About the Journal

Cathólica is the interdisciplinary journal of the Catholic Faculty of Belém (FACBEL), dedicated to publishing scientific articles, reviews, and translations produced by Brazilian and international graduate students and postgraduate researchers holding at least a master’s degree or equivalent. In the case of works that include authors or co-authors who are undergraduate students or recent graduates, it is recommended that submissions be directed to the Revista de Iniciação Científica da Faculdade Católica de Belém, affiliated with the same institution.

The target audience of Cathólica consists of faculty, students, and other readers interested in the Humanities, particularly in philosophical, theological, legal, and educational discussions, in a broad sense. To ensure the academic quality of its publications, the journal has a Scientific Committee recognized in each of these areas, responsible for ensuring the academic quality and integrity of the publications.

 

Review Process

All scientific manuscripts submitted to Catholica will be sent to at least one reviewer, selected based on their area of ​​expertise and/or affinity with the subject matter. If rejected for publication, the manuscript will be submitted for a new evaluation by another reviewer. In case of disagreement between the reviews, a third reviewer may be consulted for the final decision.

To ensure the confidentiality of the authors’ identities, a double-blind review system is adopted, in which reviewers do not have access to the authors’ identities, only to the content of the text, just as the authors will not know the identities of the reviewers of their material.

Reviewers may issue three types of recommendations: (1) Accept for publication; (2) Accept with suggestions for revisions; (3) Reject for publication.

The analysis of the works considers the following evaluation criteria: (1) Originality; (2) Contribution to debates in the Humanities and Legal Sciences; (3) Consistency between title, abstract, keywords, and content; (4) Relevance of the references used; (5) Relevance of the topic; (6) Conformity to standard Portuguese (or the language in which the text is written); (7) Clarity of argumentation; (8) Achievement of the objectives proposed by the authors.

The author(s) may make adjustments based on the reviewers’ recommendations, and publication of the text is contingent upon the proper implementation of these suggestions.

It should be noted that if the reviewers identify conflicts of interest involving the institution affiliated with the journal, members of the Scientific-Editorial Committee, content that violates human rights or the democratic rule of law, or even plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or misuse of AI, the editors may halt the editorial process.

The review process is strictly confidential. In the event of an unfavorable review, the manuscript will be returned to the author. Only the editor has access to the authors’ identities and the full content of the reviews.

For publication in Cathólica, a minimum qualification of Specialist or higher is required, including for co-authors.

The average time between submission and publication is 6 to 12 months, varying according to the review process, the availability of reviewers, and the time required for any revisions made by the authors in accordance with the review report.

After publication in an issue, new articles by the same authors may only be published after a one-issue interval and may return in the following issue (that is, taking into account the journal’s biannual publication schedule, one year after the publication of the previous text).

 

Periodicity

Cathólica follows a biannual publication schedule. 

With two issues published per year, the journal ensures sufficient time for all stages of the editorial process, including peer review, technical editing, and manuscript refinement.

This publication schedule strikes a balance between the timeliness of scientific communication and the rigor of the peer-review process, ensuring that each issue meets high standards of academic relevance and integrity. By adopting a biannual publication schedule, Cathólica reinforces its commitment to editorial excellence and to building a solid and reliable body of scientific literature.

 

Open Access

Cathólica offers open access to its content.

To purchase current or back issues of the print edition, we recommend contacting the journal via email at: periodicos@facbel.edu.br

There is no submission fee.

 

Originality

Articles published in Cathólica must be original. If the work has also been submitted to other journals, authors are advised to indicate this at the time of submission in the “Comments for the Editors” section.

 

Article Submission Process

Cathólica accepts articles, reviews, and translations on a rolling basis, allowing authors to submit their manuscripts at any time, without having to wait for specific deadlines. This model makes the editorial process more agile and dynamic, promoting the rapid dissemination of scientific knowledge.

With this continuous flow, articles are evaluated as soon as they are submitted, following all stages of peer review and editing. Upon approval, the works may be published in the corresponding issue, optimizing the time between submission and publication.

In the case of special issues, specifically and exceptionally, information regarding the start and end dates for manuscript submission will be posted on the journal’s website and through the official communication channels of the journal and the Catholic Faculty of Belém (FACBEL).

 

Copyright and Creative Commons License (CC-BY)

Copyright plays a fundamental role in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, ensuring that authors receive due recognition for their intellectual contributions. At the same time, in the context of contemporary science — which is increasingly collaborative, open, and global — it has become essential to adopt licensing models that balance copyright protection with the wide circulation of information.

In this regard, Cathólica adopts the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license as a way to promote open access to published content. This license allows anyone to read, download, copy, share, distribute, print, adapt, and reuse the published articles, reviews, and translations, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and the journal.

This means that, when using the content, the user must correctly cite the author(s) and indicate the original source of the publication. This practice not only respects copyright but also strengthens academic integrity and the traceability of knowledge.

By choosing the CC BY license, the journal reaffirms its commitment to the principles of open science, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and the democratization of access to scientific knowledge. This is a model that benefits authors, readers, and society at large by allowing knowledge to circulate freely, responsibly, and transparently.

Licença Creative Commons

This journal is licensed by Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 International.

 

Ethical Conduct

Cathólica follows the recommendations of the Comitee on Publications Ethics (COPE) with regard to research ethics. 

Pursuant to Law No. 9,610 of February 19, 1996, it is the translator’s responsibility to obtain the necessary authorization to translate any manuscripts.

It is recommended that, in the case of funded research— such as that linked to grants — the funding agency or agencies responsible for supporting the scientific work be duly acknowledged.

 

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism constitutes one of the most serious violations of academic integrity, undermining not only the credibility of authors but also the reliability of science as a whole. In general terms, plagiarism is the use of ideas, data, methods, or texts belonging to others without proper attribution, whether verbatim or paraphrased. In a transparent, original, and rigorous scientific environment, such practices are unacceptable.

Under Brazilian law, copyright protection is guaranteed by the Copyright Law (Law No. 9,610/1998), which stipulates that intellectual works may not be reproduced or used without the author’s permission, except as provided by law. 

Cathólica has a strict anti-plagiarism policy in place to ensure the integrity and originality of its publications. All submitted texts undergo similarity detection software checks at different stages of the editorial process (upon initial submission, after revisions, and prior to publication), and upon submission of their manuscripts, authors declare that their work is unpublished and original (declaration of originality).

The Cathólica editorial team is trained to interpret similarity reports carefully, distinguishing acceptable coincidences — such as technical terms, properly cited references, and standardized methodological passages— from actual evidence of plagiarism. When necessary, ad hoc reviewers may also be called upon to evaluate suspicious cases during the peer-review process.

After submission, suspected cases may result in correction, rejection, or investigation. In confirmed cases of plagiarism after publication, Cathólica reserves the right to remove the article from the website, publish retractions, and notify the authors’ affiliated institutions, in accordance with international ethical guidelines for scientific publication.

With these measures, Cathólica reinforces its commitment to ethics and scientific quality, promoting the production of reliable, transparent knowledge that is properly credited to its authors.

 

Policy on the Detection of Improper Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has expanded rapidly in the context of scientific research, offering significant benefits, such as support for data analysis. However, the inappropriate use of these technologies can compromise academic integrity, especially when AI-generated material is presented as having been authored by humans.

At Cathólica, it is understood that the use of AI must be ethical and responsible. Misuse includes, for example, the automatic generation of text without review, the creation of nonexistent data or references, the failure to disclose the use of AI tools when relevant, and the improper substitution of the author’s own work. Such practices can distort the scientific record and undermine the reliability of publications.

To mitigate these risks, Cathólica implements and recommends specific verification and transparency measures:

  • Thorough editorial review to identify textual inconsistencies, inaccurate references, or patterns typical of automated generation without validation.
  • Use of tools to detect AI-generated content.
  • Guidance for peer reviewers to consider the ethical use of AI during the peer review process, particularly regarding the originality and reliability of the data presented.
  • Implementation of measures in cases of misuse, including requests for clarification, mandatory review, rejection of the manuscript, or retraction after publication.

 

Responsibilities of the Journal and the Authors

Cathólica is responsible for ensuring confidentiality and anonymity throughout the editorial process, for archiving unpublished manuscripts for a period of five years from the date of submission, and for publicizing them through, among other channels, national and international journal portals.

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the sources used, the content presented, and the methodology adopted. It is reiterated, as stated in the “Review Process” section, that if reviewers identify conflicts of interest in the texts related to the institution to which the journal is affiliated, to members of the Scientific Editorial Committee, or content that violates human rights or the democratic rule of law, the editorial process will be halted, without prejudice to the authors or the members of the journal’s committees.

Thus, although the content of scientific texts is the responsibility of the authors, Cathólica is committed to defending free expression, scientific impartiality, and respect for human dignity — principles that guide its publications. Based on these principles, the journal may, when necessary, publish errata and retractions regarding previous issues.

 

Statement of Good Publishing Practices from Cathólica: Academic Journal of the Catholic Faculty of Belém (FACBEL)

Cathólica reaffirms its commitment to integrity, ethics, and transparency in scientific communication, adopting nationally and internationally recognized standards for research ethics. Its editorial guidelines are aligned with the recommendations of organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as the principles of transparency promoted by SciELO  and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

Cathólica bases its publishing activities on the following fundamental principles:

1. Scientific integrity and originality
All manuscripts must present original results, with accurate and properly analyzed data. Practices such as plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, misuse of AI, and improper citation manipulation are strictly prohibited and dealt with rigorously (in accordance with the measures described above regarding plagiarism and misuse of AI).

2. Ethical and Transparent Editorial Process
Manuscripts are evaluated through peer review, ensuring impartiality, confidentiality, and scientific quality. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, without any discrimination of a personal, institutional, or ideological nature.

3. Blind Review
Cathólica employs a blind review system, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the entire process. This model ensures greater impartiality, reduces bias, and enhances objectivity in the evaluation of manuscripts. To ensure this, authors must submit versions of the text without author identification in a Word file (.doc) and include their information only on the Cathólica website, in the designated field during submission.

4. Authors’ Responsibilities
Authors must ensure legitimate authorship in accordance with internationally accepted criteria, including critical review and responsibility for published content. They must also declare conflicts of interest (if any), sources of funding, and ensure compliance with ethical standards in research involving human subjects. 

It is also the authors’ responsibility to format their materials in accordance with the guidelines adopted by Cathólica, available under the Submissions tab.

5. Conduct of Editors and Reviewers
Editors and reviewers must act independently, maintain confidentiality, and avoid conflicts of interest. Any situations that could compromise impartiality must be disclosed.

6. Transparency and Open Science
Cathólica encourages open science practices, promoting the responsible sharing of data, methods, and results, thereby contributing to the reproducibility and advancement of scientific knowledge.

7. Corrections and retractions
When significant errors or inappropriate conduct (such as plagiarism and misuse of AI) are identified, the journal will take appropriate measures, such as publishing errata, retractions, or other corrective actions, in accordance with international guidelines.

8. Prevention of Scientific Misconduct
The journal employs mechanisms to identify irregularities, including plagiarism checks, data integrity analysis, and detection of AI misuse, as well as critical evaluation of submitted content, and may halt the editorial process in cases of suspicion.

By establishing this charter of good publishing practices, Cathólica seeks to ensure an ethical, transparent, and trustworthy environment for scientific publication, thereby contributing responsibly to the advancement of knowledge and to society.