The churches and persistent pockets of poverty in the U.S.A. A report on the problem of poverty issued by the Division of Christian Life and Work and the Division of Home Missions, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and based on a consultation held in January, 1962.

Mode of access: Internet.

Religião e gênero: análise da relação entre o discurso Oficial da Igreja Católica sobre a sexualidade e o discurso e as práticas das mulheres da região Episcopal Brasilândia.

Este trabalho, situado entre os estudos de religião, sociologia e gênero analisa três documentos da Igreja Católica: Catecismo da Igreja Católica, Mulieris Dignitatem e Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, cujo foco principal é a sexualidade e a questão de gênero. Buscamos, com esta análise, compreender questões relacionadas ao discurso da Igreja Católica, bem como as práticas cotidianas das mulheres da Região Episcopal Brasilândia, bairro pesquisado da capital paulista. As análises foram fundamentais para fazer um contraponto entre o discurso católico sobre a sexualidade e as práticas dessas mulheres, que vivem em constante tensão entre prática da sexualidade e o discurso da Igreja Católica. Inicialmente, a análise faz um percurso histórico do discurso oficial dessa instituição católica sobre a sexualidade, articulado pelas teóricas Ivone Gebara, Priore, Schott, Ranke-Heinemann, entre outros. Tratamos, enfim, do conflito entre o discurso católico, conservador, e a prática dessas mulheres, numa visão progressista. Os autores pesquisados constatam um distanciamento dos fiéis em relação aos dogmas católicos, seja devido à secularização ou pelo fato de a Igreja Católica ter perdido parte da hegemonia como reguladora da vida dos fiéis.

Blessed are the Peacemakers: Transnational Alliance, Protective Accompaniment and the Presbyterian Church of Colombia

The purpose of this thesis was to explore how Christian networks enable strategies of transnational alliance, whereby groups in different nations strive to strengthen one another’s leverage and credibility in order to resolve conflicts and elaborate new possibilities. This research does so by analyzing the case of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC). The project examines the historical development of the IPC from the initial missionary period of the 1850s until the present. Specifically, the purpose of the study was to consider how the historical struggle to articulate autonomy and equality vis-à-vis the U.S. Presbyterians (PCUSA) and paternalist models of ecclesial relations has affected recent political strategies pursued by the IPC. Despite the paternalism of the early missionary model, changing conceptions of social transformation during the 60s contributed to a shift in relations. Over time the IPC and PCUSA negotiated relationships in which groups both acknowledge a problematic history and insist upon an ethnic of partnership and respect. Today, PCUSA groups, in concert with the IPC, collaborate on a range of transnational political strategies aimed at strengthening the IPC’s leverage in local struggles for justice and peace. A review of this case suggests that long-established Christian networks may have an advantage over other civil society groups such as NGOs in facilitating strategies of transnational alliance. Although civil society organizations often have better access to important resources needed for international advocacy initiatives, Christian networks, such as the one established between the IPC and U.S. Presbyterian communities, rely on a history of negotiating power-disparity in order to elaborate relationships based on listening and partnership. Such findings prove important not only to how we conceptualize transnational alliance but also to the ways that we think about the history and future of Christian networks.

The role of the church in developing the law: response to commentators

Three of the four commentators endorse our concerns about intervention by the Roman Catholic church as an omicus curiae in civil litigation, with few reservations. One commentary rejects our arguments in We deal first with the three commentaries that support our arguments; secondly, with the reservations and qualifications in those commentaries, and thirdly, with the commentary that totally rejects our arguments.

The role of the church in developing the law

The church and other community organisations have a legitimate role to play in influencing public policy. However, intervention by the church and other religious bodies in recent litigation in Australia and the United Kingdom raises questions about the appropriateness of such bodies being permitted to intervene directly in the court process as amici curiae. We argue that there are dangers in such bodies insinuating their doctrine under the guise of legal argument in civil proceedings, but find it difficult to enunciate a principled distinction between doctrine and legal argument. We advise that judges should exercise caution in dealing with amicus submissions.

The Church of Goa: Give to Cesar what is Cesar's

Este ensaio analisa os desafios que a Igreja de Goa enfrentou nas décadas que seguiram à era colonial. O balanço é positivo, e isto foi devido em larga medida à participação mais intensa dos leigos com formação democrática e experiência profissional na India vizinha. Palavras-chave: Goa, igreja, VAticano II, participação leiga, desafios. Key-words: Goa, church, Vatican II, lay participation, challenges.