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Ethna Regan

Dr.

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I teach theology and ethics here in DCU. I was previously Head of the School of Theology in Mater Dei Institute of Education. Before that I was a lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad, where I lived for over a decade. My teaching and research has been shaped by the experience of working in the Caribbean, particularly my involvement with Credo Foundation for Justice, a non-governmental social justice and human rights organization. I also worked for five years in Samoa in the Pacific Islands. My doctoral research at the University of Cambridge was on human rights and theology. I am happy to work with postgraduate students in this area and in the areas of theological anthropology, Catholic social thought, liberation and political theologies, the work of Karl Rahner, post-Holocaust theology and theories of Justice.

Edited Book

Year Publication
2024 Ethna Regan & Alan J. Kearns (Ed.). (2024) Critical Questions in Contemporary Theology: Essays in Honour of Dermot A. Lane. Oxford & New York: Peter Lang, Studies in Theology, Society and Culture, Vol. 18, [Link] https://doi.org/10.3726/b20609

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2023 Ethna Regan (2023) 'The Global and the Local in Catholic Social Teaching'. The Furrow, . https://thefurrow.ie/the-global-and-the-local-in-catholic-social-teaching/
2023 Ethna Regan (2023) 'Women, Theology and the Church'. Doctrine and Life, 73 (10).
2021 Ethna Regan (2021) 'The Criteria of “Authentically” Catholic Theology: Reading 'Theology Today' a Decade Later'. Religions, 12 (12). [Link] https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12121071
2019 Ethna Regan (2019) 'Catholic Social Teaching and Homelessness: The world tribe of the dispossessed'. Journal of Vincentian Social Action, 4 (1). [Link]
2019 Regan, E. (2019) 'The bergoglian principles: Pope francis’ dialectical approach to political theology'. Religions, 10 . [Link] [DOI]
2016 Ethna Regan (2016) 'Doing Christian Social Ethics in Ireland: From Hiberno-Christendom to Fragile Pluralism'. Jahrbuch für Christliche Sozialwissenschaften, 57/2016 . [Link]
2014 Regan, Ethna (2014) 'BARELY VISIBLE: THE CHILD IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING'. Heythrop Journal, 55 (6). https://doi.org/10.1111/heyj.12207
2013 Ethna Regan (2013) 'Church, Culture and Credibility: A Perspective from Ireland'. NEW BLACKFRIARS, 94 :160-176. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1111/nbfr.12012
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) 'Theology and the Future of Irish Society'. The Furrow, 62 . [Link]
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) 'Women, Theology and Church. Whose Expertise?'. DOCTRINE & LIFE, 61 .
2009 Ethna Regan (2009) ''But now You Speak at last': The Rights of the Child after the Shadows of Hiberno-Christendom'. DOCTRINE & LIFE, 59 .
2008 McGrady, Andrew G.; Regan, Ethna (2008) 'Ethics in a global world: the Earth Charter and religious education'. British Journal of Religious Education, 30 (2). [DOI]

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2024 Ethna Regan (2024) 'The Problem of Theology in the University? Irish Compromises and Solutions' In: Theology and the University. London : Routledge.
2024 Rebecca Chopp, Ethna Regan, and David Tombs (2024) 'Latin American Liberation Theology' In: The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology since 1918, 4th Edition. Oxford : Wiley Blackwell.
2023 Ethna Regan (2023) 'Towards Ecclesial Ethics: A Reforming God, a Just Church, and Reformed Subjectivity' In: Reforming the Church: Global Perspectives. Collegeville, MN : Liturgical Press.
2022 Ethna Regan (2022) 'Human Rights' In: The Oxford Handbook of Political Theology. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
2019 Ethna Regan (2019) 'Human Rights, Human Flourishing, and the Right to Housing' In: Street Homeless and Catholic Theological Ethics. Maryknoll, New York : Orbis Books.
2017 Ethna Regan (2017) 'Imagining Just Cities: The Dialogue between Theology and Human Rights' In: Renewing the Self: Contemporary Religious Perspectives. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK : Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Link]
2016 Ethna Regan (2016) 'The Church and Human Rights: Complex, Ecumenical, and Practical' In: Wrongs to Rights: How Churches can engage the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada : INTOTEMAK (Mennonite Church) in response to Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. [Link]
2015 Regan E. (2015) 'Vatican II and human rights: From religious freedom to frontline advocacy' In: Vatican II in Ireland, Fifty Years On: Essays in Honour of Pádraic Conway. Pieterlen, Switzerland : Peter Lang. [DOI]
2012 Ethna Regan (2012) 'Natural Law as Conjunctive and Disjunctive' In: Church and People: Disjunctions in a Secular Age. Washington, D.C : Council for Research in Values and Philosophy.
2012 Ethna Regan (2012) 'John Steiner: Margaret Aylward's 'Venerable worker for the cause of poor children'' In: Treasures of Irish Christianity: People, Texts and 大发体育在线_大发体育-投注|官网. Dublin : Veritas.
2010 Ethna Regan (2010) 'Not merely the cognitive subject: Rahner's Theological Anthropology' In: Karl Rahner: Theologian for the Twenty-first Century. Oxford : Peter Lang. [DOI]
2009 Ethna Regan (2009) 'Strangers to Justice? Deus Caritas Est and Catholic ‘Charitable Organizations’' In: Who is My Neighbour? Deus Caritas Est. Dublin : Veritas.
2008 Ethna Regan (2008) 'Human Rights: An ethical position of protective marginality' In: Community, Constitution and Ethos: Democratic Values and Citizenship in the Face of Globalization. Dublin : Otior Press.
2007 Ethna Regan (2007) 'Catholic Anthropology' In: Exploring Theology: Making Sense of the Catholic Tradition. Dublin : Veritas.
2005 Ethna Regan and Rebecca Chopp (2005) 'Latin American Liberation Theology' In: The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology Since 1918, 3rd Edition. Oxford : Blackwell.
2002 Ethna Regan and Don Chambers (2002) 'Gender Issues in the Caribbean: A Theological Response' In: Proceedings of the Caribbean Theology Conference. Port of Spain : Caribbean Theology Conference.
1999 Ethna Regan (1999) 'Five Caribbean Lenten Reflections on Luke's Gospel' In: Jesus, Friend of the Poor and Despised: Caribbean Lenten Meditations, 1999. San Fernando, Trinidad : St. Andrew's Theological College.
1997 Ethna Regan (1997) 'Elijah and the Widow: Women, Poverty and Structural Adjustment' In: Biblical Reflections on Economics and Faith. Port of Spain : Caribbean Council of Churches Publication.

Book

Year Publication
2010 Ethna Regan (2010) Theology and the Boundary Discourse of Human Rights. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2023 Ethna Regan (2023) Law and the Christian Life Pope Francis and the Discourse of Human Rights: a response to Samuel Moyn University of St. Andrews, 28/08/2023-30/08/2023.
2017 Ethna Regan (2017) Symposium on Street Homelessness and Catholic Social Teaching 'Catholic Social Teaching and Homelessness: The world tribe of the dispossessed outside the halls of plenty looking in' Rome, Italy, 29/11/2017-02/12/2017.
2017 Ethna Regan (2017) University of Durham, Ushaw Lecture Series: Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture Bearing Scars and Forging Hope: The Church’s Flawed Expertise in Humanity Ushaw College, University of Durham, 22/06/2017-22/06/2017.
2015 Ethna Regan (2015) The Tablet 175th Anniversary Conference, The Spirit of Catholic Renewal: Signs, Sources, and Calling Putting Our Own House in Order’ Durham University, 02/11/2015-04/11/2015.
2015 Ethna Regan (2015) Self & the City: Political Theology and Urban Identities Imagining Just Cities: the dialogue between theology and human rights The University of Manchester, 24/04/2015-25/04/2015.
2014 Ethna Regan (2014) McCauley Conference Series The Priority of Mercy and the Necessity of Justice: Ethics and Pope Francis Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, 23/05/2014-24/05/2014.
2014 Ethna Regan (2014) Cairo + 20: Catholic Discourses on Population and Development Discourses of Family and Gender Campion Hall, Oxford, 09/04/2014-11/04/2014.
2012 Ethna Regan (2012) ’Church Culture & Credibility’, Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain Church Culture and Credibility: Perspective from Ireland Durham University, 10/09/2012-13/09/2012.
2012 Ethna Regan (2012) VATICAN II 50 Years On: A Critical Examination of the Enduring Significance of the Second Vatican Council Vatican II: Embracing Human Rights and Expanding Humanism UCD International Centre for Newman Studies, 11/10/2012-11/10/2012.
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) Childhood in Irish Society: An Interdisciplinary Conference Barely Visible: The Child in Catholic Social Teaching Mater Dei Institute, Dublin, 18/04/2011-19/04/2011.
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) The Church and the World The Project of ‘Hiberno-Christendom’: A case study of Charles Taylor’s disjunctions between the Church and the World? Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, Vienna, 12/06/2011-13/06/2011.
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) Church: A Culture of Abusive Relationships?Conference of the Irish Theological Association Mulieris Dignitatem? Women, Theology and the Church Dublin, 19/03/2011-20/03/2011.
2010 Ethna Regan (2010) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) / Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Religion and Society Programme, Child Abuse in the Catholic Church - what can be learned? closed conference Theological reflections on the impact of the Ryan and Murphy Reports Heythrop College, University of London, 04/11/2010-.
2010 Ethna Regan (2010) Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church Guilt, Complicity, Responsibility and Shame: Theological Reflections on Responses to the Ryan Report Trento, Italy, 24/07/2010-27/07/2010.
2007 Ethna Regan (2007) Conference of Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE): ‘Working Together for Social Justice – Celebrating 40 years of Populorum Progressio Stories of Change:Celebrating and Lamenting Populorum Progressio Soesterberg, The Netherlands, 24/10/2007-26/10/2007.
2007 Ethna Regan (2007) Women Doing Theology Rights-Holders not Beggars: Responding to the Post-Liberal Critique of Human Rights Trinity Theological Centre for Asia, Singapore, 19/06/2007-.
2003 Ethna Regan (2003) Von Hügel Interdisciplinary Justice Discussion Group Human Rights: Some philosophical and theological perspectives on the dominant moral discourse of our time” The Von Hügel Institute, St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, 10/11/2003-.
2002 Ethna Regan and Ian Linden (2002) The Interdisciplinary Series of the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences,and Humanities (CRASSH) Religion and Politics in a time of the ‘American Empire’ University of Cambridge, 10/03/2002-.

Book Review

Year Publication
2023 Ethna Regan (2023) Human Development and the Catholic Social Tradition: Towards an Integral Ecology, by Séverine Deneulin, Routledge, 2021. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1080/1474225X.2023.2182474

Book Review

Year Publication
2022 Ethna Regan (2022) Nigel Biggar, What’s Wrong with Rights? (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020). BREV [Link] https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12121071
2020 Ethna Regan (2020) Public Theology and the Global Common Good: The Contribution of David Hollenbach, SJ (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2016). Liverpool University Press: BREV
2016 Ethna Regan (2016) 'Translating Religion', The Annual Publication of the College Theology Society 2012 (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2013). BREV
2013 Ethna Regan (2013) Option for the Poor and for the Earth: Catholic Social Teaching by Donal Dorr (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Press, 2012). BREV [Link]
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) 'Where is God?' Review Essay on 'From Misery to Hope: Encountering God in the Abyss of Suffering' by Joe Egan (Peter Lang, 2010). Dublin: BREV
2011 Ethna Regan (2011) Building Cultures of Trust, by Martin E. Marty, (Grand Rapids, MI, and Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans, 2010.). BREV
2008 Ethna Regan (2008) Climate Change: The challenge to all of us, by Sean McDonagh (Dublin: The Columba Press, 2007). BREV

Published Report

Year Publication
2009 Ethna Regan (on behalf of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs) (2009) In the Wake of the Celtic Tiger: Poverty in Contemporary Ireland. Veritas, . [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the ? Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Research Interests

  • Human Rights
  • Theological Anthropology 
  • Catholic Social Thought
  • Liberation Theology
  • The theology of Karl Rahner
  • Feminist Theology 
  • Johann Baptist Metz and Political Theology
  • Jewish and Christian theology after the Holocaust
  • Theories of Justice

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Theological Ethics and Women's Embodiment: Implications for the Eating Disordered Body [Alyson Staunton] DCU PI 01/09/2017 31/08/2018
"Gendering and Queering Theological Anthropology: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Challenges" [David Dunning] DCU PI 01/10/2018 30/09/2021
Theological Dissent in the Catholic Church after Vatican II : Expressions, Suppressions, and Possibilities (Anthony Devlin) DCU PI 01/09/2021 31/08/2024

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 The Holocaust & Modern Culture TP508
2022 Liberation Theologies TP214
2021 Human Rights and Social Justice TP512
2022 Social Ethics & Service-Learning Placement TP301
2023 TP512A
2022 Social Ethics: Theological Perspectives TP114
2022 Karl Rahner and 20th Century Theology TP525
2023 The Holocaust and Modern Culture TP508
2023 Environmental Theology and Ecological Responsibility TP152
2023 Social Ethics: Theory and Service-Learning Placement TP301
2023 Liberation Theologies TP214