University of San Francisco
Lane Center for Catholic Studies & Social Thought
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Lane Center for Catholic Studies & Social Thought

The Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at the University of San Francisco (USF) enriches and enlivens the Jesuit, Catholic character of USF and engages and develops Catholic social thought for the Church, the city and the world.

The Center advances the scholarship and application of the Catholic intellectual tradition in the Church and society with an emphasis on social concerns.  We sponsor academic programs, research and public praxis to promote and engage Catholic social thought especially in response to contemporary issues in order to fashion a more just and humane world.  

 

News and Features

Summer Lecture Series with Margaret O'Brien Steinfels and Thomas Reese, SJ
Free and open to the public. 

 

 

Lane Center and Vesper Society Announce Partnership
The Lane Center announces a partnership with Vesper Society of San Francisco to offer a series of special events in early 2009 on Interfaith Dialogue and Justice:  Exploring Strategies of Global Development and Peace.  The purpose of the series is to build bridges of understanding and dialogue among diverse religious traditions and cultures working to bring about social and economic justice in our world.  The series builds upon the substantial interfaith collaboration already underway in the San Francisco Bay Area particularly in response to local and global poverty and hunger.
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Keynote Address by EBOO PATEL
January 29, 2009
12 noon, McLaren 252
View lecture here.

Global Perspectives on Religious Fundamentalism:  Assessing the Impact on Women
March 4, 2009
6:00 pm, Berman Room, Fromm Hall
Panelists: Theresia Mbari Hinga (Santa Clara University); Lois Ann Lorentzen (USF); María Suárez Toro (Feminist International Radio Endeavor, FIRE); and Lilian Dube, moderator, (USF).  Offered in conjunction with the USF Global Women’s Rights Forum.

Religious Leaders’ Luncheon with the Interfaith MDG Coalition
April 1, 2009
Hosted by USF, Vesper Society and the Interfaith MDG Coalition. 

TEXTS of recent Lane Center lectures: 

For God and Country:  Patriotism and Religious Identity Today
Thomas Massaro, SJ
Sep. 25, 2008

The Evolution of Moral Theology: 1900-1970
James F. Keenan, SJ
Lane Center Summer Scholar in Residence: July 2008

Part 1: Moral Pathology and the Manualists
Part 2: Innovation: The Recovery of History and Scripture for Moral Theology
Part 3: Synthesis: "The Law of Christ"

Foundations for a National Ethical Discussion About Iraq
Robert W. McElroy
Feb. 1, 2008

Restorative Justice and Catholic Social Thought: Challenges as Opportunities for Society, Church and Academy
Kurt M. Denk, SJ
Feb. 29, 2008

Feminist Appraisal of Catholic Social Thought
Kristin Heyer
Nov. 9, 2007

Texts of more lectures at the Lane Center are available here.

 

Lane Center Names Robert W. McElroy 2008 Lo Schiavo Chair in Catholic Studies and Social Thought

A Bay Area priest, scholar, author, and teacher, Msgr. McElroy brings to the Lane Center a rich academic background in international relations and Catholic moral theology, along with years of pastoral experience. As the 2008 Lo Schiavo Chair, Msgr. McElroy will research and teach a seminar on just war theory and convene a scholarly colloquium on a Catholic social ethic for war termination.

 

Lane Center gathers interfaith leaders to end global poverty. 

On February 20, 2008 the USF Lane Center with the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Episcopal Diocese of California hosted an informational and networking luncheon to gather an interfaith partnership to influence congressional legislation on behalf of those who live in extreme global poverty.

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Interfaith Group Wants More Aid for Poor Nations
San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 21, 2008

Religious Leaders Lean on Washington
San Mateo County Times, Feb. 21, 2008

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upcoming Events

July 8, 15, 22, 2009
Margaret O'Brien Steinfels
5:00 pm, Xavier Hall
More

July 19, August 16, 23, 2009
Thomas Reese, SJ
10:45 am, Fromm Hall
More

Generally speaking, the task of the Jesuit university is to be that place where the Church and the world sit down to speak to one another.

Stephen Schloesser, SJ
2006 LoSchiavo Chair in
Catholic Social Thought
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