On June 3 through 6, the Initiative hosted an unprecedented leadership Convening, “Though Many, One: Overcoming Polarization Through Catholic Social Thought,” which brought to Georgetown 100 emerging and established Catholic leaders with diverse backgrounds and differing ecclesial, political, and ideological commitments. Over three days of listening and learning, dialogue and bridge-building, and prayer and reflection, these diverse leaders explored how Catholic Social Thought can help bring the Church together to advance the common good in a divided nation. John Allen called this Convening “the most serious effort to address divisions in the American Church in a long time—certainly in the five-year era of Pope Francis.”
Roundtable discussions of principles and applications of Catholic Social Thought were off the record, but plenary sessions were recorded to share with others. Below are videos of those principled, faithful, and candid panels.
"Overcoming Polarization Through Catholic Social Thought: Keynote Convening Panel"
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archdiocese of Chicago
Kim Daniels, Co-Convener
John J. DeGioia, president, Georgetown University
Amy Goldman, CEO and chair, GHR Foundation
Archbishop José Gómez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington
"Research on Polarization in the Church and Nation"
Tricia Bruce, Maryville College
Emily Ekins, Cato Institute
Mark Gray, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
Greg Smith, Pew Research Center
"Causes, Costs, and Overcoming Polarization in the Church and Nation"
Scott Appleby, Notre Dame University
Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN, Pax Christi USA
Elise Italiano, Given Institute
Matt Malone, S.J., America Media
Hosffman Ospino, Boston College
"Public Dialogue on Overcoming Polarization through Catholic Social Thought: Bringing the Joy of the Gospel to a Divided Nation"
Helen Alvaré, professor, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
John J. DeGioia, president, Georgetown University
John Carr, Co-Convener
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago
Archbishop José Gómez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, president, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
"How Do Principles of Catholic Social Thought Bring Us Together?"
Meghan Clark, St. John’s University
E.J. Dionne, Georgetown University, Brookings Institution, and Washington Post
Christine Emba, Washington Post
Robert George, Princeton University
Joan Rosenhauer, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
"Faith and Polarization: Catholic Social Thought and the Common Good"
Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post
David Brooks, New York Times
Cherie Harder, Trinity Forum
Terrence Johnson, Georgetown University
Mark Shields, PBS NewsHour
"Attitudes, Behaviors, and Strategies for Moving Forward"
Msgr. John Enzler, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
John Garvey, president, Catholic University of America
Kerry Robinson, Leadership Roundtable
Sister Norma Pimentel, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Amy Uelmen, Georgetown Law Center
"Lessons Learned, Continuing Challenges, Next Steps"
Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
John Carr, Co-Convener
Kim Daniels, Co-Convener
Kathryn Lopez, National Review
Rev. James Martin, S.J., America Media
speech transcript | Reflections from Cardinal Cupich and Archbishop Gómez
