Past Events & Texts

Click on the underlined titles below to download texts or get more information.  Events are listed chronologically.

2008

Foundations for a National Ethical Discussion about Iraq
Friday, February 1, 2008
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Robert W. McElroy, Bay Area priest, scholar and author, suggests an ethical framework within the Catholic tradition that might inform a position on withdrawal from Iraq.  Msgr. McElroy is pastor of St. Gregory’s Parish in San Mateo, CA where he has served for twelve years.  He is the author of The Search for an American Public Theology (Paulist Press) and Morality and American Foreign Policy reprinted by Princeton University Press in 2007. He is a frequent contributor to America magazine, having published the highly regarded  article “Church Teaching on War:  Why We Must Withdraw from Iraq” in 2007.  Msgr. McElroy holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a doctorate in ethics from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a Ph.D. in international relations from Stanford.  He teaches social ethics at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA. 

Interfaith Leaders' Luncheon on the Point 7 Now Campaign to End Global Poverty
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The USF Lane Center with the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Episcopal Diocese of California is proud to host host an informational and networking luncheon to gather an interfaith partnership to influence congressional legislation on behalf of those who live in extreme global poverty. The goal of the Point 7 Now campaign is to increase US foreign aid to .7% of GNP in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  To learn more, please contact the Lane Center at (415) 422-5200 or email

Restorative Justice and Catholic Social Thought: Challenges as Opportunities for Society, Church, and Academy
Friday, February 29, 2008
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Kurt M. Denk, SJ, is a Jesuit priest from the Maryland Province of Jesuits.  He is currently a law student at the University of California, Berkeley and associate chaplain at San Quentin State Prison where he has worked since 2004.  During this time he helped the Interfaith Restorative Justice Roundtable at San Quentin write a document titled  "Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration:  A Response and Implementation Plan" in response to the US Bishops' document on restorative justice.  This paper was adopted by the California Catholic Conference as a model for restorative justice programs throughout the state. Fr. Denk has a master's degree in divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, a master's degree in philosophy from Fordham and a bachelor's degree in history from Georgetown.  As part of his Jesuit training, he has also served as a hospital chaplain, college teacher and administrator, and retreat and spiritual director.

The Life and Work of Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDN (1940-2005)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Binka LeBreton, author of The Greatest Gift:  The Courageous Life and Martyrdom of Sister Dorothy Stang (Doubleday, 2007) tells the story of contemporary martyr Dorothy Stang.  Sr. Stang fought alongside poor farmers for land rights against logging and development companies in Brazil's rainforest until she was killed in 2005.  Co-Sponsored by the Lane Center, Latin American Studies, and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

Spirit in Action:  Photography Exhibit by Jerry Berndt
February 9 - April 13, 2008
San Francisco Main Library, Jewett Gallery, Lower Level
San Francisco and Los Angeles, two of the nation's most diverse cities, boast rapidly changing religious landscapes.  The religious diversity celebrated in these cities manifests itself by a commitment to serve those in need.  Our window into these complex cities is photography.  What does faith look like when it takes to the streets?  Through the lens of Jerry Berndt, we see people not only raising their hands in praise, but also working together to bring about a more just social order; we see Spirit in Action.

 

2007

Sacramental Light:  Latin American Devotional Art
January 22—April 22, 2007
Thacher Gallery, Gleeson Library/Geschke Center, University of San Francisco
Featuring the works of Latin American devotional art chosen from the private collection of Antonio and Lola Roig-Ferré.  Curated by Fr. Thomas Lucas, SJ, of the USF Fine Arts Department. sacramental.html

Of Global Bondage: Human Trafficking and the Scourge of Contemporary Slavery
March 19, 2007
David Batstone, USF Professor of Ethics discusses his new book
Not For Sale:  The Return of the Global Slave Trade--And How We Can Fight It and the film Ghosts, screening at the Asian American Film Festival on March 17 & 21.  Sponsored by the USF Center for the Pacific Rim, www.notforsalecampaign.org, and the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.

Human Rights Film Festival at USF
March 19-21, 2007  More Info

The Church's Response to Globalization in Africa with Bishop Patrick Kalilombe
March 20, 2007
Sponsored by African Studies.  Contact:  Heather Hoag at hjhoag@usfca.edu.

Breaking Down the Borders. Immigration in San Francisco:  A KQED and USF Immigration Event
April 16, 2007
Screening of excerpts from a KQED documentary on immigration, "Immigration in Focus" (researchers from USF's the Religion and Immigration Program served as consultants) and panel discussion featuring Kevin Chun (Psychology), Jay Gonzalez (Politics and Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program), Luis Enrique Bazan (University Ministry) and Lois Ann Lorentzen (Theology and Religious Studies) with community activists Vince Gutierrez, Manuel Espinosa and Jade Woo.

Life and Death:  A Requiem for the Victims of Darfur
May 4, 2007
St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker at Golden Gate, San Francisco
The choral group AVE, under the direction of Jonathan Dimmock, performs the music of Lobo, Sheppard, Howells and Villette, with a speaker (Mario Bol) who is a refugee from Darfur and a student at USF, to raise awareness of the ongoing tragedy in Darfur. 

The Church and the Crucified Peoples
May 20, 2007
Dean Brackley, SJ 
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Dean Brackley, SJ is a worldwide thought leader in Jesuit social justice ministry and education.  He has taught theology and ethics at the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in San Salvador, El Salvador since 1990, where he volunteered to go immediately following the murder of his six brother Jesuits and their two coworkers there in 1989.  Fr. Brackley’s published works include Divine Revolution: Salvation and Liberation in Catholic Thought (Orbis Books, 1996) and The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius Loyola (Crossroad, 2004) which received an award from the Catholic Press Association in 2005.  Download event flyer.

Religion and Sexuality: What is the Connection?
May 23, 2007
Sponsored by the Religious Instititute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing.
Hosted by the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at USF.
Colloquium for leaders of sexual and reproductive health organizations, theologians, social scientists, and progressive clergy to affect change in public policy makers' understanding of mainstream and progressive religious perspectives on sexual health and sexual rights issues and to motivate sexual and reproductive health organizations to more proactively engage the faith community. 

Violence Against Women, Honor Killing, and the Future of Society:
How Violence Against Women has Increased in Kurdistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Region
June 20, 2007
Film screening & panel with Amnesty International human rights advocates.

Summer Lecture Series with Lane Center Scholar-In-Residence
Thomas Reese, SJ
July 8-24, 2007

How to Survive as a Thinking Catholic
Catholic Challenges in the 21st Century
Reforming the Vatican Curia
Faith & Politics in 2008

Christianity and Cultures: China & Japan in Comparison (1543-1644)
Fr. M. Antoni J. Üçeler, SJ
September 13, 2007
Sponsored by the Ricci Institute, Center for the Pacific Rim, USF

The Legacy of Pedro Arrupe, SJ:  Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of his Birth
Fr. Kevin Burke, SJ
September 14, 2007
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Flannery O'Connor's Vision of Faith, Church and Modern Consciousness
Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco
September 28, 2007
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Baroque Bagatelles:  Jesuit Opera, Theatre and Ballet
An Illustrated Lecture
Fr. Thomas Lucas S.J.
Friday, October 12, 2007

San Ignacio de Loyola:  An Opera from the Jesuit Missions of Paraguay
By Domenico Zipoli, SJ (1688-1726); Martin Schmid, SJ (1694-1772); & a third anonymous composer
Directed by Michael A. Zampelli, SJ
Musical Direction by John Finney
Saturday, October 13, 2007

Point 7 Now! Action Conference on the Millennium Development Goals
Mobilizing the American communities of faith to take a stand against extreme global poverty in support of the Millennium Development Goals.  St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco
October 27, 2007
More info

Hope Rising Healing Together: AIDS in Africa
Featuring Bridget Chisenga, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Zambia, coordinator of HIV/AIDS care. She focuses on AIDS awareness in the workplace and fighting social stigma against those with HIV/AIDS. 
Monday, October 29, 2007

A Feminist Appraisal of Catholic Social Thought
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Dr. Kristin Heyer, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics, Loyola Marymount University
Friday, November 9, 2007

Gays and Grays:  The Story of the Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish
A conversation with Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, USF's Director of University Ministry and author of Gays and Grays (Lexington Books, 2007) which chronicles the rise - and almost fall - of Most Holy Redeemer parish in the Castro District of San Francisco.  The book tells the incredible story of how the women and men, clergy and laity, young and old of the parish dealt with the AIDS crisis literally on its door-step, and created one of the most vibrant, inclusive and faith-filled parish communities in the country. 
Friday, November 30, 2007

 

2006

Is it Ethical to be Catholic?  Queer Perspectives
Rev. James Alison
Julie Henderson, USF student and member of the Queer Alliance, Respondent Text
Vincent Pizzuto, Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Francisco, Respondent Text
Part of the Community in Conversation Project
February 12, 2006

Listening to the Voice of HIV and AIDS
James Keenan, SJ, Boston College
March 2, 2006

Alienated Catholics:  Estabishing the Groundwork for Dialogue
Part of the Community in Conversation Project
Presentation by Catherine M. Murphy
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Santa Clara University,
Presentation by Vincent Pizzuto
Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Francisco
Alienated Catholics...A Response to the Panel
Cameron Ayers, SJ, Pastor of St. Agnes Church
March 29, 2006

Treasure from Japan and China in the Jesuit Roman Archives (1540-1773): A Spiritual or Colonial ‘Enterprise’?
Rev. Dr. M. Antoni J. Üçerler, SJ, Jesuit Historical Institute (Rome), Distinguished Fellow of the EDS-Stewart Chair, Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Culture History at the USF Center for the Pacific Rim
April 13, 2006

The Black Church, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS
Bishop John L. Selders, Jr.
PowerPoint Presentation
September 29, 2006

The Idea of the Catholic University:  1967-2007
Stephen Schloesser, SJ, LoSchiavo Chair in Catholic Social Thought
Download full text of his paper delivered at the annual gathering of Western region Jesuit colleges and universities.
October 13, 2006

Point 7 Now Conference on Global Poverty
October 27-28, 2006
Select Conference Texts:
To Hear the Cry of the Poor: A Prophetic Challenge, A Gospel Summons
John Donahue, SJ, Professor Emeritus, St. Mary's Seminary
A Response that Penetrates and Unites the Catholic Community in the US
Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, Co-Director, Fordham Center on Religion and Culture
A Response that Penetrates and Unites the Catholic Community in the US
David O'Brien, Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies, College of the Holy Cross

2005

The Catholic Citizen: Perennial Puzzle or Emergent Oxymoron
Abridged Text
Jerome P. Baggett, Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
February 2, 2005

Catholic Social Thought and African Public Policy
Peter Henriot, SJ, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, Zambia
February 17, 2005

Can God be a Bride?: Women in the Catholic Church
Susan A. Ross, Loyola University of Chicago
Feb 22, 2005

Race and Class in the Church and Society
Jeanette Rodriguez, Seattle University
March 1, 2005

Globalization and Economic Justice
Thomas Massaro, SJ, Weston Jesuit School of Theology
March 9, 2005

From Mutilation to Donation: Revising Moral Doctrine, Catholic Theology, Organ Transplantation and Social Policy
Albert R. Jonsen, Emeritus, University of Washington School of Medicine
March 29, 2005

Whose Holy Grail? Justice and Health Care in the Age of Genetics
Maura Ryan, University of Notre Dame
April 26, 2005

Jesuit Hybrids, Catholic Modernities, Futural Pasts
Stephen Schloesser, SJ,
Inaugural Lecture of the Joseph and Anna Lo Schiavo Chair in Catholic Social Thought
September 1, 2005

Theology on Tap
Discussions with young adult Catholics at a local pub on current issues.

Catholic Imagination in the Arts and Literature
Ron Hansen, Santa Clara University, award-winning author of Hitler's Niece, Atticus, and Mariette in Ecstasy
October 18, 2005

The Parallelism and Eventual Convergence of Science and Religion
Charles H. Townes, University of California at Berkeley, Nobel Laureate in Physics and Templeton Prize Winner
November 1, 2005

Jesuit Scientists and the Pursuit of Reason
Mordechai Feingold, California Institute of Technology
November 8, 2005

Stained Glass Illuminations, East & West: Renovation of the Historic Jesuit Cathedral in Shanghai
Thomas Lucas, SJ, University of San Francisco, and artist Theresa Wo Ye, Shanghai, China
November 10, 2005

What is the Catholic Church's Teaching on End-of-Life Issues?
James Bretzke, SJ, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Francisco

2004

Globalization: Challenge to Catholic Social Thought
John A. Coleman, SJ, Charles Casassa Professor of Social Values at Loyola Marymount University
Inaugural Lecture to Announce the Opening of the Lane Center
October 12, 2004