François Houtart
Encyclopedia
François Houtart is a Belgian
marxist sociologist and Catholic priest.
He studied philosophy
and theology
at the seminary of Mechelen
(Belgium
) and became a priest
in 1949. He earned a masters degree in political and social sciences at the Catholic
University
of Leuven
(Belgium). He earned a degree at the International Superior Institute of Urbanism (Brussels, Belgium). He earned a PhD
in sociology from the Catholic University of Louvain
UCL.
His doctoral thesis was based on sociology of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and he was a professor at UCL (there) from 1958 till 1990. He is an author
and co-author of numerous publications on socio-religious matters. He served as the chief editor of the International Journal of Sociology of Religion, "Social Compass" for forty years(1960-1999). He also has advised international catholic journalConcilium which was founded at the Nijmegen University, on the issues of sociology of religion.
He participated as a peritus
expert in the sessions of Vatican II (1962-1965) playing a key role in the formation of the introduction of the Gaudium et Spes
. Houtart, over the years, has developed a dialectical approach to study religions in the world.
Today he serves as an advisor to CETRI (Centre Tricontinental) a Belgian non-governmental organization
which he founded in 1976. Objective of CETRI is to promote dialogue and corporation between third world social movements and social forces plus encourage resistance and action. Houtart is one of the most active members of the World Social Forum
. Today he is very much active in the Globalisation and Ethics discourse.
In the context of the global financial crisis in 2008, Houtart has been invited by the UN to address the issues of globalisation of capital in October 2008 by the president of the UN in New York.
In 2009, Houtart was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize
for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence "for his life-long commitment to world peace, intercultural dialogue, human rights and the promotion of tolerance, and in recognition of his outstanding efforts to advance the cause of social justice in the world. He shared the award with Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi
.
In 2009, Houtart signed the Appeal for the removal of Hamas from the EU terror list
and he became very instrumental in the Russels Tribunal against the state of Israel.
In 2010, a cousin of Houtart (female) filed an anonymous complaint to the Adriaenssens commission that her brother was sexually abused by Houtart, while he stayed at their house. The priest admits having inappropriately touched his cousin twice around 1970
International Association of Sociology of Religion,
World Forum for Alternatives
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
marxist sociologist and Catholic priest.
He studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the seminary of Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) and became a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1949. He earned a masters degree in political and social sciences at the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
of Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
(Belgium). He earned a degree at the International Superior Institute of Urbanism (Brussels, Belgium). He earned a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in sociology from the Catholic University of Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
UCL.
His doctoral thesis was based on sociology of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and he was a professor at UCL (there) from 1958 till 1990. He is an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and co-author of numerous publications on socio-religious matters. He served as the chief editor of the International Journal of Sociology of Religion, "Social Compass" for forty years(1960-1999). He also has advised international catholic journalConcilium which was founded at the Nijmegen University, on the issues of sociology of religion.
He participated as a peritus
Peritus
Peritus is the title given to Roman Catholic theologians who are present to give advice at an ecumenical council. At the most recent council, the Second Vatican Council, some periti accompanied individual bishops or groups of bishops from various countries...
expert in the sessions of Vatican II (1962-1965) playing a key role in the formation of the introduction of the Gaudium et Spes
Gaudium et Spes
Gaudium et Spes , the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, was one of the four Apostolic Constitutions resulting from the Second Vatican Council...
. Houtart, over the years, has developed a dialectical approach to study religions in the world.
Today he serves as an advisor to CETRI (Centre Tricontinental) a Belgian non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
which he founded in 1976. Objective of CETRI is to promote dialogue and corporation between third world social movements and social forces plus encourage resistance and action. Houtart is one of the most active members of the World Social Forum
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemonic globalization...
. Today he is very much active in the Globalisation and Ethics discourse.
In the context of the global financial crisis in 2008, Houtart has been invited by the UN to address the issues of globalisation of capital in October 2008 by the president of the UN in New York.
In 2009, Houtart was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize
UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize
The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence is a prize awarded every two years by UNESCO. It was inaugurated in 1996, following the 1995 United Nations Year for Tolerance and in connection with the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, funded by a...
for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence "for his life-long commitment to world peace, intercultural dialogue, human rights and the promotion of tolerance, and in recognition of his outstanding efforts to advance the cause of social justice in the world. He shared the award with Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi
Abdul Sattar Edhi
Abdul Sattar Edhi, NI , or Maulana Edhi, as he is often known, is a Pakistani philanthropist. He is head of the Edhi Foundation, the world's largest ambulance help service and charity. Together with his wife, Bilquis Edhi, he received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. He is also...
.
In 2009, Houtart signed the Appeal for the removal of Hamas from the EU terror list
and he became very instrumental in the Russels Tribunal against the state of Israel.
In 2010, a cousin of Houtart (female) filed an anonymous complaint to the Adriaenssens commission that her brother was sexually abused by Houtart, while he stayed at their house. The priest admits having inappropriately touched his cousin twice around 1970
Organisational Activities
Center Tricontinental (CETRI)International Association of Sociology of Religion,
World Forum for Alternatives
Publications
- Religions and ideology in Sri Lanka, Colombo, Hansa, 1974;
- Religion et modes de production précapitalistes, Bruxelles, editions de l'ULB, 1992;
- Sociología de la Religión, Mexico, Plaza y Valdés, 2000;
- El campesino como actor, Managua, Ed. Nicarao, 1982;
- Haïti et la culture dans une commune vietnamienne, Paris, Les Indes Savantes, 2004;
- Mondialisation des Résistances (with Samir Amin), Paris, L'Harmattan, 2002