A major conference on peace will be held April 9-10 at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; it is sponsored by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network and over a dozen Catholic universities and agencies to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the encyclical Pacem in terris and explore Catholic peacebuilding today.
Fifty years ago Pacem in terris broke new ground in Catholic teaching on peacemaking by elaborating an approach to peace and engagement in the world that went beyond merely avoiding violence. Using human rights as a foundation for a vision of peace that involves authentic development and a just world order, Pacem in terris began what has become a vibrant engagement by Catholic actors in U.S. policy and the world scene.
In addition to commemorating the encyclical as a living document that remains fresh today, this conference is intended to contribute to animating peacebuilding as a priority for Catholics in the United States and to focus attention on ways in which Catholic perspectives on peacebuilding can contribute to the wider debate on the responsibilities and opportunities for peacebuilding in U.S. foreign policy.
Graduate students will present related papers at the affiliated Graduate Student Conference on April 8.
Further updates on speakers, workshops, and registration can be found at the CPN website on the Upcoming Events page. Registration is free but required. Deadline to register: April 2, 2013.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Cardinal Peter Turkson, President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
- Fr. Bryan Hehir, Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Carolyn Woo, President, Catholic Relief Services
- Fr. Drew Christiansen, Professor, Boston College
- Amb. Douglas Roche, former Chairman, United Nations Disarmament Committee
- Scott Appleby, Director, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
- Maryann Cusimano Love, Professor, The Catholic University of America
- Steve Schneck, Director, Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies, The Catholic University of America
- Marie Dennis, Co-President, Pax Christi International
Co-sponsors include:
- Caritas Internationalis
- Catholic Relief Services
- The Catholic University of America Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies
- Pax Christi International
- Sant’Egidio Community in the United States
- Trinity Washington University
- U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of International Justice and Peace
- United States Institute of Peace
- University of Dayton
- University of Notre Dame Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
- University of San Diego Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
- University of St. Thomas (MN) Department of Justice and Peace Studies
About the Catholic Peacebuilding Network:
The Catholic Peacebuilding Network (CPN) seeks to enhance the study and practice of Catholic peacebuilding at a time when religion is wrongly seen mainly as a source of conflict and division, not a resource for peace and reconciliation. The CPN complements existing peacebuilding efforts by
- deepening solidarity among scholars and practitioners
- improving understanding of best practices in peacebuilding
- developing a theology and ethics of peacebuilding
- enhancing the peacebuilding capacity of the Church in areas of conflict.
Spearheaded by Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Catholic Relief Services, CPN began in 2004 with seven institutions and now numbers 21.