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61-403: The inquiry leading to this report was commissioned by the bishops of following media reports that complaints of sexual harassment of junior seminarians at Maynooth in the early 1980s had not received a proper response. Micheál Ledwith , who at the time of the alleged complaints had been vice-president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, had, it was claimed, been the subject of complaints relating to

122-628: A New Age cult in the United States, and in 2005 he was laicised . Since that time he has lectured in Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, and throughout Canada and the United States. He has taught at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment . Ledwith appears in What the Bleep Do We Know!? , its sequel Down

183-876: A domestic prelate with the title of monsignor , and served for 17 years under Pope John Paul II as a member of the International Theological Commission , a group of theologians of international standing charged with advising the Holy See on theological matters. He also served as chairman of the Conference of the Heads of Irish Universities and as a member of the Governing Bureau of the Conference of European University Rectors (CRE). In 1994 as St Patrick's College, Maynooth approached its bicentenary due to be held

244-420: A certain, immediately given Principle in the very Essence of Faith." Herman Bavinck , likewise, seems to see the terms as generally synonymous, although generally considering dogmatics to be a broader science, implementing kerygmatics, or the study of the church's creeds and confessions . Bavinck will also refer to dogmatics in organic terms , considering it an outgrowth and logical material ordering of what

305-516: A historical narrative, dogmatics seeks to be a form of wisdom that explores and articulates the mystery of God’s self-revelation in Christ through the Spirit..." Of dogmatic theology as a science, in his book, Dogmatisk Metode ( Dogmatic Method ) , Hans Ording writes, It is a recognized rule that the method must follow the substance to be treated, and that within science different methods must be used for

366-457: A person's apparent propensities would have been difficult". The Archbishop of Armagh , Cardinal Seán Brady stated, following the publication of The McCullough Report, that "those seminarians who expressed concern in the early eighties were acting in good faith. We regret any hurt felt by those involved and that the investigation in 1984 was not more thorough". Later in 2005 the Ferns Report

427-648: A priori versus a posteriori principles. He writes, "Dogmatics is the critical question about dogma, i.e., about the Word of God in Church proclamation, or, concretely, about the agreement of the Church proclamation done and to be done by man with the revelation attested in Holy Scripture." This is similar to earlier definitions arrived at in the nineteenth century by Danish Lutheran theologian Hans Lassen Martensen and Mediating theologian Isaak August Dorner . A unique approach

488-444: A private investigation, and as no seminarian came forward to make a complaint, the matter was dropped. In the immediate aftermath, as McGinnity's position was deemed untenable, he was required to leave the college, and Ledwith's appointment was confirmed. In response to the 2002 reports, the bishop trustees took an opportunity to re-examine the process of appointment, and retained Denis McCullough senior counsel to investigate whether

549-532: A project of both Scripture and Lutheran Confessionalism ( Book of Concord ); Bavinck considers his project within the boundaries of the Three Forms of Unity ; and Webster was a Retrieval Theologian who drew ubiquitously from Conciliar formulae. In its broadest distinction, then, John Webster specifies thus in the Oxford Handbook of Systematic Theology : ‘Dogmatics’ is often, though not exclusively, used to denote

610-447: A science, also when it comes to dogmatics. Neo-orthodox theologian Karl Barth defined dogmatic theology as the scientific exposition of the entire theoretical doctrine concerning God and God's external activity. Describing theology in general as a "scientific" ( wissenschaftlich ) discipline ("theology has no reason not to call itself a science"), he goes on to describe dogmatics in terms of criteria, falsifiability, authority bases, and

671-400: A scientific exercise in logical location based on assumed principles. Although in one place Webster writes in consistency with Barth, "Christian dogmatics has a double theme: God in himself and the outer works of God, theology proper and economy," he will elsewhere specify that "Dogmatics has a twofold task: an analytic-expository task, in which it attempts orderly conceptual representation of

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732-509: Is found in the dogmatics of Norwegian Lutheran theologian Gisle Johnson , who attempts to construct dogmatics after Kierkegaard as pertaining primarily to the essence of faith ( Troens Væsen) . According to Johnson, dogmatics is "the systematic understanding of the truth content of the Christian faith," which "develop out of the essence of faith." For Johnson, there is an "organic unity" to dogmatics that develops "from one central, basic truth," i.e.

793-469: Is modeled in Scripture. John Webster seems to hint at a similar distinction, often referring to 'dogmatic order,' and some distinction seems assumed when he writes that "prolegomena to systematic theology are an extension and application of the content of Christian dogmatics (Trinity, creation, fall, reconciliation, regeneration, and the rest), not a ‘pre-dogmatic’ inquiry into its possibility." Likewise, in

854-661: Is often reported as Michael ) is a former Catholic priest of the Diocese of Ferns in County Wexford from 1967 to 2005. After a promising academic start he was promoted rapidly and served for a time as dean of St Peter's Diocesan College in Wexford. In 1977 he was appointed to a senior lectureship in Dogmatic Theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth under the college president, Dr Tomás Ó Fiaich . He remained at Maynooth for

915-432: Is self-described as both a systematic theology and a dogmatic theology containing separate sections on faith and dogmatics. Yet Johnson considers dogmatics to be contained within, yet distinct from, systematics, an ordering of truth from faith commitments. According to Johnson, dogmatics "unfolds with inner necessity step-by-step from a central fundamental truth and thus appears completely through it as borne and controlled by

976-456: Is the doctrinal statements or dogmas that were formulated by the early church councils who sought to resolve theological problems and to take a stance against a heretical teaching. These creeds or dogmas that came out of the church councils were considered to be authoritative and binding on all Christians because the church officially affirmed them. However, Dogmatic theology as a field is not to be confused with conciliar theology or kergymatics,

1037-495: Is the part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and God's works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church , Dutch Reformed Church , etc. Accordingly, "dogmatics is the theological discipline that, on the basis of the biblical witness and against the background of church tradition, thinks through and systematically presents

1098-563: Is thought to have first appeared as differentiated from theologia moralis by G. Calixtus in his 1634 Epitome theologiae moralis , and appears first as a title of a book in 1659 by L.F. Reinhard ( Synopsis theologia Christianae dogmaticae ). A. M. Fairbairn holds that it was the fame of Petau which gave currency to the new coinage "dogmatic theology"; and though the same or related phrases had been used repeatedly by writers of less influence since Reinhard and Andreas Essenius , F. Buddeus ( Institutiones theol. dogmat. , 1723; Compendium , 1728)

1159-621: Is to be done to determine the specific distinctives that separate systematics from dogmatics. Primarily, the word "dogma" originates from the Greek, δόγματα, used in Acts 16:4 and 17:7 and finding early referents in the Septuagint of Esther 3:9 and Daniel 2:13. Within scholastic theology, the word took on the connotation of "a doctrine absolutely necessary to the faith," i.e. a binding ecclesiastical decree. The term "dogmatic theology" ( theologica dogmatica )

1220-515: The Irish Senate in November 2005. Senator Mary Henry said: With regard to Monsignor Ledwith, I was dismayed to read the response of the bishops to whom complaints were made by six senior seminarians, as they are described in the report, as well as the senior dean of Maynooth College, Fr Gerard McGinnity. Cardinal Daly, one of the surviving bishops, indicated in his statement to the inquiry that it

1281-632: The National University of Ireland and membership of the Conference of the Heads of Irish Universities . The presidency of Maynooth was, in 1985 when Ledwith was appointed to the role, a senior position within the Catholic Church in Ireland. Only 44, he proved a capable administrator at Maynooth; immediately prior to his resignation he presided over the separation of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth and St Patrick's College, Maynooth . He

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1342-552: The Canonical Statute of Limitations, and Bishop Comiskey declined to pursue the matter by other means at his disposal. In connection with the parallel investigation undertaken by the Maynooth authorities Mgr Ledwith was initially open to a proposal waiving the confidentiality clause agreed with the complainant in the civil application, and this was also agreed to by the complainant. However Dr Ledwith subsequently changed his mind as he

1403-542: The Church – especially in disputes or unsolved issues involving theology and the faith, and in dealing with individuals (especially clergy, religious, and catechists, where orthodoxy is a special concern, but also laypeople) whose teachings or statements have been judged erroneous at the local level. In 1989, the Congregation's International Theological Commission prepared a document on doctrinal theology called "The Interpretation of Dogma." This happened when Pope Benedict XVI

1464-510: The Rabbit Hole , and Contact Has Begun . He has worked on three DVDs relating to spiritual evolution : The Hamburger Universe in 2005, How Jesus Became a Christ in 2006, and Orbs: Clues to a More Exciting Universe in 2008. His book The Orb Project , co-authored with a German physicist, Dr Klaus Heinemann, was published by Simon & Schuster / Beyond Words in 2007. Dogmatic Theology Dogmatic theology , also called dogmatics ,

1525-463: The allegation on behalf of the Diocese, reported to Bishop Brendan Comiskey that he found the accusation as 'capable of being true'. In response, Comiskey ordered Ledwith to attend a treatment centre in the United States in 1994, but he declined and commenced proceedings against Dr Comiskey under canon law . This resulted in the diocesan investigation ceasing as the complaint was discovered to be outside

1586-405: The college during his time as senior dean. The inquiry also investigated a serious allegation made by one seminarian in 1994 and concluded that in this instance the complainant had proved unreliable. It was noted that the complainant had changed his statement to police and admitted that any alleged sexual activity had been consensual. The commission also noted that Ledwith had co-operated fully with

1647-484: The college he was transferred to a rural parish. In June 2002, Denis McCullough SC was retained by the bishops to investigate the allegations that those complaints had not received a proper response. McCullough was not asked to investigate whether or not incidents of sexual harassment had occurred, but had a brief that was limited to investigating the if complaints were made any responses that emerged from those complaints. As part of his investigation, McCullough approached

1708-477: The complainant, and the Ferns Report was unable to make any specific finding. It did, however, repeat the substance of accusations and noted that the complainant had alleged that the abuse began when he was 13 years old and lasted until he was 15. The inquiry discovered that the Diocese of Ferns had spent substantial monies providing counselling for the complainant, and noted that Fr Walter Forde, who had investigated

1769-412: The complaints made against Mgr Ledwith had received an adequate response. McCullough's report, published on 16 June 2005, found that, while no seminarian had complained about Ledwith's conduct to the bishops directly, McGinnity had communicated "concerns of apparent propensities rather than accusations of actual crime or specific offences" to a number of bishops. McCullough concluded that to have rejected

1830-582: The content of the Christian gospel as it is laid out in the scriptural witness; and a polemical-apologetical task in which it explores the justification and value of Christian truth-claims." He will likewise refer to it variously as "a positive science," "ecclesiastical science," and "a critical science." The Roman Catholic Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is charged with ensuring fidelity to Catholic teaching regarding theology and doctrine among all members of

1891-446: The different branches of science, e.g. that one must distinguish between a natural scientific and a historical scientific method ... theology requires its own method, which cannot be easily adopted from other areas of science ... No science is without assumptions, but it shows its scientific ability by correctly inventing and applying the assumptions that are valid for the area to be treated ... Theology has generally demanded recognition as

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1952-590: The ecclesial science of theology, or the scientific material ordering of the church's thoughts concerning God and all things in relation to God. This falls within theology's broader claim to be the Queen of the Sciences , a claim developed and popularized by Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologiae but found as early as Clement of Alexandria in his 2nd century Stromata . Generally speaking, dogmatic theology emphasizes

2013-622: The essence of faith and its primary referent, God, and thus he considers it "scientific" ( videnskabelige ). Within the Dutch Reformed tradition of Neo-Calvinism , Herman Bavinck devoted four volumes to dogmatic theology. In volume one of Reformed Dogmatics, Bavinck considers variously definitions of dogmatic theology, arriving ultimately at a definition of it as an organic science, one that has "an organic unity" and considers "three factors: Scripture, church, and Christian consciousness." According to Bavinck, dogmatics includes kerygmatics, or

2074-531: The five seminarians who were believed to have been the core group who raised concerns, McGinnity, all of the surviving bishops who had been involved with alleged the complaints, and Micheál Ledwith. One of the seminarians was not interviewed as part of the inquiry as the individual concerned chose not to be involved, and McGinnity did not contribute to this inquiry. In addition to the interviews, McCullough examined documentary records, including Minutes and correspondence. The report took over three years to complete, and

2135-495: The following year, Mgr Ledwith resigned as president, six months before his term of office was to end. In 1995, the Irish National Broadcaster, RTÉ , initiated inquiries with the college authorities into an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor male. The senior management at St Patrick's College, Maynooth initially said that this had not occasioned Mgr Ledwith's departure, however in response to later revelations in

2196-443: The former often retrieving and constructively drawing on the latter. One of the purposes of dogmatic theology is to formulate and communicate doctrine that is considered essential to Christianity and which if denied would constitute heresy , although this is not its sole purpose. More precisely, "The adjective serves the cause of precision and theological differentiation." Dogmatic theology or dogmatics has variously been defined as

2257-532: The former seminarians and Fr McGinnity in evidence directly contradicted the bishops' submission. Ledwith, in his own evidence to the commission, confirmed that Dr Comiskey had informed him that a charge of homosexuality had been made against him. At the time he had approached Cardinal Ó Fiaich, who was McGinnity's Bishop, and they had discussed the matter. He also asserted to the inquiry that Dr McGinnity had been dismissed from his post not because of this incident, but rather due to grave concerns about indiscipline within

2318-412: The importance of propositional truth over experiential, sensory perceptions, although may also integrate such components into its system. As such, as opposed to mere propositional abstraction, dogmatics is an integrative, holistic, and organic science that spans the breadth of ecclesial consciousness about its relationship to God as sub specie Dei : "Rather than reducing theology to a set of propositions or

2379-488: The inquiry and had given direct oral evidence, where he had consistently asserted his innocence of all charges, though he declined to discuss any issues subject to a confidentiality clause. While critical, the inquiry was unable to make any specific finding against Ledwith in regard to either the allegation of child abuse or the alleged harassment of seminarians. The sudden resignation of Micheál Ledwith in 1994 caused controversy in Ireland, and led to considerable criticism of

2440-401: The interim, came to a private legal settlement with the claimant which admitted no liability and included a confidentiality clause. This, they said, frustrated the continuing inquiry. Dr Ledwith remained in situ at the college for another two years after his resignation, and continued his professorship. In 1997 Ledwith and the college reached a mutual understanding for a parting of ways, and he

2501-400: The issue felt that there was no foundation to the allegations, and subsequently McGinnity went on sabbatical. In his findings, McCullough concluded "that to have rejected the senior dean's concerns so completely and so abruptly without any adequate investigation may have been too precipitate, although, of course, to investigate in any very full or substantial manner, a generic complaint regarding

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2562-492: The national media in 2002. It emerged that in 1983–84 Fr Gerard McGinnity , then senior dean of Maynooth, complained about Ledwith to seven bishops including the bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey , who was championing Ledwith's appointment, Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich and Bishop Cahal Daly . The 2005 Ferns Report said that the complaints related to alleged homosexual "orientation and propensity" rather than any improper conduct. The then Bishop of Galway, Dr Eamon Casey , conducted

2623-492: The next 16 years and advanced quickly up the ladder of offices, serving a term as dean of the Faculty of Theology, before being appointed to the chair of systematic theology and later a college vice-president. In 1985 Dr Ó Fiaich, by then Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh and one of the trustees of Maynooth, approved his appointment to the post of president of Maynooth, which office carried an ex officio pro-vice-chancellorship of

2684-472: The possible sexual harassment of some students at the college. Students were alleged to have raised concerns with a number of bishops, who then failed to investigate the claims. These complaints were also said to have been raised by Dr. Gerard McGinnity , the dean of the college. However, it was alleged that McGinnity's concerns were similarly ignored. Shortly thereafter McGinnity took a twelve-month sabbatical , and instead of returning to his previous position at

2745-604: The press Ledwith's successor, Monsignor Dermot Farrell , and the Episcopal Trustees of the college issued a joint statement in 2002 admitting that an allegation had been made. Ledwith, they noted, had denied this strenuously but the college authorities had nevertheless commenced an investigation, and his Bishop, Dr Brendan Comiskey , had at the time informed both the Gardaí and the relevant Health Board . This process of investigation had commenced in or around 1995 but Ledwith, in

2806-530: The rank of an independent science, being generally regarded as the introduction to and foundation of dogmatic theology. Dogmatic theology often incorporates theological ethics , the latter being either distributed along with or derived from it. The term dogmatic theology became more widely used following the Protestant Reformation and was used to designate the articles of faith that the Church had officially formulated. An example of dogmatic theology

2867-405: The rather more determinate study and exposition of dogma, that is, of authorized church teaching . . . ‘Systematic theology’, on the other hand, is broader in compass than dogmatics, if the latter is taken to be concerned with teaching which has acquired ecclesial definition and approval, since systematic theology occupies itself more generally with Christian claims about reality. However, more work

2928-484: The report also found that McGinnity may have expressed concerns about possible improprieties in Ledwith's relationship with some students, although once again it was in terms of general propensities rather than any specific claims. When McGinnity was asked to produce a student to substantiate these allegations, McGinnity was unable to do so. According to the report, it seems that the lack of evidence meant that those looking into

2989-421: The same article, Webster will warn against overly segregated approaches to systematic theology that consider it as merely asynchronously reorganizing biblical content. All three theologians view dogmatic theology as something happening distinctly within their individual ecclesial realms (Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican), as opposed to systematic theology as a more abstract science: Johnson will view his work as

3050-404: The senior dean's concerns so completely and so abruptly without any adequate investigation may have been too precipitate, although, of course, to investigate in any very full or substantial manner, a generic complaint regarding a person's apparent propensities would have been difficult. The bishop's report, whilst critical, was found wanting in key respects and the matter was eventually debated in

3111-429: The study of the church's creeds and confessions, and thus must also consider the material ordering of its thoughts in relation to God. Within 21st century theology, Anglican theologian John Webster has worked considerably with the concept of dogmatic theology within his project of reclaiming a "theological theology," considering it as an exercise in the ordering of the Church's doctrine in relation to God and Scripture:

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3172-555: The substance of the allegation, was highly critical of Ledwith's behaviour and stated that "as with many other priests accused of child abuse" Ledwith "attacked the process rather than facing any charges". The committee also examined the McGinnity affair and found inconsistencies in the evidence presented to the commission by the surviving bishops from 1985 and the seven former seminarians. The bishops emphatically denied that there had been any allegations known of homosexual activity, whereas

3233-444: The truth of the Christian faith in its central contents (dogmas), adopting a scientific and critical method and taking into account the contemporary situation." At times, apologetics or fundamental theology is called "general dogmatic theology," dogmatic theology proper being distinguished from it as "special dogmatic theology." In present-day use, however, apologetics is no longer treated as part of dogmatic theology but has attained

3294-617: The way the matter was handled by the Irish Hierarchy. In 2010 the appointment of an Apostolic Visitation from the Holy See to the Irish Church was charged, amongst other things, with investigating all Irish seminaries, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth in particular. In 2002 Patsy McGarry , religious affairs correspondent of the Irish Times , reported that Ledwith was lecturing with

3355-415: Was Prefect of the Congregation and thus President of the commission. There is some debate as to whether or not dogmatic theology is distinct from systematic theology as a discipline. Much literature seems to implement the terms synonymously, e.g. John Webster in his "Principles of Systematic Theology." Gisle Johnson 's work Grundrids af den Systematiske Theologi ( Foundations of Systematic Theology )

3416-534: Was awarded a pension top-up of £100,000. He also agreed to leave his rooms on the college campus at this time. In 2002 the Irish media reported that a former seminarian was suing Mgr Ledwith over "an alleged incident" in 1994, after Ledwith's resignation. The 2005 Ferns Report noted that the ex-student later withdrew the allegation and dropped the lawsuit. Controversies surrounding Ledwith's appointment as president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth in 1985 were discussed in

3477-673: Was dissatisfied with the conduct of the sub-committee of Trustees appointed to investigate. After a lengthy investigation he was summoned to the Archbishop's House in Dublin for further questioning, and attended with a solicitor and two Senior Counsel. There he informed the Sub-Committee that he felt that the procedure adopted was fundamentally flawed and unfair from the perspective of civil and canon law and he submitted his resignation as president of Maynooth. The Ferns Report, while making no comment on

3538-452: Was entirely untrue that any seminarian had mentioned homosexuality to him in connection with Monsignor Ledwith. In 2005 the Ferns Report by a High Court judge, Mr Justice Murphy, into the activities of certain priests of the Diocese of Ferns included various allegations made against Mgr Ledwith. In connection with the accusation of sexual abuse against a minor; the inquiry was hampered by the confidentiality clause agreed between Ledwith and

3599-407: Was published and dealt in part with the allegations made by the seminarians against Micheal Ledwith. Dr. Ginnity was interviewed this time, and at section 4.6 the report states that the seminarians made "no specific allegations" but "had an anxiety with regard to orientation and propensity rather than with specific sexual activity." Miche%C3%A1l Ledwith Micheál Ledwith (whose first name

3660-465: Was regarded within the Church as a progressive and in 1988 he was seen as a serious contender for the vacant see of Dublin following the sudden death of Archbishop Kevin McNamara . His name was submitted to Rome as one of three possible candidates. There was considerable surprise following the appointment of a University College Dublin academic, Professor Desmond Connell . Ledwith was then appointed

3721-511: Was released on 16 June 2005. McCullough's report found that none of those interviewed had made complaints about sexual harassment in regard to Micheál Ledwith. Those interviewed stated that they were unaware of any such allegations, and had not related them to the bishops, trustees, or McGinnity. The complaints were more general, focused on apparent propensities rather than specific criminal acts, and were related to his apparent extravagant lifestyle and alleged "homosexual tendencies". Nevertheless,

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