Serving Church and Academy Since 1954

Ethics

Patrick M. Clark, Ph.D., University of Scranton, patrick.clark@scranton.edu

Michael P. Jaycox, Ph.D., Seattle University, jaycoxm@seattleu.edu

This year’s convention theme, American Catholicism in the 21^st Century, presents ample opportunity for scholarly exploration in the fields of theological ethics and moral theology.

Papers that propose to inquire into any aspect of this theme will receive primary consideration; however, high quality proposals in any other area of theological ethics are most welcome.

In particular, the ethics section encourages papers that deal with the application and development of Catholic social teaching in the American context. More specifically, papers could take up an ethical analysis of Catholic participation in American economic, social, and political practices, as well as resources within the Catholic tradition that enable critical examination of those practices. Papers offering theological commentary or evaluation of societal trends pertaining to family, sexuality, gender, disability, and race would be another promising way to engage this year’s theme.

For example, papers could reflect upon the promising ways in which the growing presence of Latina/o Catholics in the membership and leadership of the U.S. Church will shape American Catholic life and thought in the 21^st century. Or given the ongoing fruitful collaboration between Catholics and Protestants in the U.S., papers that attend to the ecumenical context of Christian ethical thought are especially encouraged. Finally, we also invite papers that interpret and assess one or more figures who have had special influence on American Catholic experience and ethical discourse, figures including but not limited to: Elizabeth Ann Seton, Orestes Brownson, John A. Ryan, Frances X. Cabrini, John Ireland, Katherine Drexel, John Courtney Murray, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Fulton Sheen, Dan Berrigan, Richard McCormick, and Richard John Neuhaus.

The College Theology Society is a registered, non-profit professional society and a Related Scholarly Organization of the American Academy of Religion.

Email: secretary@collegetheology.org