Aim and method of the project

The aim of the project is a consideration of approaches to contextual theology and solidary church practice from the perspectives of ‘First’ and ‘Third’ World perspectives respectively within the context of modern tendencies of globalisation. The partnership with the ICTC Manila is intended as a long-term project dedicated to an ongoing observation of the social changes in South-East Asia in the economical, social and ecological spheres cause by the spreading of globalisation. A three-year exchange program has been arranged with the ICTC - within each cycle an excursion and a return visit takes place. The experience, analysis of the situation as well as theological reflection involve students and teachers on both sides in two phases:

• A 4-week ‘exposure’ of theologians from the University of Vienna on the Philippines to experience and critically appraise theology and church practice within the political, social, cultural and religious context of the country.
  

• A 5-week stay of representatives from the ICTC (students and staff, 4-5 persons) to experience the context of Church and Theology in Austria and reflect upon it in the course of a seminar. This part of the program is financed entirely through raised funds.

Our Partner

The Intercongregational Theological Center (ICTC) is the theological school of the congregations of Carmelites (OCarm), Redemptorists (CSsR), Franciscans (OFM), and Montfort Fathers (SMM) within their regional provinces. Women’s congregations have also joined participating in at least one-year courses. The masteral course (graduates hold a Master of Arts degree either in Pastoral Ministry or Theology) is in accordance with Roman guidelines for the education of aspirants to the priesthood. However, the Center does not see its prime objective in the formation of priests but in the training of members of religious congregations within the specific context of the ‘Church of the Poor’ as it has been called for in the SPCP II in 1991 (Second Plenary Council of the Philippines). Accordingly, their concept of teaching tries to account for a theology that is the reflection of a liberating practice  (cf. ICTC-Philosophy; ICTC-Theology).

The project with in the curriculum of Moral Theology

The relation between universality and particularity has been brought into the ethical debate particularly by postmodern thinkers. It has a bearing on fundamental concerns of Moral Theology as well as on the assessment of human dignity and human rights. This debate currently takes place within comprehensive processes of globalisation whose ethic and pastoral relevance is being discussed intensively. Thus the Congress of the International Society for Moral Theology and Social Ethics to be held in Vienna in September 2001 will specifically address this topic. Nevertheless this area of ethic and pastoral debate can hardly be understood in depth without knowledge of other contexts and without inter-contextual discussion. To facilitate both is the objective of the Sandiwaan Project.

Stages of the Project

1992/93	1994	1995	1997	1998	2000	2001
First Contact	Exposure 10 TN	Reverse 4 TN	Exposure 14 TN	Reverse 5 TN	Exposure 9 TN	Reverse 4-5 TN
Outlines of the Project	Option for the poor and human rights: Economy, politics, and social issues in context		Globalization and its victims: Economy, social welfare and culture; focus on women's situation		Structures of Globalization and local effects: lines of development and alternatives
	2004	2005
	Exkursion 8 TN	Reverse 5 TN
	Inter-contextual Theology and: social & political justice as essential dimension of the kingdom of God

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