There is need for an examination of the way theology is taught in Ireland, the Archbishop of Dublion Dr Diarmuid Martin has said.
"Theology is an academic discipline. For it to guarantee its legitimate place in the scientific world, the teaching of theology must always be of the highest quality," he said.
"In order to guarantee that in the future we can have a small yet adequate number of teaching centres, each with an appropriately broad faculty, capable of the highest quality of theological teaching and research," he said.
Dr Martin was speaking yesterday at a Mass to mark the graduation of 139 people - about three quarters of them women - from Dublin's Mater Dei Institute. All studied theology as a component in their courses.
He said he was "pleased to note the high value that Mater Dei attaches to the quality of its teaching of theology. It is one of the few institutes in the country which has a broad theological faculty, with lecturers in a comprehensive range of theological and biblical disciplines as well as in religious education."
Mater Dei, he said "can take a role of leadership in an on-going dialogue between faith and society and on the contribution which Christian faith can bring to discussions on how we wish to construct our future."