The Holy See
back up
Search
riga

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION

 

 

Provisory Statute*

1. A Theological Commission has been established as part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose task is to offer its services to the Holy See and in an especial way to the same Sacred Congregation in examining doctrinal questions of major importance.

2. The office of President of the Theological Commission is assumed by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who for individual sessions may delegate one of the cardinal members of the same Sacred Congregation.

3. The Cardinal President designates a secretary for the technical works of the Commission.

4. The Theological Commission is comprised of theologians of various schools and nations who are outstanding in the science of theology and fidelity toward the Magisterium of the Church.

5. The members of the Theological Commission are appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for five years upon the suggestion of the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with previous consultation with the episcopal conferences at the end of the fifth year they may be reappointed. The members will not total more than thirty.

6. The plenary assembly of the Theological Commission is convoked at least once a year.

7. If the study of particular questions requires it, the Cardinal President may institute special commissions of members who are highly specialized in the matter; such commissions cease to exist as soon as their work is completed.

8. The members of the Theological Commission may also be consulted through writing.

9. Questions and topics to be submitted for study may also be proposed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by the Theological Commission or one of its members; the Sacred Congregation will then select the theme most opportune to treat.

10. The conclusions, which the Theological Commission may have reached in the plenary assembly or in the special commissions, as well as the individual views of its members, will be submitted to the Supreme Pontiff and presented to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for examination.

11. The members of the Theological Commission, having taken into account the bonds of collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will maintain the pontifical secret concerning the themes being treated on the part of the Commission, according to the norms of the regulations of the Roman Curia.

Pope Paul VI in the audience given to the undersigned prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 11 April 1969, as well as with the letter of the Secretary of State no. 134829 of 24 April 1969, has approved for experimentation the statute of the Theological Commission.

Rome, 12 July 1969

Franjo Cardinal Šeper
Prefect

 

* cf. AAS 61 (1969) 540-541.

 

top