FORT WAYNE, Ind. – University of Saint Francis Professor Dr. Adam DeVille recently released his book, “Married Priests in the Catholic Church,” available now through University of Notre Dame Press.
The book represents the most comprehensive treatment of the topic available, containing chapters written by pastors, scholars, historians and bishops from America, Australia, Canada, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Dr. DeVille, Associate Professor of Theology and Director of Humanities at USF, has authored and edited numerous books about the Roman Catholic Church and theology.
“Married Priests in the Catholic Church” includes essays on the history, theology, and canon law on married priests. Married priests and their families wrote many of the essays, providing insight into their struggles in the Catholic Church.
“This book does not shy away from the controversial debate about celibacy but tries to deromanticize that debate and correct its historically erroneous claims,” Dr. DeVille said. “It shows that any belief that a married priesthood will somehow solve every problem in Catholic clerical culture is ungrounded fantasy. At the same time, however, it also dismantles recent extremist views in the Catholic world that posit some supposed superiority and ‘ontological’ necessity of celibacy.”
Dr. DeVille continues work on his next book, tentatively titled “Theology After Freud.” Media outlets interested in interviewing Dr. DeVille may contact him at 260-399-7700, ext. 8120 or adeville@sf.edu. He can also be found on Twitter at AAJDeVille1.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences, College of Arts, Sciences, and Business and College of Adult and Distance Education. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.