The leading Catholic higher education college in Britain - which Pope Benedict XVI visited during his 2010 visit - has announced plans to merge its theology school.The Tablet reveals this week that the school of theology, philosophy and history at St Mary's University College, in Twickenham, south-west London, will join with the school of communication, culture and creative arts.
Professor Philip Esler, the principal of the college, said the new school will be called the School of Arts and Humanities and that the merger will save £90,000, which will be ploughed back into teaching theology.
Professor Esler, a biblical scholar, stressed that this would not dilute the teaching of theology and that a new Centre for Catholic Theology is being planned.