Upcoming event at Georgetown's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

I'm looking forward to joining Melissa Rogers and Bishop McElroy for a discussion at this event:

Faith, Common Good, and Democracy in a Time of Pope Francis and President Trump

Before his death 50 years ago, John Courtney Murray, S.J., the preeminent Catholic theologian on democracy and religious freedom, wrote that people: 

of all religions and of no religion must live together in conditions of justice, peace and civic friendship, under equitable laws that protect the whole range of human rights, notably including the right to religious freedom. It is therefore necessary for the Church to show the way to justice and peace in society…

The implications of Murray’s call to action in our polarized politics and challenged Church will be explored in a one-on-one conversation with Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, who authored the book The Search for an American Public Theology: The Contribution of John Courtney Murray (Paulist Press, 1989). The bishop will then be joined by former executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Melissa Rogers and Professor of Law and Associate Dean at the University of Notre Dame Richard Garnett for further discussion of faith, the common good, and democracy. These panelists will answer several key questions:

• What are the legacy and lessons of Murray’s groundbreaking work on faith and democracy? 

• How are religious freedom and the common good threatened and advanced today?

• How do these principles challenge us in a nation led by President Trump and in a Church led by Pope Francis?

John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, will moderate the Dialogue.