Banned theologian re-instated

A philosopher condemned by the Vatican 120 years ago is now back in favour. On Saturday, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document explaining that the reasons for "concern and doctrinal difficulties" with the work of Fr Antonio Rosmini had been surmounted. In 1887, a "Post Obitum" condemned Rosmini's "forty propositions". The new document explains that "the meaning of the propositions," exactly as understood and sanctioned by the decree, does not reflect Rosmini's authentic position. Rather, it says, the propositions reflect possible 'conclusions' drawn, at times, from his works and proposals by some of his students. Fr Rosmini is currently a candidate for beatification and his cause is being supported by Pope John Paul, II. In his encyclical "Fides et Ratio," the Pope described him as "one of the recent philosophers who combines the fruitfulness of philosophic learning with the Word of God." Fr Rosmini, who lived from 1797 to 1855, founded two religious congregations: the Charity Institute, known as the Rosminians, and the Sisters of Divine Providence. He wrote a large number of philosophical and theological treatise including: "New Essay on the Origin of Ideas," (1830) "Principles of Moral Science" (1831), "Philosophy of Law" (1841-1843), "Theodicy" (1845), "Psychology" (1846-1848), and the posthumous "Theosophy" (1859-1874). His "Five Wounds of the Church," and "Constitution According to Social Justice," (1848) were included in the 1849 index of prohibited books.