Biennial Catholic Social Tradition Conference to take up Vatican II’s invitation to discern the signs of the times
Scholars of theology, sociology, political science, ethics and more will gather for the upcoming Catholic Social Tradition Conference from March 20 to 22 at the University of Notre Dame.
Hosted by the Institute for Social Concerns, “Signs of the Times: Interdisciplinary Responses to Religious Nationalism” will remember the 60th anniversary of two significant Vatican II texts, Gaudium et spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) and Dignitatis humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom). Released on the final day of Vatican II, these texts together invited serious consideration of the role of the church and other religious communities in relation to the state.
The three-day conference invites historical, constructive and comparative approaches to examine religious nationalism as a significant sign of the time in contemporary national and international contexts. Interdisciplinary scholars from around the world will present a range of educational, historical, social and legal perspectives. To encourage dialogue, the keynote presentations are all panel discussions and will feature moderated Q&As from attendee submissions.
Each biennial conference takes its theme from seminal Catholic social tradition texts, such as the 2023 Conference titled “Justice Sown in Peace — Celebrating 60 years since Pacem in Terris.”
“This is the institute’s eighth biennial Catholic Social Tradition Conference. Scholars and practitioners from around the world are able to work together to understand and apply the Church’s social teaching to the challenges we face,” said Suzanne Shanahan, the Leo and Arlene Hawk Executive Director of the Institute for Social Concerns.
This conference is also part of the 2024–2025 Notre Dame Forum focused on the question “What do we owe each other?” and is supported by 16 campus partners.
The Institute for Social Concerns is an interdisciplinary institute rooted in Catholic social tradition that responds to the complex demands of justice through justice education, research for the common good and critical conversations.
For more information, visit socialconcerns.nd.edu/cst2025.
Originally published by Todd Boruff at socialconcerns.nd.edu on March 18.
Latest ND NewsWire
- Notre Dame student uses ‘American Ninja Warrior’ spotlight to fight world hunger via his nonprofitOn July 14 (Monday), a University of Notre Dame business student will compete in the semifinal round of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” to advocate for an end to world hunger, an ambition he works toward by making knotted dog toys and collecting donations to his nonprofit.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 6 cancer medications found to be defectiveSerious quality defects were found in a significant number of cancer medications from sub-Saharan Africa, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame.
- Alumni Association awards 2025 Lennon Life PrizesThe Notre Dame Alumni Association recognized nine alumni clubs as recipients of the Lennon Life Prize — part of the Chuck and Joan Lennon Gospel of Life Initiative, a set of programs focused on encouraging the University’s dedicated network of clubs to uphold the value of life at all stages.
- Prioritizing prenatal care may decrease low birth weight outcomes in The Gambia, Notre Dame research findsA new study co-authored by University of Notre Dame researchers highlights the importance of prenatal care for improving the health of mothers and newborns, providing evidence that can inform policy.
- Navigating the waters of peace: Researchers address challenges, opportunities in implementation of Colombia's Peace AgreementNearly half of the commitments outlined in Colombia's historic peace accord face significant challenges and may not happen in time unless policymakers make several key interventions, warns a new report from Notre Dame's Peace Accords Matrix. The report offers a blueprint to salvage an accord that has lagged behind its implementation deadlines, putting its legacy at risk. It highlights timely fixes that can strengthen the agreement.
- ‘Returnless returns’ boost brands among consumersReturnless returns can increase brand support by fostering goodwill, according to John Costello and Christopher Bechler, assistant professors of marketing at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Their study, “Just Keep It: When and Why Returnless Product Returns Foster Brand Support,” is forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing Research.
