Redeeming Power: Overcoming Abuse in Church and Society

Posted on by

Redeeming Power: Overcoming Abuse in Church and Society

A two-day conference at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, to launch a major new research project by the European Society for Catholic Theology (ESCT). Organized in conjunction with Heythrop College, University of London, and the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University.

4 Tuesday – 5 Wednesday September 2012

Confirmed speakers (more to be added):
* Rt. Revd John Arnold (Auxiliary Bishop, Westminster)
* Prof. John Bell (University of Cambridge)
* Prof. Annemie Dillen (KU Leuven)
* Mary Kenny (Irish Independent, Irish Catholic)
* Revd Dr Dariusz Krok (Opole University)
* Mgr Charles Scicluna (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)
* Madeleine Teahan (Catholic Herald)

Conference aims
· The aim of the event is to bring together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, interested in: a) examining the nature, scope, and context of abuses of power, both in the Church and beyond; and b) investigating the means by which they may be overcome.
· While the sexual abuse crisis will naturally form a major focus of the conference (and project), this cannot be understood within a vacuum. We are therefore keen to explore all other issues relating to the topic of theology, power, and abuse.
· The conference will identify a number of key themes that will guide and inform the Redeeming Power project over the next two years, leading to a number of events, projects and publications across Europe.

Call for Papers

Significant time has been set aside in the conference schedule for short papers (i.e., 20 mins) and discussion. Established and emerging scholars from a wide range of disciplines – including, but not limited to, theology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, social work, history, and law (canon and secular) – are strongly encouraged to consider submitting a proposal.

Abstracts (no more than 250 words) of proposed topics should be sent to Dr Stephen Bullivant at stephen.bullivant@smuc.ac.uk by Friday, 13 July.
Decisions will be communicated by Friday, 20 July.

Registration

Full conference information (e.g., full schedule), and details on how to register, will be made available on the project website:
http://www.smuc.ac.uk/inspire/redeeming-power.htm by the end of June. It is hoped that the conference fee (inc. meals, and accommodation on 4 Sept.) will be in the region of £140-150 (TBC). Small bursaries may also be available for postgraduate students giving short paper. Please address all queries to Stephen Bullivant.

Redeeming Power is a joint venture between the ESCT and scholars at  University College Dublin (Ireland), Durham University (UK), Heythrop College (UK), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Opole (Poland), St Mary’s University College (UK), and University of Trnava (Slovakia)