Research On Religion

Posts Tagged ‘Curia’

Ken Kollman on Church Centralization

Tags: centralization, collegiality, Curia, devolution, federations, governance, institutional reform, Leonardo Boff, liberation theology, papacy, papal infallibility, Pope Francis, Pope John XXIII, Roman Catholic Church, subsidiarity, ultramontanists, Vatican Council 1, Vatican Council II

Why do large institutions that begin as federated organizations tend to centralize authority in executive power? Prof. Ken Kollman (University of Michigan) explains his theory of executive centralization and applies it to the Roman Catholic Church. We discuss how the Church has centralized power in the Curia over the past 150 years and whether there are any counter-tendencies to such concentration of authority.

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R.R. Reno on Pop(e) Francis

Tags: bureaucracy, church organization, Curia, dogs in heaven, First Things, Jorge Maria Bergoglio, media, Pope Francis, red leather shoes, reform, St. Francis of Assisi, Vatican Bank, way of literalism, way of poverty

We kick off the new year with a look at Pope Francis and why he has been so enormously popular. Dr. Rusty Reno, editor of “First Things,” provides his impression of the first two years of the Jesuit from Argentina and the way he resembles his namesake, Francis of Assisi. Rusty points out the “way of poverty” and “the way of literalism” are important aspects of this pontiff’s style, as well as a penchant for provocative comments. We also chat about the challenging task of reforming the Curia and why an outsider is important.

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James Felak on Picking Pontiffs and Pope Francis I

With all eyes trained on the Vatican over the past two months, we turn to one of our most popular guests — Prof. James Felak (University of Washington) — to help us understand what popes do and how they are chosen. Prof. Felak then walks us through the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the Conclave of Cardinals, and the “surprise” election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name Francis I. He offers up some reflections on the potential direction of the Roman Catholic Church and reveals what name he would have chosen for himself had he been tapped to sit on the throne of St. Peter. One of our most lively discussions ever!

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