Charles E. Curran

Charles E. Curran is the Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University. His latest book is Sixty Years of Moral Theology (Paulist Press).

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Mercy Sr. Theresa Kane in June 2019 during a liturgy when four Mercy sisters professed their perpetual vows. Kane, who fought for decades for the equality of women in the Catholic Church — famously publicly challenging the pope on the issue in 1979 — died Aug. 22 at age 87. (Courtesy of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas)

Sep 04, 2024

Theresa Kane an example for 'all who work for reform in our pilgrim church'

Theologian Charles E. Curran speaks to the many accomplishments of Mercy Sr. Theresa Kane at her Sept. 3 funeral.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising gestures Sept. 13, 2019, during the extended Joint Conference of Bishops and Laity to prepare the "Synodal Way." (CNS/KNA/Harald Oppitz)

Feb 16, 2022

A tale of two synods: What will the German and Roman synodal gatherings accomplish?

Commentary: There are two synodal gatherings going on now in the Catholic Church — the German church's "Synodal Way" and the bishops' "synod on synodality" — which will undoubtedly have serious repercussions on the life of the church.

Apr 09, 2021

Charles Curran remembers Hans Küng

Appreciation: I am grateful for the pastoral ministry he showed me in a time of need, when I was in a controversial position in the eyes of the Vatican, just has he had been.

Jul 28, 2018

Charles Curran lays foundation for social justice action

Catholic moral theology has a significant role to play in working for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation on the local, national, and global levels. This role today involves more than just determining what acts are right and what acts are wrong.

Jun 25, 2018

'Humanae Vitae' and the sensus fidelium

Humanae Vitae at 50: The present situation rests on a significant difference between the official hierarchical teaching and the position of Catholics. The total church should be primarily concerned about moral truth, but the contemporary situation prescinds from this important issue of moral truth.

Archbishop Óscar Romero distributes Communion during a confirmation Mass in Ateos, El Salvador, in September 1979. (NCR photo/June Carolyn Erlick)

Jun 01, 2018

Canonization is right for Óscar Romero, a true Christian martyr

Commentary: Martyrdom was once a very restricted idea, but today we recognize that Christian faith must influence all we do — and Archbishop Romero exemplified that.