The Elizabeth and Robert Plumleigh Lecture Series

Previous Lecture Series

The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a research-oriented institution dedicated to developing and disseminating a greater understanding of the Catholic tradition, also supports ecumenical and inter-faith explorations. Located at the University of Southern California, it offers free of charge an annual lecture series for the benefit of people on and beyond the campus. Local, national, and international scholars are invited to speak on the rich and varied dimensions of Catholicism, examining its history and development, its current condition and possibilities, and the multiple ways in which it has and ought to interact with society, governments, and other religions.

The theme of the first year of lectures (academic year 2007-2008) was Catholicism and other world religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Geo-political issues of the last few years have made it very clear that religions can be forces for good or evil. What role does and can Catholicism play in replacing a conflict of civilizations with a dialogue of religions? What steps are needed to help interreligious dialogue avoid proselytism on the one hand, or being simply nice on the other? Can religious leaders be prevented from comparing the strengths of their own religion to the weaknesses of the religion of other people, or side-stepping real differences altogether? Major Catholic scholars expert in each of the other five world religions mentioned above addressed these issues. Two members of the religion being discussed critiqued the presentation, and the original presenter then responded to their comments. These papers have been edited and are being reviewed for publication. Please click here to visit the 2007-2008 lecture series.

The theme of the second year of lectures (academic year 2008-2009) was religion and film. Major Catholic film scholars addressed a wide variety of topics, from On the Waterfront to the spirituality of narrative and visual media. These papers are available upon request for research purposes only. Please click here to visit the 2008-2009 lecture series (pdf).

The lectures scheduled for the current year (2009-2010) address a variety of themes: the history of California, evolution and Catholic theology, a Catholic response to post-modern culture, the role of Catholicism in the legal battles over same-sex marriage and the death penalty, and media and modern culture. Among the speakers are Professors Kevin Starr, Peter Steinfels, Michael Perry, Fr. James L. Heft, S.M., the President of the Institute, and others. Please click here to visit the 2009-2010 lecture series.

The Institute’s lectures will be well advertised on campus, in the city, and with friends of the Institute (they are held in the USC Davidson Conference Center located on the corner of Figueroa and Jefferson Blvd.), typically at 5:00 PM, preceded by a reception at 4:30 PM. These scholarly yet accessible lectures feature and explore Catholicism’s relationship with and contribution to important historical and cultural developments in society and the world today. For further information, contact Ms. Shelia Garrison at 213-740-3055 (skgarris@usc.edu).

2011–2012 Lecture Series

Sept. 13, 2011 6:30 PM–7:30 PM	*Secularism Crucified?* Doulgas Kmiec, Professor of Constitutional Law and Caruso Family Chair in Constitutional Law at Pepperdine University, and former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Malta. Co-sponsored with the USC Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School.

Oct. 18, 2011 5:00 PM–6:00 PM	Pentecostals and Roman Catholics: Past Tensions, New Initiatives Tom Rausch, S.J., T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles Co-sponsored with the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture

Nov. 15, 2011 6:30 PM–7:30 PM	*The Catholic Writer Today* Dana Gioia, Dana Gioia, Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture is his proper title so switch title to: Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture Co-sponsored with the Conference on Christianity and Literature at Pepperdine University.

2010-2011

"Religion, Violence and Reconciliation"

February 7, 2011	*What is Jihad?: Peace and War in the Muslim Tradition* Ghada Osman, Associate Professor of Islamic and Arabic Studies at San Diego State University

March 22, 2011	*How the Birth-pangs of Religion Complicate Peacemaking Between Faith Communities* Reuven Firestone, Professor of Medieval Judaism at Hebrew Union College– Jewish Institute of Religion

April 5, 2011	*Healing, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda* Donald Miller, Professor of Religion and Executive Director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California

Common Ground on Immigration Reform
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
presented by Cardinal Roger Mahony
Tutor Campus Center – Grand Ballroom
(On the lower level)
USC Campus
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
4:30 p.m. Reception • 5:00 p.m. Lecture
For information contact: Shelia Garrison by phone 213.740.1864 or via e-mail at skgarris@usc.edu

In the sometimes heated discussion on immigration, we often forget that our nation was founded on the labor of immigrants who continue to bring energy and innovation to our changing society. This talk will focus on the practical aspects of a just and comprehensive reform of our present immigration laws. These include the right of our country to control its borders as well as the responsibility of the 'sending' nations to care for their people and our critical need to address the problem of the huge number of people living in this country without legal immigrant status. Cardinal Mahony will outline the United States Catholic bishops' suggestions for obtaining new immigration laws and the current work being done in our Congress toward this end.

Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony was appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II on July 16, 1985. He was installed as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles on September 5, 1985. Pope John Paul II created him a cardinal on June 28, 1991. Born in Hollywood, Cardinal Mahony is the first native Angeleno and the third Archbishop of Los Angeles to be created a cardinal.