Cas 300 the Catholic Tradition

RS 361E/CAS 420I §RU01 Christianity, Politics, & Public Policy MW 2:30-3:45 L15 Fall, 2006 Dr. Thomas B. Leininger Tel 303-964-5082 E-mail [email protected] Office Loyola 32 Hrs: MW 10:15-11:15; MWF 12:20*-1:20 *Meet in Cafeteria Website: http://academic.regis.edu/tleining/ ______REQUIRED TEXTS Cochran, Clarke E. and David Carroll Cochran. Catholics, Politics, & Public Policy: Beyond Left and Right (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2003) ISBN 1-57075-457-8 Hammond, Phillip E. With Liberty for All: Freedom of Religion in the United States (Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998) ISBN: 0664257682 Readings posted on the website and/or on reserve at Dayton Memorial Library (listed as “PR”) ______READINGS & DISCUSSION SCHEDULE 1. M Aug 28 Introduction to Course & Background on School Prayer (Fr. Curran)

2. W Aug 30 Presentation on School Prayer: Hammond, ch. 1 ______M Sep 4 No Class: Labor Day Holiday

3. W Sep 6 Church & State: Historical Perspective (Fr. Curran): Hammond, ch. 2 ______4. M Sep 11 Church & State: Legal Perspective (Fr. Curran): Hammond, chs. 3-4

5. W Sep 13 Student Led Exercise 1 a) Shane Oakley b) Loren Vikse

______6. M Sep 18 Church & State: Political Perspective (Dr. Leininger): Hammond, chs. 5-6

7. W Sep 20 Student Led Exercise 2 a) David Vranicar b) Rob Suter c) Conly Davidson

______8. M Sep 25 Church & State: Catholic Perspective (Fr. Curran): Cochran, ch. 1

9. W Sep 27 Student Led Exercise 3 a) Lisa Finley b) Angela Houlihan c) Monique Orthober ______10. M Oct 2 Church & State: Protestant Perspective (Dr. Leininger): PR, t.b.a. and review Hammond, ch. 6

11. W Oct 4 Student Led Exercise 4 a) Ashley Wright b) Will Hori c) Rob Brugler

______12. M Oct 9 How is U.S. public policy formed? (Fr. Curran); Bring questions about exam material.

13. W Oct 11 Midterm Exam (Bring only pens to class; no notes or books) ______M-T Oct 16-17 No class: Midterm Break ______14. W Oct 18 Midterm Grades Due Fall ’06 RS 361E/CAS 420I SYLLABUS Page 2 of 6

______15. M Oct 23 Economics: Just Wage (Dr. Leininger): Cochran, ch. 2

16. W Oct 25 Student Led Exercise 5 a) Lindsey Hogue b) Ariel Shagory c) Hannah Roph ______17. M Oct 30 Economics: Assuring Health Care: Cochran, ch. 3 Guest Speakers from Namaste Comfort Care: Jan Bezuidenhout and Grant Fleming

18. W Nov 1 Just War and Pacificism: Cochran, ch.9 (focus on war and capital punishment); and PR, McCormick and Connors, “The Story of Christians and Violence,” 90-95. Guest Speaker: John Dear, S.J. ______19. M Nov 6 Environment: Stewards of the Earth (Fr. Curran): Cochran, ch. 8

20. W Nov 8 Student Led Exercise 7 a) Dante Colombatti b) Trisha Curtis c) Beverly Root ______21. M Nov 13 Student Led Exercise 6 a) Steve Masztaler b) Julie Champlin c) Bobby Albi

22. W Nov 15 Student Led Exercise 8 a) Lauren Villareal b) Megan McCann c) Evan Dubay ______23. M Nov 20 Sanctity & Quality of Life: Bioethics (Dr. Leininger): Reread Cochran, ch. 9 (focus on abortion, reproductive technology, and physician assisted suicide);

W-F Nov 22-24 No Class: Thanksgiving Break ______24. M Nov 27 Quality of Life: Care of Children & Elderly (Fr. Curran): Cochran, chs. 4-5

25. W Nov 29 Student Led Exercise 9 a) Dan Rosenthal b) L.P. Wegrzyn c) Christine Pleban ______26. M Dec 4 Faithful Disciple, Good Citizen, and Virtuous Economic Actor: Cochran, 116-120; 129-134; and PR, J. W. O’Malley, S.J., “Jesuit History: A New Hot Topic.” America (May 9, 2005)

27. W Dec 6 Last Class Meeting: What have we learned? ______FINAL EXAM (take home): DUE Monday, December 11 at 3:30 PM in Loyola 32 (in the basket marked “Papers for Dr. Leininger”) ______

DESCRIPTION This course considers “church and state,” constitutional law (First Amendment), and “politics and salvation” with respect to Christianity in the U.S. with a primary emphasis on Catholic tradition. After considering historical, legal, political, and theological perspectives on church and state (illustrated through a discussion of school prayer), we will take up contemporary issues and debates with respect to the economy, healthcare, the environment, just war, the sanctity of life, family, and what it means to be a faithful disciple, a good citizen, and virtuous economic actor in our society. In a typical week, the professors will provide an overview of the relevant course topic on Monday. On nine Wednesdays, students will construct interactive Fall ’06 RS 361E/CAS 420I SYLLABUS Page 3 of 6 exercises and discussions that help the class to reflect on and formulate theological, political, and policy stances on contemporary issues. Fall ’06 RS 361E/CAS 420I SYLLABUS Page 4 of 6

OBJECTIVES Students should develop a working knowledge of 1. the dual nature of the First Amendment 2. historical, political and theological perspectives on church and state 3. the current U.S. policy on a selected sample of policy issues 4. how Christian traditions influence the formation of public policy

Additionally, students will be invited to share in personal reflection upon faithful discipleship, good citizenship, and a virtuous economic life with others.

HOW TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES

1. Textually Informed Contributions to Class Discussion  Complete the assigned readings and any assigned questions before each class.  Attend class with the assigned texts in hand and consistently a) ask questions and offer insights that demonstrate that you have read and reflected upon the assigned readings and consulted the dictionary on important yet unfamiliar terms b) answer questions posed in class in a manner that demonstrates this thoughtful reading  If you become ill and/or are unable to attend at a class meeting, fulfill your responsibility to notify another class member and ask him/her to provide you with detailed notes, copies of handouts, and notice of changes in the syllabus, exams, etc. announced in class. Attendance at every class meeting and timely completion of each assigned reading matters.

2. Student Led Exercise. On nine Wednesdays, groups of 2-3 students will research an issue related to the week’s topic and construct an interactive exercise designed to help the class to reflect on and formulate theological, political, and policy stances on contemporary issues. These presentations are to demonstrate the students’ understanding and integration of the material in a learning approach that is interactive and engaging. In other words, a simple recitation of one’s findings is unacceptable. Ordinarily, these presentations should be in a Christian tradition other than the Catholic perspective since that will be the primary focus in the Monday classes. If the Catholic tradition is chosen, effort must be made to expose students to contrary opinions within the Catholic community. By the start of class on the Monday prior to its Wednesday presentation, each presentation group will need to submit a typewritten summary of the following: 1. The primary objective of your presentation (including what course concept(s) you plan to use) 2. How you plan to achieve these objectives 3. A schedule of how you will use the 70 minute period (5 minutes to start and reflect at the end of class). Maximum length = one page single spaced Minimum = one half of a page single spaced

Failure to submit this summary on time will automatically result in a one letter grade deduction from the grade for the presentation. NOTE: Each presenter must submit a 4-5 Page Paper (see below) at the start of the class meeting that your group is leading. At the start of the semester the professors will demonstrate how this might be done on the issue of school prayer. Students are responsible for arranging to have other classmates prepared to fill in if one or more of the presenters should miss class. If no student is present to lead exercise, the result will be a zero for the assignment. Fall ’06 RS 361E/CAS 420I SYLLABUS Page 5 of 6

3. 4-5 Page Paper (typewritten, double-spaced, and 14 point font) that explains and analyzes the material to be presented in the Student Led Exercise. Papers are due at the start of the class meeting that your group is leading. Late papers are marked down 1/3 letter grade at the start of each 24-hour period after the deadline. Papers will be graded upon how well they a) demonstrate depth of understanding of the course concepts and ability to employ these concepts analytically by developing your own thoughtful examples, analogies, connections, and insights with respect to the course materials, b) conform to Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003 (available at the Writing Center) as well as the requirements indicated by the instructor, and c) make use of the Writing Center in Loyola Hall Room #1 (tel. 458-4039). Papers do not achieve course objectives by simply paraphrasing assigned or outside texts. Instead, they do so by demonstrating your own ability to explain, analyze, and employ the course concepts. Plagiarism (see Hacker, 331 ff) will typically result in a failing grade for the course and referral to the appropriate University authority.

4. An In Class Midterm Exam and a Take Home Final Exam The exams will assess your knowledge of the assigned readings, lectures, presentations, and exercises. The midterm exam will take place in class and the final exam will be a take home exam in which you will demonstrate your knowledge of each of the topics covered since the midterm as well as how you integrate and apply this knowledge.

ASSESSMENT

• Student Exercise 25% A 94-100 Outstanding C 73-76 Good • Paper 25% A- 90-93 C- 70-72 • Midterm Exam 25% B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69 • Final Exam 25% B 83-86 Very Good D 63-66 Minimum TOTAL 100% B- 80-82 D- 60-62 C+ 77-79 F 59-0 Fails requirements Pass > C-; pass/fail student with a “D+ receives an F

POLICIES Exams must be taken as scheduled. Questions about grades will be discussed outside of class sessions only. Students must know and comply with the “academic dishonesty policy” of Regis University. We have a zero tolerance policy toward cheating, e.g., talking during an exam, using inappropriate sources of information, and submitting the work of others as your own. Cite the author is an idea is not your own. Disabilities will be accommodated after a student has registered at Carroll Hall 225 (x4941). Changes to this syllabus, the course requirements, office hours, etc. will be announced in class throughout the semester. Changes in office hours will be posted outside Dr. Leininger’s office door Office Hours for Dr. Leininger. Please note that on MW Dr. Leininger teaches in Loyola 3 until 10:15 A.M. Thus, if you would like to see him right at 10:15 A.M. you should go to Loyola 3 as he often talks with students after class before walking to his office in Loyola 32. On MWF Dr. Leininger finishes teaching a class at 12:20 P.M. in Loyola 15. Again if you want to see him right at that time, please come into that classroom (or he will not know that you are waiting to see him). After he talks with students in Loyola 15, he walks over to the cafeteria and is available to meet with students over lunch. You are always Fall ’06 RS 361E/CAS 420I SYLLABUS Page 6 of 6 welcome to come to his lunch table to ask questions about class or just visit. If you prefer a more private setting, you can make an appointment to meet him in his office at Loyola 32. Dr. Leininger is often available after department meetings on Tuesdays at 4:45 PM.