Eklezjalne i naukowe zadanie teologa w świetle instrukcji Donum Veritatis Kongregacji Nauki Wiary

Abstract

In this article the instruction Donum veritatis on the vocation of the theologian in the Church, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith on 24th May 1990, is treated as the benchmark for the undertaken reflection on the ecclesial and scientific dimension of theology. This document still constitutes an abundant source of guidelines concerning theology and the way in which it should be pursued by each and every Catholic theologian. The instruction draws the attention primarily to a personal vocation of the theologian who remains in the service of the fellowship of God’s People. It results from the very nature of the truth revealed by God which was mercifully conveyed to man so as to bring him to salvation. The gift of truth defines the nature of theology which is a scientific service to God’s truth and by the same token also to God’s People. One of the key elements of this service is the cooperation with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church while preserving its own autonomy. The principle of complementarity is a key factor in this respect and it also determines the ecclesial character of fulfi lling the vocation of the theologian.