Sociologie, théologie et pastorale : Conditions institutionnelles et pratiques

Dans les institutions de théologie, la sociologie se ramène le plus souvent à un cours d’appoint dans le programme officiel ou à des emprunts commodes dans la fabrication d’un article ou d’un enseignement. Pour nombre de sociologues, même de la religion, la théologie paraît volontiers comme un discours transhistorique ou confiné à des cercles restreints, sans emprise sur la modernité séculière. Là où la sociologie possède un statut de matière à part entière dans l’apprentissage pastoral, elle affronte la concurrence et pose le problème de la formation fondamentale. Par rapport à la théologie pratique, elle en démasque les prétentions enveloppantes. De part et d’autre, c’est la dialectique entre la signification et le sens, le système et le sujet, à propos du religieux en tant que séduction du sacré dans le langage social et historique. En clair, trois défis s’adressent à la théologie : sortir du discours totalisant et systématisé renvoyant à la société de chrétienté; se situer en aval, et non en amont, de l’analyse des sciences sociales; ouvrir à des dimensions critiques, en référence à l’inspiration d’une tradition religieuse maintenue grâce à des communautés plus ou moins institutionnalisées

Energy Literacy in Canada

Energy plays an important role in everyday activities, whether at a personal, institutional, corporate or social level.  In this context, an informed or literate public is critical for the longterm conservation, management, pricing and use of increasingly scarce energy resources.  A series of surveys were used to probe the literacy of Canadians with regard to energy issues ranging from relative ranking and importance of energy compared to other national issues, preference for various fuel types and willingness to pay for offsetting environmental impacts from energy generation. In addition, they were asked how Canada’s government should prioritize national energy independence over trade, even if ultimately reducing imports might impact national economic health. The survey revealed that Canadians have a good general knowledge of energy use and relative cost but lack detailed knowledge about sources of energy fuels, as well as sources and linkages with environmental impacts. However, an overwhelming majority of respondents indicated they were concerned about environmental issues; most seemed to direct that concern towards fuels such as coal and nuclear power where support was low compared to a relatively unconcerned view about the often substantial environmental effects of hydro dams or wind farms. Canadians say they have been willing to make adjustments to their own energy-consumption habits, to save money and conserve energy. Further, respondents  generally expressed a willingness to pay a surcharge on monthly utility bills, if it would help mitigate the environmental impact of energy generation. There were limits to this view. Support for extra charges falls off rapidly as the costs go up; drivers showed themselves highly resistant to switching their commute to transit, even despite rising gas prices; and respondents were less enthusiastic to the idea of installing home solar panels or switching to electric cars, even when offered a subsidy to do so. In spite of some limitations regarding overall energy literacy, Canadians are also highly skeptical about the information they do get from virtually every stakeholder in the energy arena. In terms of trust and confidence, overall, respondents said they were more willing to listen to academics and economic experts; only a small majority was willing to fully trust those information sources at even low levels. In this serious topic area, respondents indicated they could not trust the credibility of environmental groups, and considered the oil and gas industry and governments by far the least trustworthy sources of information. Finally, in terms of future policy development, most cite the importance of Canada’s energytrading relationship with the United States, but believe it is too dominant, and should diminish, with more effort focused on opening up new export markets elsewhere

Aboriginal-Canadians and Energy Literacy: A Survey of Opinions and Thoughts on Energy

In Canada, the energy and resource industry, its investments, employment and products have an effect on every citizen and every cultural group. And yet, the public debate over energy projects in Canada is increasingly divisive. Aboriginal-Canadians are an important part of the debate over land use and energy development, and it is essential to understand the attitudes towards and knowledge of energy in this unique group. This survey of Aboriginal-Canadians from across the country reveals that their knowledge and opinions about Canada’s energy system are similar to that of Canadians polled in previous surveys of the general population and of business and policy leaders. However, in a few key areas, the opinions of AboriginalCanadians diverge from those of other poll respondents. Aboriginal-Canadians place less trust in business, industry groups and the government as reliable sources of information about energy issues. Thirty-four per cent of Aboriginal-Canadians put absolutely no trust in information from oil and gas companies, compared to 26 per cent of the general public, and 24 per cent of Aboriginal-Canadians put no trust in information from the federal government, compared to only 15 per cent of the general public. Additionally, Aboriginal-Canadians tend to place a much higher emphasis on environmental preservation over economic concerns: they say they are “very concerned” about the environmental impacts of energy production at a rate that is 14 percentage points higher than the general public. Land and land access are important issues for the Aboriginal-Canadians surveyed. They reluctantly support oil and gas pipelines near their communities, with only 38 per cent in favour. When project development delivers additional funding for educational and social programs in their community, support shifts to a slight majority (51 per cent). This survey highlights the need for simultaneously extending efforts to improve the energy literacy of this important demographic and cultural group, while incorporating their opinions, beliefs and land ethics into long-term energy development strategies. Overall, this group understands many of the overarching issues facing energy development that impacts them, yet reinforces the gap in public knowledge revealed in the previous surveys. Developing Canadian energy will require addressing Aboriginal-Canadian concerns, including lack of trust and the environmental impacts of energy projects

Anthony J. Blasi, Joseph F. Zimmerman, Transition from Vowed to Lay Ministry in American Catholicism

Maintes enquêtes sociologiques sur les ordres religieux se limitent à une investigation quantitative dont le rapport comprend essentiellement des tableaux et des textes récapitulatifs, accompagnés de courtes descriptions dans des termes qualitatifs. L’édition de ces enquêtes, si c’est une commande, prend la forme d’une publication intermédiaire à l’attention des concernés. Les auteurs sont, le plus souvent, des congréganistes, détenteurs d’un diplôme de sciences sociales, ou canonique, rareme..

David Yamane, The Catholic Church in State Politics. Negociating Prophetic Demands and Political Realities

Qu’en est-il de la religion dans l’espace public en contexte de sécularisation avancée ? Quand le pouvoir de décision en matière publique échappe grandement aux institutions religieuses, en quoi et comment ces institutions réussissent-elles à exercer quelque influence sur les politiques affectant les conduites ou comportements en société ? David Yamane aborde de front cette double question en examinant les travaux et le fonctionnement des conférences épiscopales catholiques des États-Unis d’A..

Guy Laperrière, Les congrégations religieuses de la France au Québec, 1880-1914. Tome 3. Vers des eaux plus calmes, 1905-1914

L’historien de l’université de Sherbrooke (Québec) complète la relation historique engagée dans les deux tomes précédents (Arch., 112-45, 2000). La continuité structurelle est manifeste: une présentation des lois françaises, les effectifs de la migration et l’implantation québécoise avec son extension territoriale, ses difficultés d’insertion, de recrutement et de fidélisation des sujets canadiens, en raison principalement de la focalisation des congrégations migrantes sur leur spécificité fr..