Vatican II Ecumenical Council records, 1962 -- 1980

Collection context

Creator:
Union Theological Seminary (New York, N.Y.)
Abstract:
The second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church, convoked by Pope John XXIII and held from 1962-1965. It was preceded by Vatican I (1869-1870), which was the first council to be held since the closing of the Council of Trent in 1563. This collection contains two scrapbooks of New York Times clippings about Vatican II, and a collection of articles defending Catholic theologian Hans Küng.
Extent:
2 linear feet (2 linear feet; 2 boxes)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains two scrapbooks of New York Times clippings about Vatican II, and a collection of articles defending Catholic theologian Hans Küng.

Biographical / historical:

The second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church, convoked by Pope John XXIII and held from 1962-1965. It was preceded by Vatican I (1869-1870), which was the first council to be held since the closing of the Council of Trent in 1563. Deliberations at Vatican I were cut short due to the Italian army's capture of Rome in 1870, leaving many issues unaddressed. Still, many were surprised when Pope John XXIII announced on January 25, 1959 that he wished to convoke a new council, saying that he wished to open the windows of the church and let in some fresh air. The tremendous political, social, economic, and technological changes that had taken place over the previous four centuries led to new theological questions and ecclesiastical challenges, for which the bishops convened at Vatican II sought new solutions. Vatican II addressed the ecumenical issues of Christianity for the first time since the Reformation. Hundreds of representatives from Christian denominations outside the Roman Church were invited to Rome to observe their deliberations. A cornerstone decree of the council is known as the Lumen gentium, which represented a major breakthrough for Rome's relations with the Eastern Churches and with Protestant Christian groups, as it recognized a common Baptism, as well as a mutual responsibility for the Church's divisions.

Hans Küng is a Catholic, priest, theologian, and author from Switzerland who was appointed by Pope John XXIII to serve as a theological advisor to members of the Second Vatican Council. In 1971, he published a book entitled Infallible? An Inquiry, in which he rejected the doctrine of papal infallibility, decided during Vatican I. On December 18, 1979, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the papacy of John Paul II, withdrew Küng's license to teach as a Roman Catholic theologian, causing a public outcry in his defense. Though the decision was not revoked, Küng remained professor of ecumenical theology at the University of Tübingen until his retirement in 1996.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:

Item description, WAB: Vatican II Ecumenical Council Records, 1962-1980, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
Before you visit:
Researchers must book an appointment at least 5 business days in advance to view special collections material in the reading room. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to one item per hour of appointment time.
Contact:
burke@library.columbia.edu