01/07/2026 17:20 - 19:30

HALL: Pola - A203

Contact: O'Regan E.

Chair: Parzinger S.

This panel invites papers that examine inequality in the contemporary Catholic Church from a wide range of theological perspectives. While Catholic theology affirms the equal dignity of all persons, inequalities persist in how authority is exercised, how experiences are recognized as theologically meaningful, and how inclusion and marginalization are negotiated within ecclesial life.
The panel is anchored by contributions that approach inequality as a theological and hermeneutical problem rather than merely a sociological one. Existing papers engage questions such as the theological status of Christian experience in responding to social inequality; the interpretation of bodily difference, particularly intersex embodiment, within Catholic theological anthropology; and the role of Catholic media in shaping the reception of magisterial authority during the pontificate of Pope Francis.


We warmly welcome papers addressing other dimensions of inequality in the contemporary Catholic Church, including but not limited to: authority and dissent, poverty and economic injustice, gender and sexuality, race and colonial legacies, global Catholicism, synodality, media and power, participation in ecclesial structures, and the reception of doctrine in diverse contexts.
By fostering dialogue across methodologies and themes, the panel aims to contribute to constructive theological reflection on inequality, authority, and justice in the life of the Church today.


This panel is organized on behalf of the Young Curatorium of the European Society for Catholic Theology.