Rorate Caeli

Colloquium on Religious Liberty in Norcia

We are pleased to share the following announcement of a conference to be held in Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, later this year. It is being organized by the Dominican theologian, Fr. Thomas Crean OP, who has written on the topic.

The problem of the relation of Dignitatis Humanae to previous tradition is the fundamental problem facing any attempt to read the Second Vatican Council with a hermeneutic of continuity. A solution of this problem would thus be an important step toward combating the hermeneutic of rupture that has caused so much harm to the Church.


A colloquium on religious liberty, to mark the 50th anniversary of Dignitatis Humanae, is scheduled to take place in Norcia, Italy from October 30th to November 1st. Cardinal Raymund Burke will be in attendance. The aim of the colloquium is to clarify the meaning of the most controversial document of Vatican II, and its relation to the perennial teaching and practice of the Church.


The following speakers have agreed to take part [list subject to final confirmation]



Mr James Bogle (president of the International Una Voce Federation)
Mr Christopher Ferrara (president of the American Catholic Lawyers Association)
Fr Brian Harrison OS (author of Did Vatican II Contradict Traditional Catholic Doctrine?)
Professor Roberto de Mattei (author of The Second Vatican Council: an Unwritten Story)
Dr John Rao (director of the Roman Forum)
Fr Dominique de Saint-Laumer FVSF (superior general of the Society of St Vincent Ferrer)
Fr Basile Valuet OSB (monk of Le Barroux, author of Le droit à la liberté religieuse dans la tradition de l’Eglise)
Papers by Professor Thomas Pink and Dr John Lamont will also be presented, either in person or by proxy. 


More details, including details on how to register for the colloquium will follow soon. The organisers will also be seeking donations to help cover their costs.