Catholic theology, church, and global culture today : crises, perspectives, tasks

Abstract

Despite the Second Vatican Council’s efforts, the gap between the Catholic Church and culture(s) has continued to grow. In Europe, a widespread de-Christianisation can be witnessed, to which the Catholic Church has hardly found any answers so far; in Africa and Asia, the process of inculturation seems to have come to a standstill; while in Latin America, a massive migration to free Church or Pentecostal movements can be observed, although this development varies from country to country. The gap between intellectuals and the Catholic Church is even more dramatic. As a result, theology no longer plays a significant role in the public intellectual discourse in Europe and is not perceived as academically respectable. [extract]