
Catherine E. Clifford
Full Professor | Faculy of theology
Profile
Catherine E. Clifford is Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. Her research interests and publications are focused primarily in the areas of ecclesiology, ecumenism, and the history of the Second Vatican Council, with a particular emphasis on the understanding of conversion and renewal of the churches, the development of doctrines, and the unity and diversity of Christian communions within the world Christian movement. Catherine served as a North American delegate to the Synod “For A Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” held in Rome in 2023–2024. Her recent work reflects on this experience and the ongoing implementation of the Synod. She is a dynamic teacher who enjoys engaging with students from diverse horizons. Her courses explore the changing role and methodologies of theology as it reflects on contemporary issues in service of church and society.
Ph.D. (Theology), University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto
S.T.L., Université de Fribourg, Switzerland
Graduate Certificate, Ecumenical Studies, Ecumenical Institute of Bossey
B.A. (Hons. Religious Studies), University of Waterloo.
Member of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
- Ecclesiology
- Vatican II
- Synodality
- Ecumenism
- Sacramental Theology
- World Christianity
- Communities of Grace: A Catholic Theology of Ecclesial Recognition.
A study of Vatican II’s theology of the Catholic recognition of the ecclesial reality of other Christian churches and communities, its post-conciliar reception and interpretation, and its continuing significance for contemporary ecumenical dialogue. This recognition is the very basis of all Catholic ecumenical commitment. (Under Contract, Liturgical Press) - Vatican II: Event and Mandate. Volume V: North America and Oceania.
This volume is part of a series of commentaries that surveys the intercontinental and intercultural reception of the documents of Vatican II. (Forthcoming 2025, Peeters; also in German Translation: Vatican II: Ereignis und Auftrag. B. V. Herder, Forthcoming 2025.)
Books
- Communities of Grace: A Catholic Theology of Ecclesial Recognition. Liturgical Press, (Liturgical Press, Under Contract, 2026).
- Clifford, Catherine E., Massimo Faggioli, Richard Lennan, Ormund Rush, eds. Vatican II: Event and Mandate. Vol. 5: North America and Oceania. Peeters, Forthcoming 2025; also in German Translation: Vatican II: Ereignis und Auftrag. B. 5. Herder, Forthcoming 2025.
- Kristin Colberg, Edward P. Hahnenberg, Massimo Faggioli, Catherine E. Clifford, eds. The Legacy and Limits of Vatican II in an Age of Crisis, Liturgical Press, 2025.
- Clifford, Catherine E. and Stephen Lampe, eds. Vatican II at 60: Re-Energizing the Renewal. Orbis, 2024. [Catholic Media Association Book Awards, 2025: Third Place, “Future of the Church”]
- Sandra Arenas, Edo Bedjira, Catherine Clifford, et al., eds. Das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil – Ereignis und Auftrag. Band 1. Allgemeine Einführung und Hermeneutik. Herder, 2024. [English Edition, Vatican II: Legacy and Mandate. Vol, 1. General Introduction. Peeters, 2025.]
- Clifford, Catherine E. and Faggioli, Massimo, eds. The Oxford Handbook on Vatican II. Oxford University Press, 2023.
- Catherine E. Clifford and Paul-Andre Durocher, “Epilogue,” in Looking to the Laity. Edited by Anne-Louise Mahoney. 129-136. Toronto: Novalis, 2021. [Winner, Third Place, “Future Church” category, Catholic Media Association Book Award, 2022]
Articles and Book Chapters
- “The Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and the Synod,” One In Christ (2025), Forthcoming.
- “Women: Protagonists in a Synodal Church,” Journal of Moral Theology (2025) Forthcoming.
- “Power and the Exercise of Authority in Service to the People of God,” Studia Canonica 58 (2024): 201-223.
- “Pope Francis, Synodality, and Christian Unity: Leaning into the Distant Goal of Vatican II,” One In Christ 57, no. 1 (2024): 1-21.
- “Benedictine Wisdom for a Synodal Church,” Eastern Journal of Dialogue and Culture 17, no. 1 (2024): 15-31.
- “Still Receiving the Hierarchy of Truths,” in Concilium 60, no. 1 (2024): 125–134. (Also in German, French, Italian, Spanish translations.)
- “Power and the Exercise of Authority in the Service of the People of God,” Studia Canonica 58 (2024): 201-223.
- “The ‘Hierarchy’ of Truths in a New Context,” Theological Studies 85, no. 1 (2024): 10-33.
- “Pope Francis’ Synod Reforms Show Voices of the Laity Can No Longer Be Ignored,” National Catholic Reporter (10 May 2023), at: https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/francis-synod-reforms-show-voices-catholic-laity-can-no-longer-be-ignored
- “Synodality and the Renewal of Mission in the Archdiocese of Gatineau (Canada): A Case Study,” Studia Canonica (2022) 629-645.
- “Toward a Spirituality of Receptive Ecumenism,” in Receptive Ecumenism and Transformative Ecclesial Learning. Edited by Paul D. Murray and Paul Lakeland, 429-438. Oxford University Press, 2022.
- “Sources for the Study of Vatican II,” in The Cambridge Companion to Vatican II, edited by Richard R. Gaillardetz, 339-352. Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- “Preface,” in Pope Francis, Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World. Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate. Study Edition. Xiv-xix. Paulist, 2018.
- “The Priority of Social Justice in the Teaching of Vatican II,” in Turning to the World: Social Justice and the Common Good since Vatican II. 165-177. Edited by G. Rompré and C. N. Still. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2018.
- “Style is Substance: John W. O’Malley and the Interpretation of Vatican II,” Theological Studies 79 no. 4 (2018): 745-760.
- “Bringing Home the Synod,” Journey of Encounter: Pilgrims of Hope Embracing Synodality Conference, Concerned Lay Catholics, Saint Jerome’s University, 15-18 June, 2025
- “One Step Forward on Women’s Synodal Journey: From Reflection to Action,” WUCWO (World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations) and World Women’s Observatory [webinar], 24 February 2025
- “The Synod: What Happened? What Didn’t? What’s Next?” Sacred Heart University Panel Discussion, October 31, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEpq499Ybk8
- “Eastern Catholic Churches in Full Communion with Rome: A Model of Future Unity?” Methodist-Roman Catholic International Dialogue, Seoul, South Korea, 21-29 September 2024
- Keynote speaker, “Leaning into the Distant Goal of Vatican II: Pope Francis, Synodality, and Christian Unity,” Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal, St Mark’s College, 4-6 May 2023
- “After Fifty Years: Does Vatican II Still Matter?” Conversations for Our Times, St Basil’s Parish, Ottawa, 6 March 2022, at: https://youtu.be/dUtAISeWuxM?si=VrnQ7BqjjBtkLyGF
- “What is Synodality?”, For A Synodal Church webinar series, Research Center on Vatican II and 21st Century Catholicism, Saint Paul University, 3 November 2021, at: https://vimeo.com/644595415/8c619864ec
- Interview regarding the election of Pope Leo XVI, CBC News Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGBI9KzyFk; https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6753506
- Interview regarding the Election of Pope Leo XVI, CTV News, Ottawa: https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/white-smoke-in-rome-brings-joy-to-ottawas-catholic-community-as-new-pope-elected/
- Michael Swan, “Canadian Indigenous, Religious Leaders, Optimistic about New Pope,” Canadian Affairs 9 May 2025, at: https://www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/05/09/canadian-indigenous-religious-leaders-optimistic-about-new-pope/
- CBC News Live, Special Coverage, The Death of Pope Francis, Interview with Adrienne Arsenault, 21 April 2025
- Alex Fontaine, “François, Pape du Nouveau Monde, n’est Plus, » Le Devoir, 21 April 2025. https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/europe/869860/pape-francois-mort
- Interview, Hugh Cameron, “How Pope Francis Radically Reshaped the Catholic Church,” Newsweek 21 April 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/how-francis-radically-reshaped-catholic-church-2035465
- Interview, Michael Swan, “Pope Francis Transformed Church for the Generations,” Canadian Affairs, 21 April 2025, /
- Interview, Luke Mondato, “Francis Remained a Pastor to the End,” Catholic Register 23 April 2025. https://www.catholicregister.org/item/2097-francis-remained-a-pastor-to-the-end
- Interview, Joshua McElwee, “Pope Francis Gave Women Vatican Roles but Held Back on Wider Changes,” Reuters, 21 April 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-francis-gave-women-vatican-roles-held-back-wider-changes-2025-04-21/
- Mathieu Perrault, “Jorge Mario Bergoglio (1936-2025), Quelques Avancées pour les Femmes, » La Presse 25 avril 2025, https://www.lapresse.ca/international/2025-04-25/jorge-mario-bergoglio-1936-2025/quelques-avancees-pour-les-femmes.php
- CBC Special with Piya Chattopadhyay, On the Funeral and Legacy of Pope Francis, Saturday, 26 April 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-141-cbc-radio-specials/clip/16142527-pope-francis-laid-rest-rome
- Interview, Quinton Amundson, “Church Expected to Follow Synod’s Pathway,” Catholic Register 1 May 2025, https://www.catholicregister.org/item/2129-church-expected-to-follow-synod-s-pathway
- Interview (video), Jonathan Monpetit, The National, CBC News, 6 May 2025. The Future of Synodality and the Next Pope.
- lInside the Vatican, Podcast, America Magazine, 28 October, 2024 https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/inside-vatican?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zuem05_3_IZ0HkvXnZfiJcmKeLzV66TT-Raq1mlInhL5K72nGG-CqMaAsZOEALw_wcB
- l Christopher White, “The Vatican Synod Agenda Calls for Transparency. But on Women Deacons, It’s Lacking,” National Catholic Reporter, 31 July 2024 https://www.ncronline.org/node/278206
- l Christopher White, “Pope’s Study Groups Reflect Evolving Nature of the Synod Process, Theologians Say,” National Catholic Reporter, 1 May 2024 https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/popes-study-groups-reflect-evolving-nature-synod-process-theologians-say
- Director, Research Centre for the study of Vatican II and 21st Century Catholicism, Saint Paul University (2011-)
- President-Elect, Catholic Theological Society of America (2025–2026)
- Theological Consultant, Office of the General Synod, 2024–
- North American Delegate, XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” 2023–2024
- Member (invited), American Society of Theologians (2019–)
- Co-chair, Vatican II Studies Group, American Academy of Religion (2017–2021)
- Consultant, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB); Commission on Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue (2019–)
- Methodist-Roman Catholic International Dialogue (2017–)
- Global Christian Forum, (2016–2018)
- Editorial Advisory Board, One In Christ (2025-)
- Executive Board, Catholic Theological Society of America (2015–16; 2024-)