Ellen Leonard
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Ellen Margaret Leonard (August 26, 1933 – August 18, 2022) was a Canadian systematic theologian and
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
religious sister A religious sister (abbreviated: Sr.) in the Catholic Church is a woman who has taken public vows in a religious institute dedicated to apostolic works, as distinguished from a nun who lives a cloistered monastic life dedicated to prayer and ...
. She published three books on figures important in Roman Catholic modernism, and wrote about
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
and ecological Christologies. She served as the president of the Canadian Theological Society from 1989 to 1990. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) after high school and worked as a teacher and administrator, prior to earning her PhD and joining the Faculty of Theology at University of St. Michael's College. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Michael's College in 2014. She died on August 18, 2022, in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
.


Early life

Ellen Leonard was born in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada, in 1933 to Hugh and Mary Leonard, as the elder of two daughters. She traced her connection to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ), the congregation she eventually joined, to the moment of her birth at St. Michael's Hospital, describing it as "under the eye of Sr. Vincentia". One of her aunts was also a teacher and a member of the congregation. Her early education was at a local
Catholic school Catholic schools are Parochial school, parochial pre-primary, primary and secondary educational institutions administered in association with the Catholic Church. , the Catholic Church operates the world's largest parochial schools, religious, no ...
run by the Loretto sisters, but she encountered the CSJ again during her high school education at
St. Joseph's College School St. Joseph's College School (St. Joseph's College, SJCS, or St. Joe's, more colloquially known as St. Joe's Wellesley), originally known as St. Joseph's Academy for Young Ladies is a girls' Catholic high school in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada ...
. Feeling drawn to the CSJ sisters because of their "kindness, competence and dedication", she entered their order directly after high school.


Religious life and career


Early career

Leonard joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1951. She completed a six-month
postulancy A postulant (from , "to ask") was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a Christian monastery or a religious order for the period precedi ...
period and then entered the
novitiate The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...
on March 19, 1952, receiving her
religious habit A religious habit is a distinctive set of clothing worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally, some plain garb recognizable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious Hermit, eremitic and Anchorite, anchorit ...
and the name "Sister Loyola". As part of her postulancy, she completed a teaching program (1954–55) offered by
Toronto Normal School The Toronto Normal School was a teachers college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1847, the normal school was located at Church and Gould streets in central Toronto (after 1852), and was a predecessor to the current Ontario Institute for ...
. She then spent most of the next 18 years (1955–73) as an elementary school teacher, principal, and religious resource teacher in Niagara and the greater Toronto area. While working full time, she also returned to college for evening, weekend, and summer study, completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
in 1967.


Transition to theology

The Toronto Metropolitan Separate School Board encouraged those teaching catechism to update their religious education in the wake of the
Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the or , was the 21st and most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City for session ...
(1962–1965). Leonard left elementary teaching behind and moved forward in her theological education by earning a master's degree in religious studies from
Manhattan College Manhattan University (previously Manhattan College) is a private, Catholic university in New York City. Originally established in 1853 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers (Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools) as an academy fo ...
in New York City in 1971. Influenced by Vatican II, her religious order allowed members to retake their baptismal names and Ellen Leonard exchanged her religious name, Loyola, for her birth name, Ellen Leonard. She also set aside her habit and veil and moved into a small community of six sisters rather than remain in the large motherhouse of the Sister of St. Joseph. Leonard began doctoral studies at the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto in 1973. There she became a teaching assistant in the Department of Religious Studies. She joined the Faculty of Theology at St. Michael's as a lecturer during her final year of doctoral studies. She completed her doctorate and became assistant professor in 1978. She gained her associate professorship in 1982 and became a full professor in 1991. She remained a full-time faculty member at St. Michael's until she retired in 1999 with emerita status. She was among the first women in Canada to study
systematic theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics ...
and among the first women in Canada to teach on a faculty of theology.


Research

Leonard's dissertation and subsequent first book was on
George Tyrrell George Tyrrell (6 February 1861 – 15 July 1909) was an Anglo-Irish Catholic priest and a highly controversial theologian and scholar. A convert from Anglicanism, Tyrrell joined the Jesuit order in 1880. His attempts to adapt Catholic the ...
, a
Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
priest and key theologian in
Catholic modernism Modernism in the Catholic Church describes attempts to reconcile Catholic Church, Catholicism with modern culture, specifically an understanding of the Bible and Sacred tradition, Sacred Tradition in light of the Historical criticism, historical ...
. Leonard described modernism as a controversial orientation through which scholars at the turn of the twentieth century grappled with advances in science, philosophical ideas about individual autonomy, and changing methods of biblical interpretation. Leonard contributed the definition of Roman Catholic Modernism to ''The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity'', noting that, "viewed in its historical context, Modernism can be interpreted as a renewal within Catholicism that offered an alternative to the liberal Protestant outlook and in some ways anticipated the Second Vatican Council". She also served on the steering committee of the Roman Catholic Modernism group of the
American Academy of Religion The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholarly method, scholars in the List of academic disciplines, field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association, serving as a profess ...
. Leonard argued that Tyrrell's ideas on modernism were pastoral rather than developmental of a systematic theology of reform. But, she noted that Tyrrell's ideas presaged Vatican II in their exploration of
ecumenism Ecumenism ( ; alternatively spelled oecumenism)also called interdenominationalism, or ecumenicalismis the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships ...
and the place of the
episcopacy A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...
in a universal church, the need for a more active role of the
laity In religious organizations, the laity () — individually a layperson, layman or laywoman — consists of all Church membership, members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-Ordination, ordained members of religious orders, e ...
, the need to place limits on ecclesial authority, and the acceptance of criticism and dissent within the church. Leonard's subsequent books addressed two other figures related to Catholic modernism,
Maude Petre Maude Dominica Mary Petre (4 August 1863 – 16 December 1942) was an English Roman Catholic nun, writer and critic involved in the Modernist controversy. Life Petre (pronounced ''Peter'') was born at the family estate of Coptfold Hall, near t ...
and
Friedrich von Hügel Friedrich von Hügel (born ''Friedrich Maria Aloys Franz Karl Freiherr von Hügel'', usually known as ''Baron von Hügel''; 5 May 1852 – 27 January 1925) was an influential Austrian Catholic layman, religious writer, and Christian apologist. A ...
. The ideas of these modernists were emblematic of Vatican II. Leonard observes, "their understanding of Catholicism was broad enough and deep enough to sustain their Catholic identity—an identity that was at once both critical and faithful." These works prompted Leonard to reflect on "how she might participate in the theological and ecclesial questions of renewal in her own time." Leonard argues in her magazine article that the
Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the or , was the 21st and most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City for session ...
"reveal ddramatic changes in worldview. We were instructed to discern the signs of the times ... One of the most significant teachings of the Council was its emphasis on the universal call to
holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...
.
Baptism Baptism (from ) is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by aspersion, sprinkling or affusion, pouring water on the head, or by immersion baptism, immersing in water eit ...
was recognized as the common
sacrament A sacrament is a Christian rite which is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence, number and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol ...
." She further argued that emphasis on the universal call to holiness required a re-examination of the use of experience as a source for theology. In a paper presented to the
Catholic Theological Society of America The Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) is a professional association of Catholic theologians founded in 1946 to promote studies and research in theology within the Catholic tradition. Its members are primarily in the United States and ...
, "Experience as a Source for Theology", Leonard clarified that the task that she was undertaking was a consideration not of ''whether'' experience should be used but "how experience is being used as a source for theology today, with an emphasis on the foundational role of present experience and a recognition of the widening experiential base for theological reflection." That discussion formed the first part of her paper, followed by consideration of her own experience as a Canadian woman and parallel transitions in the Canadian and feminist context. The final section of her paper discussed how her "Canadian and feminist experiences may be used as a source for theology." Leonard later reworked this paper into a 1990 article in '' Studies in Religion/Sciences religieuses''.


Ecumenism

Ecumenical engagement played a significant role in Leonard's professional life, in the period following Vatican II and the decree on ecumenism, ''
Unitatis redintegratio ''Unitatis redintegratio'' (''Restoration of unity'') is the Second Vatican Council's decree on ecumenism. It was passed by a vote of 2,137 to 11 of the bishops assembled at the Council, and was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 21 November 1964. T ...
''. In 1966, St. Michael's joined the Toronto Graduate School of Theological Studies, and this partnership led to the establishment in 1970 of the
Toronto School of Theology Affiliated with the University of Toronto, the Toronto School of Theology (TST) is an Ecumenism, ecumenical consortium of seven Seminary, theological colleges. Its seven member schools are Emmanuel College, Toronto, Emmanuel College, Knox College, ...
, a consortium consisting of seven colleges from Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican, and United Church denominations. As a result of teaching within this consortium, Leonard had the opportunity to meet other female theology professors, working with them and their male colleagues in a supportive environment. She also saw changes within her own Roman Catholic–affiliated college as it admitted women students and established a more diverse student body. In 1975, Leonard was appointed by the
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB; ) is the national assembly of the bishop (Catholic Church), bishops of the Catholic Church in Canada. It was founded in 1943, and was officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. Since the Sec ...
to serve as a member of the Roman Catholic–United Church National Dialogue. She served in this capacity from 1975 to 1984. Although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the
World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, most jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodo ...
(WCC), they have observer status at the WCC's septennial global assemblies. Leonard attended two WCC assemblies as an accredited observer: the sixth assembly in Vancouver, Canada, in 1983, and the seventh assembly in Canberra, Australia, in 1991. In Vancouver, she was especially moved by the voices of women speaking on behalf of their people and children. Her experience at the Canberra assembly reinforced her conviction that Western feminist theologians need to listen to the voices of indigenous feminist theologians and those from the global south.


Feminist and ecological Christologies

In her writings, Leonard situates the women's movement and the ecological movement within the "signs of the times" that Vatican II called upon the church to address. She argues that "feminism is a prophetic movement, one that calls for conversion". Leonard was especially interested in how personal experience and social location influenced the shaping of Christology. Her article "Contemporary Christologies in Response to Feminist and Ecological Challenges" examines this question in depth. After a literature review of works that identified the
androcentric Androcentrism (Ancient Greek, ἀνήρ, "man, male") is the practice, conscious or otherwise, of placing a masculine point of view at the center of one's world view, culture, and history, thereby culturally marginalizing femininity. The related a ...
and
anthropocentric Anthropocentrism ( ) is the belief that human beings are the central or most important entity on the planet. The term can be used interchangeably with humanocentrism, and some refer to the concept as human supremacy or human exceptionalism. From a ...
bias in traditional Christology, she reviews the work of theologians
Rosemary Radford Ruether Rosemary Radford Ruether (; 2 November 1936 – 21 May 2022) was an American Catholic feminist theologian known for her significant contributions to the fields of feminist theology and ecofeminist theology. Her teaching and her writings helped e ...
,
Sallie McFague Sallie McFague (May 25, 1933 – November 15, 2019) was an American feminist Christian theologian, best known for her analysis of how metaphor lies at the heart of how Christians may speak about God. She applied this approach, in particular, to ...
, and Elizabeth Johnson. In examining their work, she highlights four aspects: "(1) biblical foundation; (2) continuity with the tradition; (3) promotion of the full humanity of women; and (4) openness to the whole of creation". Leonard herself advocates for a
Wisdom Wisdom, also known as sapience, is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and good judgment to navigate life’s complexities. It is often associated with insight, discernment, and ethics in decision-making. Throughout history, wisdom ha ...
Christology and observes that "the image of Sophia provides a fluid symbol, which can embrace all of creation while her incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth reveals to us the concrete way that God chose to be present in our world. That presence continues through the Spirit of the resurrected Christ-Sophia to offer hope of transformation to everyone and everything". Leonard has also been supportive of the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. She and three other women met in January 1981 to plan for a conference in Canada to discuss the question. This conference, held July 3–5, 1981, led to the founding of Canadian Catholics for Women's Ordination (CCWO). Leonard was a core member of the group for the next seven years as it formalized an organizational structure, began a newsletter, and connected with groups pursuing the same goal in other countries. During that period she also helped to bring discussions of
feminist theology Feminist theology is a movement found in several religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Jainism, Neopaganism, Baháʼí Faith, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and New Thought, to reconsider the traditions, practices, scri ...
to a broader audience by presenting public lectures and workshops in parishes. She stepped down from CCWO's core leadership group in 1986, and the organization was reshaped into the Catholic Network for Women's Equality (CNWE) in 1988. Leonard was a keynote speaker at the CNWE conference in 2001, which CNWE marked as the 20th anniversary of the group's founding. She was recognized as a co-founder of the organization at the 2015 CNWE conference.


Illness and death

Leonard, who had
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...
, lived in the Sisters of St. Joseph home in Toronto in her final years. She died on August 18, 2022.


Honours

Leonard was recognized for her academic work as well as her activism. In March 2000, the ''Toronto Journal of Theology'' published "Crossroads in Christology: A Festschrift for Ellen M. Leonard, CSJ", a collection of essays about her work and her influence as a scholar and teacher. In 2004, Leonard received the Ann O'Hara Graff Award from the Women's Seminar in Constructive Theology of the
Catholic Theological Society of America The Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) is a professional association of Catholic theologians founded in 1946 to promote studies and research in theology within the Catholic tradition. Its members are primarily in the United States and ...
. The award "recognizes women who integrate their faith scholarship, and mentorship of and advocacy for women in the 'broadest sense of the church,' and who contribute to the 'renewal of theology.'" In 2005, the
YWCA Toronto The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...
recognized her with a 2005 Women of Distinction Award in the category of religion and education. In recognition of her work with recent immigrants, Leonard received the inaugural Becoming Neighbours Annual Margaret Myatt, CSJ, Recognition Award in 2012. In 2014, University of St. Michael's College awarded her an
honorary doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...
in sacred letters.


Selected works

* "Tyrrell's Understanding of Catholicism." In ''Working Group on Roman Catholic Modernism, American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting'', edited by Ronald Burke and George Gilmore (1979), 3-24. Spring Hill College: Mobile, AL. * * "Experience as a Source for Theology." ''Catholic Theological Society of America Proceedings.''(1988) ''43: 44–61.'' * ''Unresting Transformation: The Theology and Spirituality of Maude Petre,'' Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 1991 * "Contemporary Christologies in Response to Feminist and Ecological Challenges" (2000-03-01) ''Toronto Journal of Theology'' 16 (1): 15-26. * "Awakenings: Ecumenism, Feminism, Ecology" (2009-12-04) ''Toronto Journal of Theology'' 25 (Supplement 1): 91-100. *


See also

*
Christian feminism Christian feminism is a school of Christian theology which uses the viewpoint of a Christian to promote and understand morally, socially, and spiritually the Gender equality, equality of men and women. Christian Theology, theologians argue that ...


References


Footnotes


Works cited

* * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Ellen 1933 births 2022 deaths 20th-century Canadian theologians Catholic feminists Christian feminist theologians Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Scholars of feminist theology Manhattan College alumni 20th-century Roman Catholic theologians People from Toronto University of St. Michael's College alumni