The new Loyola Institute of Catholic theology, launched at Trinity College Dublin last Monday, "does not fit into the recognised models for Catholic theological institutes", the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
Trinity College provost Dr Patrick Prendergast said the event was "a milestone in the institutional development of Catholic theology".
The institute followed discussions between Trinity and the eight religious congregations associated with the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, he said .
A brief statement on the Dublin archdiocese's website yesterday said: "Archbishop Martin appreciates the desirability of finding ways to facilitate in Ireland the teaching of Catholic Theology in a University setting.
"The vocation of a Catholic theologian and of an Institute of Catholic theology . . . cannot be independent of reference to the teaching authority of the Church."
Spokeswomen for Trinity and the Jesuits said: "The Loyola Institute . . . will not involve training for ministry."
