/library/oar/handle/123456789/31473 2026-05-25T22:21:04Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/142862 Title: Foreword [Mapping a moral consensus : calibrating an ethical compass for the future - Festschrift in honour of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius on the occasion of his seventieth birthday] Abstract: This publication is not just a celebration of the length of life of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius, as though this in itself were some personal achievement, but of the fruitfulness of a life that has been mostly dedicated to academia. Though he has had various roles in the Church for several decades, Professor Agius also believes that academia and pastoral work are not two distinct fields. On the contrary, he has always held that academia itself is a form of pastoral work and has encouraged his younger colleagues to see it in this light. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Professor Agius, who faithfully serves as a priest in his hometown of Qrendi, has long been ‘a university man’, an expression that is dear to him, feeling totally at home within any academic setting as is the prestigious institution to which he has given his all, namely the University of Malta. Imbued with his distinct passion for his alma mater, he would often use the expression “to love the Faculty”, naturally referring to the Faculty of Theology wherein he has been an inspiration to countless students and academics alike. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/142861 Title: Introduction [Mapping a moral consensus : calibrating an ethical compass for the future - Festschrift in honour of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius on the occasion of his seventieth birthday] Authors: Zammit, Raymond; Attard, Stefan M. Abstract: It is a privilege to honour a scholar whose life’s work has steadfastly guided moral reflection towards the common good, not only within his immediate academic and ecclesial communities, but also across international platforms where ethical decisions shape the future of humanity. Anyone who knows or who has encountered Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius, whether through his lectures, his engaged discussions, or his collaborative work in international fora, will recognise that the title of this Festschrift, Mapping a Moral Consensus: Calibrating an Ethical Compass for the Future, comes as no surprise. It captures not only the essence of his scholarly work across four decades, but also the urgent moral task facing our present generation. Throughout his distinguished career as an ethicist and bioethicist, Professor Agius has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate the complex terrain of moral discourse, seeking not merely to articulate positions and defend moral principles, but to build bridges of understanding across diverse perspectives. His scholarly approach embodies a profound commitment to the possibility of genuine moral consensus, even in an age marked by growing moral pluralism and ideological fragmentation. He has shown, time and time again, that convictions rooted in tradition can still speak meaningfully across boundaries of culture and belief, and that moral clarity need not come at the expense of an open, transparent and respectful dialogue. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/142426 Title: The Second Vatican Council – starting point for a new becoming of a global Church Authors: Eckholt, Margit Abstract: A new phase of the reception of the Second Vatican Council in global Church perspectives The Second Vatican Council opened on 11 October 1962; recently, we commemorated the opening of the Second Vatican Council 60 years ago and, with it, the reform process and going forth of the Roman Catholic Church towards a new understanding of becoming the global Church from the depth of the foundation of the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ: in the diversity of local churches and in dialogue with other Christian churches, the world religions and all people of ‘good will’, in the service of the human community and of justice and peace for all creation. [excerpt] 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/142421 Title: Responsible freedom Authors: Berry, John Anthony Abstract: When Into the Wild was released in the cinemas, it reignited a profound meditation on the nature of freedom through the real-life journey of Christopher McCandless. Rejecting the trappings of material wealth and societal expectations, McCandless sought an existence untethered from convention, believing that true freedom could be found in radical self-sufficiency and immersion in the wilderness. Yet, his odyssey, marked by fleeting connections and ultimate solitude, reveals a paradox at the heart of human freedom: is it best realized in absolute autonomy, or does it require the bonds of relationship and communion? Can true freedom, then, be fully understood without acknowledging the responsibility that comes with it, an obligation to engage with others and the world around us? 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z