Death of Fr. Jacques Dupuis, S.J.

Rome -- The controversial Belgian-born theologian died in Rome at age 81 on Dec. 28, 2004, after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage. He had only that month celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He was widely known for his views on religious pluralism.

From 1959 until 1984, Fr. Dupuis was professor of theology at two theological colleges in India. There he came to know and admire Indian culture, including its two dominant religions, Buddhism and Hinduism. He was transferred to Rome's Gregorian University in 1984, where he edited a quarterly review, The Gregorianum, as well as serving on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

A prolific author, his best-known book is Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism (Orbis Books, 1997). This book caused concern in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). After almost three years of scrutiny, the CDF's report, while not charging Dupuis with doctrinal or theological error, indicated that there were "ambiguities and difficulties on important points which could lead a reader to erroneous or harmful opinions". These "difficulties" were mainly related to Dupuis' position on the limits of the role of the human nature of the person of Jesus Christ as the Word Incarnate, as well as the limits of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the non-Christian cultures and religions of the world. These are technical theological questions which determine what attitude the Church should take vis-a-vis the non-Christian religions and to what extent these religions reflect the saving power of the Redeemer.

The initial impetus towards these theological reflections came especially from the Second Vatican Council and its Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra aetate, 28 Oct., 1965). (CNS, Tablet, Jan. 8, 2005; see also "Fatima Controversy," C.I., Oct. 2004, pp. 16-18.)