Call For Papers: Catholic Social Thought and the Law

CALL FOR PAPERS

SYMPOSIUM ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT AND THE LAW

CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT AND CITIZENSHIP

Villanova University School of Law
October 11, 2008


On the eve of the 2008 election, Villanova University
School of Law's sixth annual symposium on Catholic social
thought will take up the question of citizenship and
political participation. Every four years, the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops releases a document entitled
"Faithful Citizenship," and the media engage in speculation
about the "Catholic vote." The Bishops assert that
"responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in
public life is a moral obligation." After visiting America,
Alexis de Tocqueville worried that Christianity neglected
the duty of citizenship while also arguing that religion
was the first of America's political institutions.

But Catholic social thought arguably lacks a coherent
account of citizenship. As John Coleman, S.J., complained
in the pages of Commonweal over 20 years ago, "Christianity
has not adequately adumbrated or embodied the moral ideal
of the citizen in its social ethics or popular preaching."
Among the questions to be addressed by the symposium are
the responsibilities of citizenship in Catholic social
teaching, the relationship between faithful citizenship and
voting, the role of the American Catholic Church in public
life, the duties of public officials, and the historical
development of citizenship in Catholic social thought. The
Symposium will bring together legal scholars, political
scientists, theologians, and philosophers to explore the
implications of citizenship for Catholic legal theory.


PAPER SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

Articles presented at the Conference will be considered for
publication in the Journal of Catholic Social Thought, a
peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published by
Villanova University. Please submit paper proposals by
July 1, 2008, or requests for more information to:

CONTACT: Dean Mark A. Sargent
Email: MAILTO:sargent@law.villanova.edu
or
CONTACT: Professor Michael Moreland
Email: MAILTO:moreland@law.villanova.edu