The Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology (ECT) is an online, open-access resource providing readers with a contemporary presentation of the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Our Mission

To make the best resources for theological education accessible to all the members of the global Catholic Church.

Core Values

  • Academic
  • Faithful
  • Accessible

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Executive Director: Gideon Barr

General Editor: Cajetan Cuddy, O.P., Ph.D./S.T.D.

Managing Editor: Matthew K. Minerd, Ph.D.

Reviews Editor: David Paternostro, S.J.

Executive Editorial Board:

Gerald Boersma, Ph.D.

Ryan Connors, S.T.D.

Anthony Giambrone, O.P., Ph.D.

Aaron Pidel, S.J., Ph.D.

Board of Advisors

Gary A. Anderson (Professor: University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN)

The Reverend Patrick Briscoe, O.P. (Editor: Our Sunday Visitor)

Joseph E. Capizzi (Dean and Professor: School of Theology & Religious Studies, The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC)

The Very Reverend Mark Doherty (Rector: St. Patrick’s Seminary – Menlo Park, CA)

Abbot Jeremy Driscoll (Chancellor, Mount Angel Seminary – Saint Benedict, OR)

The Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes (Bishop: Diocese of Columbus)

Angela Franks (Professor: The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC)

Heidi Giebel (Professor: The University of St. Thomas – St. Paul, MN)

Joshua Hochschild (Professor: Mt. St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg, MD)

Paige Hochschild (Professor: Mt. St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg, MD)

Peter K. Kilpatrick (President: The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC)

Matthew Levering (University of Saint Mary of the Lake – Mundelein, IL)

The Most Reverend William E. Lori (Archbishop: Archdiocese of Baltimore)

Thomas M. Osborne, Jr. (Professor: University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX)

The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice (Bishop: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau)

Jonathan J. Sanford (President: University of Dallas – Irving, TX)

The Very Reverend Gladstone Stevens, P.S.S. (Rector: Theological College – Washington, DC)

Editorial Policy

The ECT adheres to (1) the presentation of faith and morals summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (editio typica 1997), and (2) the program of initial priestly formation delineated in the “new ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis” (“The Gift of the Priestly Vocation”) published in 2016 by the Dicastery for the Clergy.

Primarily, the ECT serves seminary instruction and the formation of “missionary disciples who are ‘in love’ with the Master, shepherds ‘with the smell of the sheep,’ who live in their midst to bring the mercy of God to them” (RFIS, no. 3). Each article of the ECT is designed to assist seminary professors and seminarians in their pursuit of sacred truth for the sake of sacramental and pastoral ministry.

Secondarily, the ECT represents a resource for priests and catechists who minister in the local church. In the modern period, Catholics bring with them a plethora of questions and concerns of profound and practical implication. Parishioners desire faithful and articulate presentations of Catholic doctrine. Thus, the ECT offers a doctrinal reference that serves preaching, catechesis, and on-going formation in a parochial setting.

Thirdly, the ECT provides lay and secular readers with access to a comprehensive summary of Catholic teaching about faith and morals. The Catechism explains that “the desire for God is written in the human heart”—regardless of race, gender, creed, or religion. Indeed, only in God will human persons “find the truth and happiness” for which they irrevocably search (no. 27). Thus, the ECT makes available online an introduction to the perennial richness of the Church’s teaching in a world characterized by diversity. Doctrinal fidelity, academic reliability, and dynamic accessibility—these are the three emphases of the ECT that serve its spiritual vitality. The sacred teaching that Jesus entrusted to his Church is available to all. The ECT attempts to make the splendor of truth accessible to all peoples of all backgrounds and states in life.

Comments or questions: contact@ect.org

Forthcoming Articles

The following is a list of ECT contributors and article topics. Additional contributors and topics are continually being added.

 

Justin M. Anderson “The Virtues (in General)” (Seton Hall University – South Orange, NJ)

Gerald Boersma, “Church Fathers” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P., “God as One” (Angelicum – Rome) 

Ryan J. Brady, “Synderesis” (Thomas Aquinas College – Santa Paula, CA) 

John Brungardt, “Philosophy of Nature” (Newman University – Wichita, KS) 

Romanus Cessario, O.P., “Holy Orders (Pastores dabo vobis)” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Bonaventure Chapman, O.P., “Kant and Post-Kantianism” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC) 

Brian Chrzastek, O.P., “Epistemology” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Patrick M. Clark, “Martyrdom” (University of Scranton – Scranton, PA) 

Ryan Connors, “Moral Theology” (Our Lady of Providence Seminary – Providence, RI) 

David S. Crawford, Family and Social Doctrine (John Paul II Institute – Washington, D.C.) 

Michael Dauphinais, “Imago Dei” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Richard DeClue, “Eucharistic Ecclesiology” (Word on Fire Institute – Washington, DC) 

Daniel D. De Haan, “Philosophical Anthropology” (Blackfriars and Campion Hall – Oxford) 

Dominic D’Ettore, “Analogy” (University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX) 

Thérèse-Anne Druart, “Arabic Aristotelianism” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC) 

Matthew DuBroy, “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” (Padre Pio Academy – Lakewood, OH) 

Matthew J. Dugandzic, “Sin (in General)” (St. Mary’s Seminary and University – Baltimore, MD) 

John Emery, O.P., “Divine Indwelling” (Angelicum – Rome) 

Lawrence Feingold, “Nature and Grace” (Kenrick-Glennon Seminary – Saint Louis, MO) 

Gloria Frost, “Causality” (University of St. Thomas – St. Paul, MN) 

John Froula, “The Hypostatic Union” (Saint Paul Seminary – St. Paul, MN) 

Jeffrey P. Froula, “Hope” (St. Patrick’s Seminary – Menlo Park, CA) 

Daniel M Garland, Jr., “Eucharistic Themes in John” (Ohio Dominican University – Columbus, OH) 

Joan Gilbert, “Fides et Ratio” (Holy Apostles College and Seminary – Cromwell, CT) 

Paul Gondreau , “Marriage” (Providence College – Providence, RI)  

David Goodill, O.P., “Modern Philosophy and Moral Theology” (Blackfriars Hall – Oxford) 

John Grabowski, “Sexual Ethics” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC) 

Nicholas Healy, “Philosophy of Culture” (John Paul II Institute – Washington, D.C.) 

Joshua Hochschild, “Cajetan on Analogy” (Mount St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg, MD) 

Rollen Houser, “Latin Reception of Arabic Philosophy” (University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX) 

Anthony Isacco, “Psychology and Priestly Formation” (Chatham University – Pittsburgh, PA) 

Christopher Kaczor, “Moral Systems” (Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, CA) 

Christiaan Kappes, “Byzantine Scholasticism” (Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius – Pittsburgh, PA) 

Christiaan Kappes, “Sources of Theology” (Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius – Pittsburgh, PA) 

Matthew Kauth, “Priestly Spirituality” (St. Joseph College Seminary – Holly, NC) 

Timothy Kearns, “Logic (General and Historical)” (University of Connecticut – Storrs, CT) 

Daniel A. Keating “Deification” (Sacred Heart Seminary – Detroit, MI) 

Kenneth Kemp, “Evolution” (University of St. Thomas – St. Paul, MN) 

Jon Kirwan, “The Modernist Crisis” (University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX) 

Gyula Klima, “Nominalism” (Fordham University – New York, NY) 

Evan S. Koop, “Mariology” (Saint Paul Seminary – St. Paul, MN) 

John Baptist Ku, O.P., “God as Three (The Trinity)” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Gregory F. LaNave, “The Church” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Uwe Michael Lang, “Theology of Joseph Ratzinger” (St. Mary’s University – Twickenham, London) 

Jody Lewis, “Women in Scripture” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Daniel Lendman, “Eucharist” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Joshua Lim, “Graces of Christ” (University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN) 

Austin Litke, O.P., “Christology” (Angelicum – Rome) 

Ambrose Little, O.P., “Overview of Aristotle and His Reception in Christian Theology” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Steven A. Long, “Praeambula Fidei” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

John Macias, “Theories of Political Representation” (St. Mary’s Seminary and University – Baltimore, MD) 

Guy Mansini, O.S.B., “Magisterium” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Derek McAllister “Acedia” (Loyola University – Baltimore, MD) 

Andrew Meszaros, “Tradition and traditions” (St. Patrick’s Pontifical University – Maynooth, Ireland) 

Charbel Nassif , “History of the Melkite Church” (The Romanian Academy – Romania) 

Mother Mary Christa Nutt, R.S.M., “Veritatis Splendor” (Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan – Alma, MI) 

Gabriel O’Donnell, O.P., “Spiritual Theology” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

John F. O’Neill, “The Church and the Trinity” (Holy Apostles College and Seminary – Cromwell, CT) 

Taylor Patrick O’Neill, “Grace” (Thomas Aquinas College – Northfield, MA) 

Steven Payne, O.C.D., “Carmelite Tradition” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC) 

C.C. Pecknold, “Political Theology” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC) 

David Petras, “Byzantine Typikon” (Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius – Pittsburgh, PA) 

Thomas Petri, O.P., “Theology of the Body” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Aaron Pidel, S.J., “Vatican II” (Pontifical Gregorian University – Rome) 

Matthew Pietropaoli, “Philosophy of Technology” (St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry – Rochester, NY) 

Gregory Pine, O.P., “The Theological Virtues” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Matthew Ramage “Theodicy in the Bible” (Benedictine College – Atchison, KS) 

Philip-Neri Reese, O.P., “Metaphysics” (Angelicum – Rome) 

Gregory M. Reichberg, “Just War Tradition” (Peace Research Institute – Oslo) 

Scott J. Roniger, “Natural Law” (Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, CA) 

Kevin Schemenauer, “The Preferential Option for the Poor” (Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology – St. Meinrad, IN) 

Dylan Schrader, “Censures” (Diocese of Jefferson City – Jefferson City, MO)  

Dylan Schrader, “Motive of the Incarnation” (Diocese of Jefferson City – Jefferson City, MO) 

Paul Seaton, “Political Philosophy” (St. Mary’s Seminary and University – Baltimore, MD)

Bruno Shah, O.P., “Literature and Catholic Theology” (Providence College – Providence, RI) 

Innocent Smith, O.P., “Sacred Liturgy” (Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC) 

Mary Catherine Sommers, “Philosophical Anthropology of Gender” (University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX) 

James W. Stroud, “Fonts of Moral Action” (Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology – Hales Corner, WI) 

Christopher Thompson, “Ecology and Catholic Social Teaching” (University of St. Thomas – St. Paul, MN) 

Michael D. Torre, “Francisco Marín-Sola” (University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA) 

Michael D. Torre, “Problem of Evil” (University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA) 

Michael D. Torre, “Yves Simon” (University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA) 

Joseph Trabbic, “Martin Heidegger” (Ave Maria University – Ave Maria, FL) 

Barrett Turner, “Social Doctrine of the Church” (Mount St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg, MD) 

Carl Vater, “Philosophy: 1225 until the Death of Scotus” (St. Vincent College – Latrobe, PA) 

Daniel C. Wagner, “Aristotle’s Prior and Posterior Analytics” (Aquinas College – Grand Rapids, MI)

Rami Wakim, “Maximus the Confessor” (Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth – Beirut, Lebanon) 

Anna Wray, O.P., “Aristotle’s De Anima” (The Catholic University of America – Washington, DC)

Kevin Zilverberg, “The Vulgate” (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca – Salamanca) 

Christopher Lawrence Zugger, “The Ruthenian Church in America” (Albuquerque, NM)  

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