The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC

“Grant to me keenness of mind, capacity of remembering, skill in learning, subtlety in interpreting …” — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS “Our location in Los Angeles and our affiliation with USC are critically important to the mission of the Institute. I can think of no better place from which to conduct the research and offer the programs the Institute was created to produce.” — FR. JAMES L. HEFT, S.M.

Photo by Gary McCarthy A Message from Our President

he Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies sits at a critical juncture in the history of both the Church and the people of the world. Following in the examples of Augustine,T Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, Blaise Pascal and many, many more Catholic philosophers, scientists, teachers, artists, writers and intellectuals, the Institute is dedicated to bringing together faith and reason to confront the world’s most pressing difficulties and address its most enduring questions.

Created to help meet the challenges of a new millennium and our current global reality, the Institute is uniquely positioned to renew the rich, 2000-year-old Catholic intellectual tradi- tion, which affirms that the search for truth and knowledge is in itself an approach to God. The mission of the Institute, then, is both an ancient task and the realization of new promise.

In order to fulfill this mission, the Institute invites scholars—professors, researchers, edu- cators, artists, and writers—from all over the world to engage in ecumenical, interfaith, and interdisciplinary research and dialogue. In their work with the Institute, these scholars seek to heal rather than to divide, and to pursue truth humbly but fearlessly in conversation with other scholars from all branches of human research and knowledge.

This faith-filled and thoughtful activity is a continuation of traditions long established in the . The monastic communities of the 6th century preserved classical learning and the great medieval universities of the 13th century inspired critical, world-changing advances in the arts, medicine, law and theology. In our own time, the age of great modern universities, many people recognize a great need for an institution that can research and explore religious wisdom while engaging modern scientific and intellectual advances.

It is my belief that the encounter of these two traditions—the ancient, lively, deeply spiritual, theological and philosophical traditions within Catholicism and the 21st century commit- ment to intellectual rigor in a context of religious freedom and multiple perspectives—will greatly benefit the Church and all religious traditions, and enrich the human experience. “What you are is God ’s gift to you, what you become

is your gift to God.” — HANS URS VON BALTHASAR

James Lewis Heft, S.M., President Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC

Photo by Gary McCarthy Driven by the idea that extended study—free from the traditional constraints of academic life—promotes the most compelling and most original ideas, the Institute seeks to offer both Catholic scholars and scholars About the Institute of other faiths the unique opportunity to live in a community of their peers and conduct research that will enrich their work, their teaching, the Church, the academic world and the broader public. he Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC is the only research T institute of its kind in the world. Established to inspire fresh thinking, sustain dialogue and facilitate interdisci- plinary, interfaith research, the Institute is dedicated to the idea that an ongoing examination of our world from Catholic perspectives is a mission infinitely valuable to all people. It draws scholars from diverse disciplines and religious traditions to do innovative research and engage in sustained dialogue about the deepest needs of our times.

The Institute is dedicated to the idea that an ongoing examination of our world from Catholic perspectives is a mission infinitely valuable to all people.

The Institute is directed by an independent lay board of trustees—business leaders, prominent scholars and educational leaders from both secular and religious institutions—and is located on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC), one of the world’s premiere research universities.

“Our location in Los Angeles and our affiliation with USC are critically im- portant to the mission of the Institute,” explains Institute President Fr. James Heft, S.M. “I can think of no better place from which to conduct the research and offer the programs the Institute was created to produce.”

“Here, we are situated in the center of one of the largest, most diverse, and most vibrant Catholic communities, among some of the brightest scholars living today, all in the midst of the most culturally and religiously diverse city in the world,” Fr. Heft continues. “Even more, we are located on the doorway to Latin America, which continues to profoundly shape the American Catholic Church; and on the Pacific Rim, where new economic and cultural realities are exerting increasing global power and influence.”

Video still by c2K Communications Research, Programs and Publications

he full vision for the Institute is to The research priorities of the Institute in- “The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC upholds the values that stand at the very core of USC’s mission: the preservation serve as a center that draws scholars clude the renewal of Catholic traditions, T and illumination of history, the rigor of intellectual examination from diverse disciplines and religious tradi- educational structures, and intellectual life; and discovery, the advancement of interdisciplinary scholarship tions to do innovative research and engage the establishment of and support for inter- and the promotion of research that directly addresses the critical in sustained dialogue concerning the critical religious dialogue; the creation of a frame- issues facing our society. We are proud that the Institute has chosen to make USC its home.” issues facing the world today. work for conversation between modern — MAX NIKIAS, President, University of Southern California science and Catholicism; the exploration of Since its establishment in 2004, the Institute religious faith, the arts, and creativity; and has supported research by some of today’s inter-generational mentorship and commu- greatest living scholars, including Charles nity among scholars. Taylor, Kathy Caveny, Lisa Cahill, Ken True Wealth of Nations conversation came the 2012 publication of Miller, John O’Malley, S.J., Margaret Ar- The Institute sponsors programs and lecture One of the Institute’s most fruitful and The Moral Dynamics of Economic Life, with cher, Stefano Zamagni, Paulinus I. Odozor, series exploring a broad range of topics—the longest-running research efforts is the True and Hans Joas—scholars whose work with intergenerational transmission of faith for Wealth of Nations program. Designed to the Institute has culminated in more than Catholics, Jews, Muslims and other believers, bring leading scholars together to consider a dozen highly acclaimed publications by the role of faith in economics and social jus- whether the major principles of Catholic leading academic publishers. tice, the critical importance of interreligious social teaching on economics, if applied dialogue to relations between nations and competently, could put the world on the path Many of these works have influenced other communities of faith, the impact of Vatican to prosperity for all, particularly the poor scholars, have made their way into college and II, the future of the Catholic writer—that and the marginalized, the True Wealth of university classrooms, and have influenced have helped establish the Institute as an Nations serves as a hallmark of the kind of the ongoing development and revitalization independent entity with an international research the Institute produces and supports. of Catholic education. reach and reputation. In 2010, Oxford University Press published the results of the first of the True Wealth of Nations conferences under the title, The True Wealth of Nations: Catholic Social Teaching and Economic Life.

“My involvement in a number of projects with the Institute—on reli- But even before the publication of this volume, gion and violence, on spirituality and religion and on transcending the institutionalization of religion—have had the effect of helping me the program caught the attention of the Vat- deepen my engagement with my own tradition, through the serious ican, which invited the Institute to organize a and profound interaction with ideas and other perspectives on life, conference in Rome on Pope Benedict’s social on death, on God and on the meaning of spirituality and existence.” encyclical, Caritas in veritate, and explore how — RABBI REUVEN FIRESTONE, Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam Photo by Gary McCarthy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles that encyclical might apply to the United and senior fellow at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture States and Europe. Out of this important Dr. Gary Adler, Director of Research for the Institute, and Elaine Krebs, USC undergraduate student and member of the Caruso Center Student Pastoral Council. Research, Programs and Publications cont.

chapters contributed by leading economists, In 2007, the Institute sponsored an inter- policy experts, and theologians. national group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars who met in Jerusalem to Sustaining the momentum of the previ- explore how to accept the inescapably limited ous publications, Oxford published a third grasp all believers have of God’s revelation, volume in the series, Distant Markets, Distant without falling into relativism or agnosticism. Harms: Economic Complicity and Christian The result was Learned Ignorance: Intellec- Ethics, which explores the moral responsi- tual Humility Among Jews, Christians and bility of consumers for both the benefits and Muslims, published by Oxford University the harm their economic decisions bring to Press in 2011 and edited by Fr. James Heft, distant others. Rabbi Reuven Firestone and Omid Safi.

Interreligious Dialogue For its 2011 publication, Catholicism and Another foundational part of the Institute’s Interreligious Dialogue, the Institute solic- mission is the support of research and di- ited and edited essays from five prominent alogue among scholars from other great Catholic scholars who specialize in the study religious traditions. of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or

“In the Generations in Dialogue program, I’ve had a chance to see how someone who has been in the spiritual literature community for a long time has found ways to read and to write that engage with the larger questions about what makes us human.” Video still by c2K Communications — LISA AMPLEMAN, GID participant, poet and Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati

Photo by Gary McCarthy Research, Programs and Publications cont. “Over the past few decades, a convergence of social trends and new intellectual resources has created a platform for the reinvigoration of American Catholic intellectual life ...” — SCOTT APPLEBY, John M. Regan Jr. Director, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Professor of History at the ; IACS Board member

Photo by Gary McCarthy

Confucianism. Another Institute volume, Mentorship and Passing on the Faith, explores the Abrahamic Next-Generation Scholars faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam— in The Generations in Dialogue (GID)/Mullin the context of the importance of transmitting Scholars Program is an ongoing Institute religious identity from one generation to effort designed to provide young scholars the next. Beyond Violence: Religious Sources and artists with the opportunity to be men- of Social Transformation in Judaism, Christi- tored by some of the major leaders in their anity, and Islam explores how these religious respective fields. traditions can become a vehicle for peace, justice and reconciliation. The collection of Over the course of two years, six GID par- essays is the result of an Institute-sponsored ticipants—who are chosen from hundreds of conference of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim applicants—spend a total of four weekends in scholars and community leaders. dialogue with their mentor and one another, discussing their shared experiences, personal and professional challenges and rewards, Research, Programs and Publications cont.

The research priorities of the Institute include the renewal of Catholic traditions, educational structures, and intellectual life; the establishment of and support for inter-religious dialogue; the creation of a framework for conversation between modern science and Catholicism; the exploration of religious faith, the arts, and creativity; and inter-generational mentorship and community among scholars.

and the role their faith plays in their lives. “Our dialogues have helped me understand They also have the opportunity to meet and that my work is much more Catholic than I hear presentations from other distinguished had thought, in its themes, subject matter, and scholars, artists, and thinkers in their areas worldview,” Samuel Martin, a novelist and of study. Ultimately, the program is designed English professor at Northwestern College, to encourage these young scholars to view explains. “That said, I have also been learn- their work as a vocation, and enliven and ing a lot about what being a Catholic—or enrich their intellectual and spiritual lives catholic—writer can mean. These discussions in ways that will continue to benefit them from the weekend have been percolating as throughout their careers. I consider from where my creative work has come and where it is going.” For Cincinnati Children’s Hospital pediatri- cian and writer Brian Volck, participation in Once they complete the program, participants the GID program was “a gift of community attain the title of “Mullin Scholars,” and many and communion in an otherwise lonely currently teach at an array of leading institu- endeavor, and an invitation to work from a tions, including Boston College, Princeton contemplative stance.” Theological Seminary, , Boston University, Biola University, and the Photo by Gary McCarthy Interlochen Center for the Arts.

“It’s so important for us to have a critical and objective voice when discussing religion in the public sphere, to have a place that convenes faith practitioners, research scholars and the community to address “The Institute lifts up and promotes a positive, public and proactive language about not just the Catholic community the challenges of the 21st century. The Institute is just such a place, and tradition and identity, but about a religious identity, period. I believe this is an absolutely necessary element to a and offers just such a voice.” thriving life in our century and beyond.” — DR. VARUN SONI, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California — EBOO PATEL, Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, author and member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships Education An Independent, Non-Profit Organization

ne of the Institute’s major areas of to Catholic education, was recognized by s a non-profit organization, the In- In addition to seeking support for its many study involves the promise of Cath- both the Association of Catholic Colleges stitute relies on the generosity of important programs and projects, the Insti- Oolic education at all levels. and Universities in 2012, and the National itsA supporters to fund current and future tute aspires to create a fully staffed research Catholic Education Association in 2014. research, programs, conferences and projects. center comprised of office space, community Catholic High Schools: Facing the New Realities, space and a chapel that can accommodate published in 2011 by Oxford University Press In 2013, the Institute partnered with the Beginning in 2014, the Institute launched its up to 20 active scholars over the course of and written by Institute President James Heft, University of Dayton to present In the Logos of first campaign, a multi-year effort to secure their research and establish a community of S.M., confronts three major changes facing Love, a three-day conference that drew more additional support from individual donors, collaboration and inspiration. today’s Catholic educators: the shift to pri- than 140 scholars, journalists, bloggers and foundations and corporations. marily lay leadership and staffs, the change in educators interested in working to support “History has shown that, when scholars the general culture to pervasive consumerism Catholic intellectuals of today and tomorrow. The Endowment Principle work closely with other scholars, they create and therapeutic attitudes, and the power of The papers presented at the conference will “Institutes for advanced study, like those a synergism that fuels the greatest advances social media over adolescents. This book, be published in a forthcoming volume of in Princeton and Palo Alto, are expensive in research and writing,” Fr. Heft continues. combined with the author’s life-long service the same name. organizations, but they’re worth it because “Once a sufficient endowment is assured to they support the work of gifted scholars for attract the full attention of top scholars, we an intensive period of time,” explains Fr. Heft. will be able to create a center to enable just that kind of collaboration.” “Endowments are energy cells: renewable and reliable,” he concludes. “They provide both direction and autonomy for vital operations into the future. With an adequate endowment, the impressive research already published by the Institute will multiply exponentially.”

“The Institute is a wonderful venture. I love the way it welcomes hon- est dialogue among people of all faiths and the unusual way it works to deepen and strengthen the Catholic tradition. I believe that the goals of the Institute, though ambitious, are absolutely attainable. That is why I support it.”

— JULIE MORK, Institute donor and member of the Institute’s Board of Trustees

Photo by Gary McCarthy Academic Advisory Council Board of Trustees SCOTT APPLEBY SCOTT APPLEBY “Should anyone ask you the reason for this hope of yours, be ever John M. Regan Jr. Director, Kroc Institute for International John M. Regan Jr. Director, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Professor of History at the University of Peace Studies and Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame Notre Dame ready to reply, but speak gently and respectfully.” — 1 PETER 3:15-16 MARGARET ARCHER JOHN BESSOLO Professor, l’Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Partner, Bessolo, Haworth & Vogel LLP Switzerland; President, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences THOMAS J. CONDON DOMINIC F. DOYLE Philanthropist, Knights of Malta Associate Professor, School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College DOMINIC F. DOYLE Associate Professor of Systematic Theology; Boston College DANIEL FINN School of Theology and Ministry William E. & Virginia Clemens Professor of Economics and Liberal Arts; Professor of Theology, College of Saint Benedict/ DANIEL FINN Saint John’s University Professor of Theology, William E. and Virginia Clemens; Professor of Economics and the Liberal Arts, St. John’s KEVIN T. FITZGERALD, S.J. University, Collegeville, Minnesota David Lauler Chair for Catholic Health Care Ethics, ELIZABETH GARRETT Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, ROBERTO GOIZUETA University of Southern California Margaret O’Brien Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology, Boston College ELLEN M. HANCOCK Chairman, Board of Trustees, Institute for Advanced FR. JOSEPH A. KOMONCHAK Catholic Studies School of Theology and Religious Studies Professor Emeritus, Catholic University of America FATHER JAMES L. HEFT, S.M. President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies; Alton M. BERNARD MCGINN Brooks Professor of Religion, University of Southern California Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago Divinity School J. BRYAN HEHIR Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of JOHN T. NOONAN Religion and Public Life, Kennedy School of Government Senior Federal Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit at Harvard University

ERNESTO ROSSI ALAN KREDITOR European Publisher and Entrepreneur Emeritus Senior Vice President for University Advancement, University of Southern California CHRISTIAN SMITH William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology, University JULIE MCANDREWS MORK of Notre Dame Managing Director, ECA Foundation

PETER STEINFELS PETER MULLIN University Professor at in New York City, Chairman, Mullin TBG former New York Times journalist and editor of Commonweal BRO. BERNARD PLOEGER President, Chaminade University CHARLES TAYLOR Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy, MAUREEN A. SHEA McGill University CEO — Florida/Caribbean-Right Management

DAVID TRACY MARTIN SOLMA, SM Andrew Thomas Greeley and Grace McNichols Greeley Provincial Superior of the Marianist Province of the Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago Divinity School KEVIN STARR PATRICK WHELAN University Professor, University of Southern California Former Lecturer in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Lecturer in California State Librarian Immunology, USC Keck School of Medicine; Associate Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital PETER STEINFELS University Professor at Fordham University in New York City, former New York Times journalist and editor of Commonweal

Photo by Gary McCarthy The Institute for Advanced 835 W. 34th Street Catholic Studies at USC University Religious Center, Suite 102 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0751

Photo by Gary McCarthy