with Richard Price and Christopher Stevens. Faith and Reason Philosophical Enquiries. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, Guardini, Romano. The Church of the Lord: On the Nature and Mission of the Church. Translated by Stella Lange. Chicago: Henry Regnery, Möhler, Johann Adam. Unity in the Church or the Principle of Catholicism: Presented in the Spirit of the Church Fathers of the First Three Centuries, Translated by Peter C. Erb. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, O Donnell, Christopher. Ecclesia: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Church. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, Schweizer, Eduard. The Church as the Body of Christ. Richmond: John Knox,

3 Sullivan, Francis A. Salvation Outside the Church: Tracing the History of the Catholic Response Reprint, Wipf and Stock, Ratzinger, Joseph. The Local Church and the Universal Church: A Response to Walter Kasper. America, November 19, VII. Professional Vocabulary 1. Ecclesiology the disciplined exploration of Divine Revelation as it relates to the Church of Jesus Christ; a branch of dogmatic theology 2. Ecumenism the practice of promoting unity among the world's Christians; an essential activity of the Church according to Catholic doctrine 3. Marks (notas, proprietates) of the Church the four essential characteristics of the Church (unity, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity) 4. Extra ecclesiam nulla salus the doctrine that there is no salvation outside the Church 5. Ecclesia congregans the Church gathering humanity, i.e. the Church in her saving activity and essential nature 6. Ecclesia congregata the gathered Church, i.e. the Church as she is made up of her members 7. Lumen Gentium The Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church 8. Catholicity the dynamic universality of the Church s unity 9. Apostolicity the apostolic nature of the Church, i.e. the fact that the Church remains the Church of the Apostles because of unbroken apostolic succession 10. subsistit in the language used by Vatican II to describe the relationship between the one Church of Christ and the Catholic Church, i.e. the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church 11. The Mystical Body of Christ the title of the Church that predominated in the mid-20 th century prior to Vatican II; signifies that the Church is the organism of the Holy Spirit, and that through the Church the mystery of the Incarnation continues today, a title complemented by other titles such as the People of God 12. People of God the title of the Church that came to prominence at Vatican II; signifies that the Church is not perfectly identical with Christ, but is a Church of sinners, ever in need of purification and renewal, ever needing to become Church. VIII. Lecture, Presentation, and Reading Schedule (NOTE: These dates are subject to change if circumstances require. If changes occur, they will be announced in class.) T. 1/13. Introduction to Course and Syllabus Part A. Introduction to Catholic Ecclesiology TH. 1/15. Lecture 1: Architectonic Principles in Ecclesiology: Biblical/Historical Principles T. 1/20. Library Day TH. 1/22. Day of Penance No Classes T. 1/27. Lecture 1: (cont.) Architectonic Principles in Ecclesiology: Anthropological- Eschatological Principles and Trinitarian Dimensions/The Marks of the Church 3

4 TH. 1/29 SEMINAR: The Origin and Essence of the Church (Ratzinger, Called to Communion, 13-45) T. 2/03. Lecture 2: The Ecclesiology of Vatican II: Lumen Gentium (PUBLIC FOLDER: Lumen Gentium) Part B: The Unity of the Church TH. 2/05. Lecture 3: The Theological Foundations of the Church s Unity/The Forms of the Church s Unity T. 2/10. Lecture 4: The Ecclesial Reality of Non-Catholic Christian Ecclesial Communities TH. 2/12. SEMINAR: The Institution of Ecclesial Unity acc. to St. Thomas Aquinas (BIBLE: Ephesians 2; Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Letters of Saint Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians, pp ) T. 2/17. Mardi Gras No Classes TH. 2/19. SEMINAR: The Nature of the Church s Unity and the Communion of Saints (PUBLIC FOLDER: Henri De Lubac, Catholicism: Christ and the Common Destiny of Man, pp ; Catechism of the Catholic Church # ; ) Part C: The Holiness of the Church T. 2/24. Lecture 5: The Theological Foundations of the Church s Holiness/Sin in the Church(Roch Kereszty, Sacrosancta Ecclesia: The Holy Church of Sinners Communio 40, no. 4 [2013]: ) TH. 2/26. SEMINAR: Christ as Head of the Church according to St. Thomas Aquinas (PUBLIC FOLDER: Summa Theologiae III.8.1-8) T. 3/3. SEMINAR: The Holy Spirit Makes the Church Holy according to Yves Congar (PUBLIC FOLDER: Yves Congar, He is Lord and Giver of Life, vol. II of I Believe in the Holy Spirit, 5-14, ) TH. 3/05. MIDTERM EXAMINATION Part D: The Catholicity of the Church T. 3/10. Lecture 6: The Theological Foundations of the Church s Catholicity TH. 3/12. Lecture 7: Salvation outside the Church T. 3/17. Lecture 7 (cont.) Salvation outside the Church TH. 3/19. SEMINAR: The Catholicity of the Church according to Joseph Ratzinger (PUBLIC FOLDER: Joseph Ratzinger, Universality and Catholicity in On the Way to Jesus Christ, p ) T. 3/24. SEMINAR: Christianity Among Other Religions (Christianity Among Other Religions Book Review Due) Part E: The Apostolicity of the Church TH. 3/26. Lecture 8: Biblical and Patristic Foundations of Apostolicity T. 3/31. Holy Week No Classes TH. 4/02 Holy Thursday No Classes T. 4/07. Lecture 9: Theological Dimensions of Apostolicity: Succession and Collegiality TH. 4/09. Lecture 9 (cont.) 4

5 T. 4/14. SEMINAR: Petrine Primacy and the Bible (Ratzinger, Called to Communion, 47-74) TH. 4/16. Lecture 10: Vatican II and the Laity: Apostolicam Actuositatem (PUBLIC FOLDER: Apostolicam Actuositatem) T. 4/21. SEMINAR: The Lay State and Lay Ecclesial Ministry (PUBLIC FOLDER: Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, pp. 5-32) Part F. Ecumenism and Ecumenical Dialogue TH. 4/23. Lecture 11: Vatican II on Ecumenism: Unitatis Redintegratio (PUBLIC FOLDER: Unitatis Redintegratio) T. 4/28. Lecture 12: Catholicism, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue: History and Principles TH. 4/30. SEMINAR: Louis Bouyer, The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism (The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism Book Review Due) FINAL EXAM TO BE ANNOUNCED IX. Course Requirements Read all assigned readings, taking notes and preparing thoughts for seminars Participate in class seminars and maintain good attendance record Study the notes from the class lectures Compose two book reviews X. Important Dates Midterm March 3 Christianity Among Other Religions Book Review March 17 The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism Book Review April 28 Final Exam TBA All dates are subject to change if circumstances warrant. XI. Evaluation Criteria Seminar and Class Participation = 20% Midterm Exam = 20% Major Assignment #1: Christianity Among Other Religions Book Review = 20% Major Assignment #2: The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism Book Review = 20% Final Exam = 20% XII. Seminar Participation Due to the nature of the course as a graduate-level academic undertaking, class participation is an irreplaceable part of the course, and counts for 20% of the grade. The form of spoken participation which will make up most of the graded class participation is discussions of various required readings. This requires that students attempt to grasp as much of the readings as possible outside of class, and then come to class prepared to discuss the readings, their own work and the work of their fellow students. 5

6 XIII. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT #1 CHRISTIANITY AMONG OTHER RELIGIONS BOOK REVIEW Assignment: Write a 6-8 page book review of Christianity Among Other Religions. The review should be written as a single narrative using good style, grammar and punctuation, and will be graded for the quality with which each part is written. It should be in 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, one-inch margins. SECTION HEADINGS SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR EVERY GRADED ITEM BELOW. Use the following format: 1. Begin with a cover sheet which includes the title of your paper (i.e. Christianity Among Other Religions Book Review), your name, class, and date of submission. 2. On the first page, begin with a heading which includes the title, the author, the year of publication, the number of pages of the book and the following typed statement: I hereby attest that I have read this book in its entirety, have not skimmed and have applied my best effort in understanding it. 3. Give an introduction which broadly summarizes the book for the sake of introducing it, as well as answering two questions: How does it apply to this course? How is it helpful (or not) in understanding the Catholic approach to other religions? (1-2 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: I. Introduction ) 4. Summarize Kereszty s understanding of inter-religious dialogue and evangelization. Using his thought as a springboard, answer the following questions: Can Catholics learn from other religions? How are dialogue and evangelization related to each other? Also, read #10-11 of the Vatican II Decree Ad Gentes on the Mission Activity of the Church on Christian Witness (#10-11) at and compare Kereszty s thought to its vision of Christian witness. Show the ways in which Kereszty s explanation of evangelization and dialogue resonate with the vision of Christian witness offered there. (2-3 pages) (This section must be given the following heading: II. Kereszty on Interreligious Dialogue and Evangelization ) 5. Search the writer's thinking. Discuss a particularly significant section regarding one of the world religions. What are your thoughts on the subject? Elaborate. (2-3 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: III. A Significant Section ) 6. Discuss at least one (but not limited to one) important idea you learned from reading this book. Think hard; a new view, idea or notion is important here. (2-3 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: IV. A New Idea ) 7. Find a good quote. Quote this portion of the book and explain why you think the quote is significant (Note: This might be a part worth remembering or thinking about or sharing with someone.) (1-2 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: V. A Great Quote ) 8. Conclusion (1 paragraph) (This section must be given the following heading: VI. Conclusion ) Book Review must be turned in by 3/17/15 and is worth 20 points. 2 points will be subtracted from the final grade for every day that the assignment is late. 6

7 XIV. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT #2 THE SPIRIT AND FORMS OF PROTESTANTISM BOOK REVIEW Assignment: Write a 6-8 page book review of The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism. The review should be written as a single narrative using good style, grammar and punctuation, and will be graded for the quality with which each part is written. It should be in 12-point font, Times New Roman double-spaced, one-inch margins. SECTION HEADINGS SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR EVERY GRADED ITEM BELOW. Use the following format: 1. Begin with a cover sheet which includes the title of your paper (i.e. The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism Book Review), your name, class, and date of submission. 2. On the first page, begin with a heading which includes the title, the author, the year of publication, the number of pages of the book and the following typed statement: I hereby attest that I have read this book in its entirety and have applied my best effort in understanding it. 3. Give an introduction which broadly summarizes the book for the sake of introducing it, as well as answering two questions: How does it apply to this course? How is it helpful (or not) in understanding the Catholic approach to other religions? (1 paragraph) (This section must be given the following heading: I. Introduction ) 4. Summarize Bouyer s understanding of Protestantism with particular reference to his understanding of the distinction between the spirit of Protestantism and the forms of Protestantism. Read the Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio (UR) Chapter II on the practice of Ecumenism (#5-12). Using both Bouyer and UR, answer the following questions: How should Catholics regard Protestants? How should they proceed in ecumenical dialogue with Protestants? (2-3 pages) (This section must be given the following heading: II. Bouyer as a Resource for Ecumenical Dialogue ) 5. Search the writer's thinking. Discuss a particularly significant section. Summarize his thought-process (i.e. argument and conclusion(s)). Explain its significance. (3-4 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: III. A Significant Section ) 6. Discuss at least one (but not limited to one) important idea you learned from reading this book. Think hard; a new view, idea or notion is important here. (2-3 paragraphs) (This section must be given the following heading: IV. A New Idea ) 7. Find a good quote. Quote this portion of the book and explain why you think the quote is significant (Note: This might be a part worth remembering or thinking about or sharing with someone.) (1-2 paragraphs NOTE: If the quote is a long quote, the block quotation does not count as a paragraph.) (This section must be given the following heading: V. A Great Quote ) 8. Conclusion (1 paragraph) (This section must be given the following heading: VI. Conclusion ) Book Review must be turned in by 4/28/2015 and is worth 20 points. 2 points will be subtracted from the final grade for every day that the assignment is late. XV. Attendance Policy Notre Dame Seminary observes the following policy regarding class attendance: Regular class attendance is expected and required of all students who intend to receive credit for 7

8 course work in the graduate school. Inevitably, extraordinary circumstances will arise that make class attendance impossible on occasion; therefore, a formula for determining regular attendance has been established as policy for the convenience of both seminarians and instructors. A student is permitted to be absent from class no more than twice the number of times the class meets per week. (You are considered absent if you are not present when attendance is taken). Thus, if a student is absent for seven classes from a course that meets three times a week, the student is in violation of school policy in this regard. The normal penalty for such a violation is the grade FA (failure due to absence). The number of absences includes those due to illness, late registration, or any other cause. Absence from class immediately before or after holidays and free weekends is considered a double cut. Only the Academic Dean may waive penalties for absence. In absences due to illness, you must inform the instructor and your formation advisor prior to the class. XVI. Academic Integrity Seminarians of Notre Dame Seminary are required to commit themselves to responsible scholarship in every aspect of priestly formation, including academics. It is expected that every seminarian works and studies to the best of his ability for every course. Seminarians also accept responsibilities and obligations as students, which include commitments to honesty, disciplined study, and integrity in their academic work. They will be expected to respect academic scholarship by giving proper credit to other people s work, while at the same time preparing well for assigned materials and examinations in such a way that their academic integrity will never be questioned. Those needing assistance with writing papers, or who would like tutoring, should contact the Academic Resource Center (ARC) for assistance. All students are encouraged to seek the direct assistance of their instructor whenever any questions arise regarding assignments, grading, course expectations, etc. A student involved in academic dishonesty will receive an F for the course and will be reported to the seminary administration. Ultimately, a student found guilty of academic dishonesty may be dismissed from the Notre Dame Seminary. TO ANY WHO REQUIRE FAIR WARNING (MY APOLOGY TO THOSE WHO DON T): DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. YOU WILL BE CAUGHT. IT IS BETTER TO GET AN F FOR AN ASSIGNMENT THAN TO FAIL THE CLASS. XVII. Disability Accommodation Policy In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Notre Dame Seminary provides disability accommodations for students with identified and/or diagnosed disabilities. Students with disabilities need not inform their instructors about the nature of their disabilities, but they are responsible for contacting and providing appropriate documentation to the Academic Resources Center. Requests for accommodations must be 8

9 made each semester for which the student wishes to receive service; the Academic Resources Center will then distribute a letter of accommodation to the faculty. It is the student s responsibility to meet with each faculty member to discuss how his/her accommodation(s) may be met within each course. Notre Dame Seminary will attempt to meet reasonable accommodations requested. A reasonable accommodation is a modification to a non-essential aspect of a course, program, or facility which does not pose an undue burden and which enables a qualified student with a disability to have adequate opportunity to participate and to demonstrate his or her ability. Such accommodations are determined on an individual basis depending upon the nature and extent of the disability. For more information, contact the Academic Dean s Office. XVIII. Extension Policy Due-Date extensions will only be given in case of serious emergencies. INCOMPLETE (I): A grade of I is only awarded when a student has a serious reason for which they could not complete all course requirements, such as a major emergency involving the student or the student s family which the student could not anticipate and for which the student could not plan. In this event, the student must complete all course requirements within 6 weeks of the date of the final exam. MAKE-UP WORK: Students will not be given the opportunity to do additional work or make-up work in order to change their final grade. XIX. Audit Policy All students auditing must follow the attendance policy, come to class regularly unless excused and do all assigned readings. Failure to do so will require withdrawal from the course. XX. Probation and Grading Policy Seminarians: Passing grades for seminarians are A, B and C. A seminarian is put on academic probation for the following: A seminarian who obtains a D+ or lower in any course is automatically placed on probationary status and must repeat the course in order to get credit for the course. Seminarians will be allowed to repeat a course only once and the course must be repeated at NDS. Seminarian status is then subject to review by the Dean. A seminarian whose semester grade point average (GPA) in coursework is below a 2.30 at any time is placed on academic probation. Two or more consecutive semesters may subject the seminarian to be dismissed from academic formation at Notre Dame Seminary. To be removed from probationary status, the seminarian must complete a semester with a GPA of 2.30 or higher. 9

10 After each semester, the seminarian s Bishop will receive a copy of his transcript and a review of the seminarians status. If a seminarian fails to meet the passing grade point average requirement then he forfeits his eligibility for financial aid under Title IV Federal Regulations. M.A. Students: Passing grades for graduate students are A, B+, B, C+ and C. A graduate student who obtains a D+ or lower in any course is automatically placed on probationary status and must repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once and the course must be repeated at Notre Dame Seminary. Student status is then subject to review by the Master of Arts Faculty. A student whose semester average in coursework is below a 2.7 at any time after the completion of nine semester hours is placed on probationary status and is not allowed to register for more than three semester hours the following semester. To be removed from probationary status, the student must complete six semester hours with a GPA of 2.7 or higher for those six semester hours. If the graduate student on probation for falling below a 2.7 overall GPA is unable to achieve this by the end of the six semester hours of the probationary period, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program. Subject to review of the Master of Arts Faculty, students may be dropped from programs for factors other than GPA without having a probationary period. The student may then appeal decisions of the MA Faculty by submitting a written appeal to the Academic Dean. Letter Grade Number Quality Points Grade Scale A A B B B C C C D D D F See Academic Catalog for Grading Guidelines Policy Narrative. 10

11 XXI. Classroom Technology Policy We live in an age of distraction. Many of us find it difficult to stop fiddling with electronic devices or to take a break from checking . Confirming what professors have long suspected, one recent study indicates that students who use a laptop in class earn significantly lower grades. To engage in prayerful study that is, to do our work with rigor and attentiveness to the voice of the Lord we must learn to be quiet and focus. Therefore, the use of laptops and phones in class is prohibited entirely. XXII. Syllabus Contract This syllabus obliges the student to adhere to all policy requirements and to fulfill all academic expectations herein stated; it also entitles the student to a reasonable opportunity to learn the material specified in the course description in order to accomplish for himself the educational goals of the course. In order to optimize the learning process the course instructor reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to the syllabus requirements during the semester, in response to unforeseen developments or circumstances. All adjustments made must be communicated clearly to students. 11