Charles Michael Shea Postdoctoral Fellow Resident at the Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften: June 2014, May/June 2015 Research topic at the Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften: »Catholic Apologetics in an Age of Revolution. Faith, Reason, and Authority in the Thought of Giovanni Perrone S.J.« Project outline: This proposed line of research examines one of the most important Roman Catholic intellectuals in the nineteenth century and an influential interpreter of the Protestant Reformation. The Jesuit theologian Giovanni Perrone (1796‒1876) became chair of dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University (then the Collegio Romano) in 1824 and served in that capacity and as rector and prefect of studies for over half a century until his death in 1876. Perrone served on multiple curial commissions and was a key theological advisor for Gregory XVI and Pius IX, and was even a teacher to Leo XIII. He was lauded during his lifetime as the »Prince of Contemporary Theologians« (Chassay, 1854) and as »Examiner of Bishops« in Rome (Bonelli, 1876). The theologian’s trusted status, longevity, and substantial literary output helped to make him one of the most influential thinkers during a time of great transition for Roman Catholics. It was especially during this century of social and political revolutions that Catholics sought to articulate their identity and place vis-à-vis the world. Perrone had a direct or indirect role to play in nearly every major ecclesiastical event of the era. He was an architect of the 1854 definition of the immaculate conception of Mary and his students dominated the debates of the First Vatican Council. Theologians impacted by Perrone’s teaching included Heinrich Denzinger, Johannes Franzelin, Joseph Kleutgen, Henry Manning, Matthias Scheeben, William Ward, and even John Henry Newman. (Charles Michael Shea) Research partner: Charles Michael Shea follows the invitation of Claus Arnold, Professor of Catholic Theology at Mainz University, and the research training group of the German research foundation »Theology as a Science« (DFG-Graduiertenkolleg 1728). Scholarly profile of Charles Michael SheaCharles Michael Shea recieved his Ph.D. in Historical Theology at St. Louis University in 2013. His thesis was titled »Newmans‘ Early Legacy. Giovanni Perrone and Roman Readings of the ›Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine 1845‒1854‹« . 2014-2016 he is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Seton Hall University.Main areas of research: Modern and Medieval TheologySelected publications:
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