Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

The latest Dahlgren Dialogue focused on some of the most divisive topics in American politics: abortion and the right to life. Co-hosted by the Initiative for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life as well as the Office for Mission and Ministry, the panel featured four pro-life women: Serrin Foster, the president of Feminists for Life and the creator of the Women Deserve Better campaign; Julia Greenwood (C’19) a Georgetown undergraduate and the co-director of the 2019 Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life; Gloria Purvis, the creator of the EWTN show Authentically Free at Last, host of the EWTN radio show Morning Glory, and editor of the African American Catholic Youth Bible; and Aimee Murphy, the executive director of Rehumanize International, a secular human rights organization dedicated to creating a culture of peace and life that seeks to end violence against humans through education, discourse, and action. The dialogue was moderated by Kim Daniels, associate director for the Initiative.

Though there has been much discussion over whether American politics has become polarized (it has), there has been fewer talk of the divisions in the American Catholic community. In a time when politics is on everyone’s mind, I was a little surprised to see these political beliefs reflected in the religious sphere. A Public Dialogue hosted by the Initiative of Catholic Social Thought and Public Life entitled, “Emerging Leaders on Polarization in a Broken Church and Nation” sought to address these issues. The event featured John Gehring, Elise Italiano, Hoffsman Ospino, and Gloria Purvis and was moderated by Kim Daniels, associate director of the Initiative.