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Catholic
Social Thought Lecture
Kathleen Noone
 Emphasizing
the importance of Catholic Social Thought at the University level, Dr.
Monica Hellwig, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and
Universities, lectured in the Villanova Room on Oct. 7. The Office of
Mission Effectiveness sponsored Hellwig’s speech as the third annual
Cardinal Newman Lecture on Catholic Higher Education.
Her lecture, titled “The Interdisciplinary Character of Catholic
Social Thought: A Challenge to the Catholic University,” focused
primarily on three aspects. First, Hellwig provided a historical background
to Catholic social thought, then looked at the challenges it presents
to a University community. Lastly, she suggested activities and responses
to meeting those challenges.
According to Hellwig, social justice is deeply rooted within Catholic
history. “Catholic social thought is not a new concept,” she
said. “The apostles promoted the idea that resources of means of
production should not be thought of as belonging to individuals.”
She also emphasized how nations should consider economic surpluses as
given to them on trust, an idea originally rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Hellwig encouraged student analysis of Catholic social thought, stating
it serves as an important part of the university experience. Addressing
the students in the audience, she said, “We are looking to you in
the future to be creative and do your own thinking and you own analyzing
of the issues.”
Dr. Barbara Wall, special assistant to the president for Mission Effectiveness,
commented on Hellwig’s challenge to faculty members as well. “She
challenged faculty to direct their empirical study and research to issues
that will promote the common good and make the lives of the poor and the
disadvantaged a focus of research for the betterment of their lives,”
Wall said.
In addition, Hellwig also encouraged the creation of opportunities for
shared research priorities between faculty in professional schools and
faculty specializing in Catholic social thought. Currently, the Office
for Mission Effectiveness is collaborating with the School of Law to publish
a Journal of Catholic Social Thought.
Prior to becoming president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and
Universities, Hellwig served as the Landegger Professor of Theology at
Georgetown University. Her publications include Understanding Catholicism,
Jesus the Compassion of God and The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World.
She is an adoptive mother of three.
The annual Newman lecture was established in order to serve as a reminder
of Cardinal Newman’s contribution to Catholic education.
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