Research Center in Theology and Canon Law

1. Family Institute with the Faculty of Canon Law and Faculty of Law

• The development of catholic personal status laws so that they correspond to the cannon 777 of CCEO by taking into consideration the difference and equality between men and woman. Many do not want to receive the sacrament of marriage because they see that the catholic personal status laws (1949) in Lebanon do not correspond to woman’s rights and children’s interest to which there is an increasing awareness. How can these old laws be updated to best suit the conjugal communion of man and women, the family that stems from their covenant, their rights if they are forced to separate and the best interest of their children when it comes to custody and inheritance.
• Recognition of Fatherhood and Motherhood in case of heterologous artificial procreation. Although this kind of procreation is not ethical according to the Church, if such cases are presented, biological, gestational, and educative parenthood should be recognized for the sake of the child’s best interest. What laws can be introduced in personal status to preserve such children’s rights, without contradicting other laws and rights? How can these laws be also in harmony with civil laws.
• Recognition of gender in the case of transsexuality. While it is clear for Church Teaching what is the sexual identity of a person, and that transsexuality does not make a woman out of a man nor vice versa, there remain a problem on the juridical level in relation with the civil law once transsexuality might be accepted or imposed by a future Lebanese civil government.
• Sacramental marriage and civil implications.

2. In collaboration with Faculty of Law and Juridical Clinic

• The theology of accompaniment of female detainees in Baabda prison and their families. Many women in this prison are Christians, a couple of them were responsible of children groups in their parishes. They got involved in bad adventures such as drug trafficking because of poverty. Some of them are single mothers from different relationships. What kind of accompaniment do prisoners and their families need for them to be reintegrated in Church and communities. (possibility of cooperation with AVSI)
• On the light of the Charter of Family rights, the faculty will study the possibility of updating or creating laws to protect and promote the family.
• How can families be empowered to teach children the virtues necessary for resilience, as well as for preventing corruption and reforming a corrupted society. (with the Faculty of Economy and Business Management too)
• Questions of Bio-Law and Bioethics such as IVFET, surrogacy, euthanasia, experimentation etc.
• Law making based on the ‘Common Good’ rather than sole freedom of the individual.
• The secrecy of sacrament of reconciliation and witness law.

2. In collaboration with the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management

• The role of the family in the country’s hospitality. One of the biggest income for Lebanon is Religious, Archeological, and Natural Tourism. Moreover, until recently hospitality was a characteristic of all Arab people in the Middle East. On the other hand, the family has an original hosting capacity because it already learned to receive a life different from the parents. What virtues do the families need to serve the enhancement of tourism and hospitality inside Lebanon? And what can the families learn from this professional Lebanese experience. In this study, the capacity of acceptance and dialogue between different intra-national and international cultural backgrounds will be considered because, by definition, tourism includes this kind of temporary displacement and contact with another culture.
• Christian hospitality during challenges of economic and political crisis.

3. In collaboration with the Faculty of Political Sciences

Family Politics on the national and international level on the light of Amoris Laetitia and Fratelli Tutti

• Family Pastoral care during and after war, based on family networking.
• The conception of family in different Christian parties and the possibility of transforming them into family friendly parties despite their increasing adoption of secularist views.
• The buffering or protection from anti-family ideological pressure on Lebanese NGO’s.
• The role of families as educators to peace.
• The actualization of the Peace Day in parishes and its impact on society.
• The concept of creative minorities and its implication in Lebanon.

4. In collaboration with the Faculty of Economy and Business Management

• Studying the different levels of family economics in the Lebanese and MENA context.
• The impact of family corporate responsibility on the hosting society.
• Common Good, Dignity of the Human Person Happiness and Economics.
• Christian Faith, Hope, Love, and Trust in relation to Business and Economy.
• Administering of the Church’s goods CCL 1254-1310; CCOC 107-1054, by Cannon and Private Law in contrast with the new developments of Administration. 

5. In collaboration with the Faculty of Public Health

• The development of knowledge of family centered care in the nursing department.
• Education of Natural cycle and its implication on woman healthcare, family planning and fertility.
• Health centers, social work and the Church’s mission to the poor.
• Objection of conscience for sanitary workers and healthcare providers.

6. In collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering

• The contribution of men and woman’s collaboration in environmental engineering on the light of Laudato Si and Laudate Deum.
• The challenges and benefits AI can create for human dignity, prosperity, for family relationships and the future of humanity, on the light of Rome Call for AI Ethics document from the Pontifical Academy for Life.