Fall 2026

Editorial

Emerging issues

The Final Report of Study Group 9 on “Theological Criteria and Synodal Methodologies for Shared Discernment of Emerging Doctrinal, Pastoral, and Ethical Issues” was released by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in May this year. One of the core changes to the terminology employed by the Study Group was the shift from “controversial issues” to “emerging issues”, a move that reflects a larger paradigm shift in the Church since Vatican II. When issues previously described as “controversial” are now viewed as “emerging”, what is at stake is not merely a change of adjectives: indeed, what was once considered a problem to be solved becomes instead a source of insight and reflection, a fluid process of shared learning. As Fr. James Alison expressed in his recent open letter, the paradigm shift in the wording of the Final Report of Study Group 9 reflects a methodological transformation that promotes a different kind of “theological anthropology of learning”, one that is both inductive and dialogical. We are readier than ever to consider anew epistemological questions on the nature of human and divine truths, an inquiry of the mind and the spirit in which two affective qualities seem to be crucial: first is a delicate patience that gently allows emerging issues to reveal the complexity of their content; second, is a firm humility that staunchly engages with our open-ended capacity for further growth, learning and better interpreting reality.

Eric Tomasini

Latest Activities

For the PANIC team, the summer was filled with rest and work alike!

Matt Whiffen undertook, in early September, a two-week Short Term Scientific Mission to Croatia, thanks to COST Action CA23149 “Anti-Gender Politics”. His study visit to the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb involved close collaboration with Prof Tanja Vučković Juroš, and opportunities to explore the anti-gender ecosystem in historical perspective in Croatia, as well as meetings and discussions with academic and activist stakeholders working on gender, identity and religiosity from historical, social and legal perspectives.

On September 4th, Giorgio Maria Millesimi attended via online the National Conference of Pastoral Ministers working with LGBTQ+ people in Italy, which brought together around 200 participants, including 10 bishops. The event, titled “Buone Pratiche di Pastorale con Persone Omoaffettive e Transgender” (“Good Practices in Pastoral Ministry with Homoaffective and Transgender People”), presented the good practices of four Italian dioceses (Bari, Chiavari, Cremona, and Florence) and offered an opportunity for reflection, led by Father Luca Lunardon, on the final report of Study Group 9 of the Synod of Bishops and the principle of pastorality. A few of Italy’s major Catholic associations also shared how they have been working in the past years to increase their pastoral welcome of LGBTQ+ people. You can find more information here.

Finally, Jade Willaert published an article titled “Learning from the “Other”: Autoethnographic Reflections on the Catholic Church, Theology and LGBTQ+ matters” in the book Being Young – Being Catholic – Being European (Theology East – West: European Perspectives, 2026) edited by F. Ryan, J. Van Rompaey, and M. Quisinsky.

Conferences

From June 30th to July 3rd, Giorgio participated in the Ninth Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion, which took place in Rome. There, he presented his research in the panel “Ecclesial Inequalities and Opportunities in a Synodal Church”.

Eric Tomasini attended Societas Ethica’s annual conference held from the 20th through the 23rd of August in Tartu, Estonia. During the conference he was able to present his latest academic research in the context of this year’s theme on “Crisis and Recovery”.

Outreach

Jade was present at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference on Inclusivity, lgbtiqa+, and faith communities, taking place on August 6th in Amsterdam (The Netherlands); her topic was “LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity in the Roman Catholic Church”.