Kim Daniels, J.D.
Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life
Kim Daniels is the director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. She is a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and the Synod 2021-24 Communications Commission, and has also served as a consultor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty. Kim has advised other Catholic leaders and institutions on a broad range of issues where Church teachings intersect with public life, including immigration, human life and dignity, religious liberty, and care for creation. She is an adjunct professor in Georgetown’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies, and serves as a member of Georgetown’s Mission Advisory Board and as the senior mentor for the Figge Fellowship Program. Kim is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and Princeton University.
Selected Speaking Engagements
April 11, 2024
Interview, "A Consistent Ethic of Life" with Kim Daniels, The Weight Podcast (Oxford University United Methodist Church)
March 5, 2024
Moderator, Discernment and Dialog: Critical Resources for Difficult Times, Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education
February 14, 2024
Interview, Kim Daniels on Pope Francis’ legacy and the impact of the Synod, Christiane Amanpour (CNN)
February 2, 2024
Speaker, Navigating the Unseen: Women Leading with Resilience, ACCU Women Executive Leaders Pre-conference (Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities)
March 8, 2023
Interview, Kim Daniels: Faith-informed Leadership, Catholic Leaders Podcast (Leadership Roundtable)
May 25, 2022
Interview, Kim Daniels - What synodality means for the church, Field Hospital Podcast (U.S. Catholic)
March 1, 2022
Panelist, The Francis Factor at Nine Years: Synodality and Solidarity, Reform and Resistance, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life
May 13, 2021
Lecture, Trusting the Church, Its Communication, and Its Communicators, Inspiring Trust Conference (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross)
February 26, 2021
Panelist, Refugees, Immigrants and the Pandemic, Integral Human Development in the Digital Age Conference (International Institute for Ethics and Contemporary Issues, the Ukrainian Catholic University, and the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs)
February 7, 2021
Panelist, Healing as Church and Nation: Remembering, Recognizing and Reimagining the Common Good, Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
November 19, 2020
Presenter, Faith and Polarization in 2020, Council on Foreign Relations
November 17, 2020
Presentation, “Writing Editorials and Opinion Pieces to Contribute to Civic Dialogue”, Conference for the Major Superiors of Men
November 12, 2020
Panelist, Towards Fraternity: Reflections on Fratelli Tutti, Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture
May 5, 2020
Panelist, The Papacy Confronts Coronavirus, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs
Selected Writing
Book Chapters
“Kim Daniels: Co-Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University, Washington DC” in Rising: Learning from Women’s Leadership in Catholic Ministries, ed. Carolyn W. Woo (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2022), 125-129.
“Trusting the Church, its Communication, and its Communicators” in Inspiring Trust: Church Communications & Organizational Vulnerability, ed. Jordi Pujol, Juan Narbona, and José María Díaz (Rome: Edizioni Santa Croce, 2021), 131-146.
“Beyond Politics: Everyday Catholic Life” in Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak for Themselves , ed. Helen M. Alvaré (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2012), 159-168.
Articles
What can bring together pro-life Republicans and progressive Democrats? Expanding the child tax credit. (2022, America)
Pope Francis has increased leadership roles for women in the church. But there’s still work to do. (2021, America)
The Four Waves of the U.S. Catholic Abuse Crisis (2018, Church Life Journal)
Teaching
Course Title: Pope Francis, Catholic Social Thought, and Public Life: Principles, Policies, Politics
Course Semester: Fall 2023
Course Number: THEO 2832
CRN: 38135
Kim Daniels also serves as the Senior Mentor for the Figge Fellowship program within the Catholic Studies department at Georgetown University’s College of Arts and Sciences.
November 7, 2024
News: Georgetown Partners with Vatican, Pope Francis on Initiatives Across the University
Georgetown University has several initiatives connected with the Vatican and Pope Francis, including Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life director Kim Daniels who is a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and was…
October 3, 2024
News: Study groups present work, goals to Synod
October 3, 2024
News: Camminare lungo traiettorie di crescita
October 2, 2024
News: Synod: Cardinal Hollerich's opening address - Full text
July 10, 2024
News: Seven cardinals, bishops, experts from US are part of synod's study groups
The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops released the names of members of two sets of study groups that have been conducting an in-depth look into several themes that emerged during the first assembly of the synod on synodality in 2023. Among…
April 6, 2024
News: GU Delegation to Attend Catholic Synod in Rome
March 14, 2024
News: The elusive Catholic vote
February 14, 2024
News: Director Kim Daniels interviewed by Christiane Amanpour on CNN
CNN’s Christiane Amanpour spoke to Kim Daniels, Director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and Member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, about Pope Francis allowing informal blessing for…
January 28, 2024
News: Silver Jubilee Of The Cardinal O’Connor Conference On Life
April 29, 2023
News: Stirring the collective conscience: 10 years of challenging conversations with the Initiative for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life
Launched in 2013, the year the first Jesuit pope began his papacy, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University has since held over 150 dialogues on a range of important topics, reaching a quarter of a million…
March 8, 2023
News: Kim Daniels: Faith-Informed Leadership
February 28, 2023
News: Upcoming Event: “The Francis Factor at Ten Years”
January 9, 2023
News: A post-Dobbs way forward on abortion is becoming clear
April 6, 2022
News: The Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church: An Impetus for Ecumenical Collaboration
The year 2020 saw Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's endorsement of a landmark statement, "For the Life of the World: Towards a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church." The product of years of reflection on the biblical, theological, and pastoral…
January 25, 2022
News: Women’s voices needed on abuse crisis, panelists say
May 5, 2021
News: Fratelli Tutti on Culture and Society
November 30, 2020
News: Evangelize the web, or unplug? The Catholic social dilemma
November 19, 2020
News: Faith and Polarization in 2020 Part 2
November 13, 2020
News: Towards Fraternity: Reflections on Fratelli Tutti
October 23, 2020
News: Divided Catholic voters seek dialogue amid rancour
September 18, 2020
News: New podcast sends clear message: Abuse crisis isn’t over yet
September 11, 2020
News: Opinion: To win Michigan, Joe Biden must moderate on abortion
September 9, 2020
News: Crisis: Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church︱Ep. 1: 2018
September 3, 2020
News: Coming soon. . ."Crisis: Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church"
February 18, 2020
News: Democrats Diverge on Outreach to Anti-Abortion Swing Voters
January 30, 2020
News: News Briefing: Church in the World
November 13, 2019
News: Putting Civil Discourse Back on Course
July 1, 2019
News: Amid polarization, the church must work to build bridges
In this Catholic News Service article, Initiative associate director Kim Daniels highlighted the 2018 National Leadership Convening on Overcoming Polarization Through Catholic Social Thought. "In these challenging times for our church and country,"…
April 6, 2019
News: Church Life Today: Interview with Kim Daniels
February 21, 2019
News: Comms Team for Pope’s Anti-Abuse Summit gives reason for hope
December 17, 2018
News: The Four Waves of the U.S. Catholic Abuse Crisis
September 26, 2018
News: Former bishops’ aide calls on Pope Francis to break silence on abuse
September 26, 2018
News: Georgetown panel deals with 'moral catastrophe' of church's own making
September 19, 2018
News: Young Catholics debate where they -- and the church -- go from here
June 14, 2018
News: Dealing with our differences
July 13, 2016
News: Second American gets Vatican communications post
Two days after appointing an American as its new spokesman, the Vatican has named an American laywoman as a member of the Secretariat for Communications, a body created by Pope Francis last year to manage and overhaul Rome’s different news and media…
March 12, 2024
The Francis Factor at 11 Years Event
Eleven years ago Pope Francis stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with words of welcome and gestures of humility. He has spent the following years emphasizing that we are called to be a “poor Church for the poor” committed to the most…
January 16, 2024
Promoting a Consistent Ethic of Life Event
The consistent ethic of life, an active commitment to protect all human life and promote the dignity of all, is being tested in new and challenging ways. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and its repercussions have generated intense conflict…
November 14, 2023
Solidarity with the Church and Jesuits in Nicaragua Event
The Catholic Church in Nicaragua is suffering. A bishop has been imprisoned, the Jesuit university closed, religious women expelled, charities closed, and seminaries dissolved. The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) has served the people and Church of…
November 2, 2023
Washington Premiere of the Award-winning Film Join or Die and Dialogue on Isolation or Community? Solidarity in America Event
Georgetown University hosted the Washington premiere of Join or Die, which tells the story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam. The film analyzes America’s decades-long decline in community…
October 12, 2023
Caring for the Environment and Each Other: Pope Francis’ Follow-up to Laudato Si’ Event
In 2015 Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, a major encyclical on the environment offering a hopeful vision that challenged us all to better care for “our common home.” On October 4, 2023, Pope Francis released Laudate Deum, an unprecedented follow-up…
September 14, 2023
Catholic Sisters Living the Church’s Social Mission Event
Where do we see living examples of Catholic social teaching in action? Catholic sisters are at the forefront of work for justice, peace, and care for creation. They lead schools, soup kitchens, environmental advocacy efforts, anti-trafficking…
February 28, 2023
The Francis Factor at Ten Years Event
The Initiative’s inaugural Public Dialogue in 2013 was on “The Francis Factor,” examining how Pope Francis' new leadership of the Catholic Church might shape our Church and nation. A decade later, this landmark dialogue focused on the mission…
February 16, 2023
U.S. Catholics and Challenges to Democracy Event
A violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of a defeated president, sustained efforts to undermine faith in elections and the democratic process, political violence, and a growing “Christian” nationalism often linked with racism are just…
January 19, 2023
The Consistent Ethic of Life in 2023 Event
This past year has seen continuing and increasing threats to the lives and dignity of the most vulnerable among us: the continuing humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border; the continued use of the death penalty in more than half the United…
October 5, 2022
Neglected Voices in the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis Event
The Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis is an ongoing wound that has caused immense anguish and pain for abuse survivors and their families and friends, as well as the entire Catholic community. Church leaders have taken steps to respond, but much…
August 30, 2022
Why Do Pope Francis and Catholic Social Thought Matter Now? Event
This private dialogue on "Why Do Pope Francis and Catholic Social Thought Matter Now?" was a centerpiece of the Initiative’s 2022 National Leadership Convening on "Sharing the Joy of the Gospel and Seeking a Better Kind of Politics". This unique…
July 14, 2022
The Consistent Ethic of Life after Dobbs Event
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on abortion has generated enormous conflict, some confusion, and calls for new responses and policy choices on an issue that has deeply divided Americans for decades.
For advocates of a consistent ethic of life…
March 28, 2022
“So What Did I Miss?” Event
Two years ago, in March 2020, the Initiative hosted its last in-person Public Dialogue. In these two very tough years, the United States has experienced:
- A global pandemic with nearly a million lives lost in the United States, lockdowns, closed…
January 18, 2022
Pro-life Movement at a Crossroads Event
January 22, 2022, marks the forty-ninth anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in all 50 U.S. states. This term, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the most important abortion case in…
July 28, 2021
Communion, Catholics, and Public Life: Where Do We Go From Here? Event
In June 2021, U.S. Catholic bishops vigorously debated and then voted to proceed with a document on “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” This discussion and decision have generated considerable conflict, confusion, and…
April 15, 2021
Immigration Challenges and Choices: People, Principles, and Policies Event
The United States has a new president with new policies on immigration and refugees. There is a new Congress with old divisions. Developments on the U.S.-Mexico border and violence against Asian Americans and immigrants raise old fears and new…
March 30, 2021
Life, Young Latinos, and COVID-19: Where Do We Go From Here? Event
A year after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the United States and the world, many are reflecting on the past year and where we go from here. It has raised questions about whose life is protected and valued by our health care system, which workers…
March 11, 2021
Young Catholics and the Biden Administration: Moral Principles and Policy Priorities Event
The election and inauguration of the second Catholic president of the United States has put faith front and center in a new administration and Congress governing amid a pandemic, a reckoning on racial injustice, an economic crisis, and a deeply…
February 1, 2021
President Biden, U.S. Bishops, and Pope Francis: How to Promote Catholic Principles in a Divided Church and Nation Event
On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, began Inauguration Day at Mass with his family and the nation’s leaders at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC. Just after the swearing…
December 1, 2020
Latinos, Young People, and the 2020 Election: What Happened? Why? What Now? Event
This online conversation examined how Latino voters and young voters of faith helped shape the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign. Four leaders came together to discuss how the Trump and Biden campaigns reached out to young voters…
October 20, 2020
Faithful Citizenship: Moral and Political Choices for Catholics in the 2020 Election Event
Two weeks before the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the Initiative brought together respected leaders with diverse perspectives to examine the moral and political choices Catholics are facing in the midst of a global pandemic, economic crisis…
October 13, 2020
Religion and Race Event
The killing of George Floyd sparked a renewed racial justice reckoning in our nation. The national response to police violence against Black Americans has affected our country and communities in a way previously unseen in a generation. These recent…
October 5, 2020
Fratelli Tutti Event
“In this storm, the façade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos, always worrying about our image, has fallen away, uncovering once more that (blessed) common belonging, of which we cannot be deprived: our belonging as brothers and…
September 30, 2020
Faith, Latinos, and the 2020 Campaign Event
Latino voters could be decisive in the November elections. As the United States faces an ongoing pandemic, an economic crisis, and calls for racial justice, both campaigns are reaching out to Latino voters, one of the largest voting blocs in the…
September 8, 2020
Election 2020: Left, Right, or Politically Homeless? Event
In the middle of a challenging presidential campaign, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and the Archdiocese of Washington’s DCCatholic Young Adult Ministry Theology on Tap program partnered to help young U.S. Catholics think…
June 11, 2020
Justice and Faith, Family and Community Event
This Latino Leader Gathering for young Latino Catholics responded to twin crises faced in Latino communities right now: the injustice and racism revealed by the death of George Floyd and the outrage it has created, as well as the disproportionate…
May 29, 2020
Laudato Si' After Five Years Event
Five years ago, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si', the first papal encyclical to focus on care for creation as a central moral obligation. His groundbreaking letter brought together the call to protect the environment and to defend the “least of these”…
May 5, 2020
The Papacy Confronts Coronavirus Event
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected religious and spiritual life in innumerable ways, challenging ancient traditions and practices. Shortly before Easter, Austen Ivereigh, biographer of Pope Francis who writes for the Tablet, Commonweal, and America…
April 27, 2020
Moving Beyond a Life on Hold Event
This Salt and Light Gathering for Catholics under 40 invited young Catholics to reflect on how the COVID-19 crisis has changed everything from how we work, play, and socialize to how we worship God and serve our neighbors. Many young people are…
February 27, 2020
A Leadership Conversation on the Abuse Crisis Event
This conversation was jointly hosted by the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and Leadership Roundtable and was a follow up to the Initiative’s Convening on Lay Leadership for a Wounded Church and Divided Nation, held June 4-5…
January 28, 2020
A Revolution of the Heart Event
Dorothy Day’s compelling faith, call to nonviolence, and care for the poor offer crucial lessons in these difficult days. Her fascinating story, complicated choices, and challenging witness are brought to life in the powerful new film Revolution of…
November 21, 2019
The Francis Factor Today Event
More than six years ago, Jorgé Mario Bergoglio was elected the first Jesuit and Latin American pope. In choosing the name Francis, he signaled his priorities: “a poor Church for the poor,” peace, and care for God’s creation. Through his humble ways…
November 20, 2019
Nationalism, Post-liberalism, and Pope Francis Event
Rising economic inequality and dislocation, eroded communal ties, and rapid cultural change have helped lead to the rise of nationalist movements and ideas in the United States and around the world. These economic and cultural developments have also…
November 4, 2019
Where Are We Now? Where Do We Need To Go? Event
In his 2019 Letter to the U.S. Bishops, Pope Francis reminds us that “we are not solitary pilgrims, for ‘If one member suffers, all suffer together.’” The twin crises of clergy sexual abuse and leadership failure in the Catholic Church have led to…
October 9, 2019
Keeping Faith in Demoralizing Times Event
This Salt and Light Gathering for young Catholic leaders in public life explored how to live with faith, hope, and charity at a time of division in the United States, crisis in the Catholic Church, and paralysis in Washington, DC. Four remarkable…
March 24, 2019
A Path Forward: Conversation and Dialogue on Clerical Sexual Abuse Event
The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life has organized a series of dialogues on the clerical sexual abuse crisis and lay leadership to address the anger and anguish haunting our family of faith. This conversation and dialogue brought…
February 8, 2019
Civil Dialogue in a Divided Nation, Lay Leadership in a Broken Church Event
This Dialogue, conducted at a Georgetown University Board of Regents meeting, featured panelists Mark Shields, weekly political analyst for PBS NewsHour and syndicated political columnist; Emma Green, staff writer on politics, policy, and religion at…
January 15, 2019
Stand for Life, All Life, Every Life: Resisting the Throwaway Culture Event
Abortion remains one of the most contested issues in American life. The experiences and voices of pro-life women are too often ignored because they challenge our stereotypes and preconceptions. This timely Dahlgren Dialogue featured women leaders…
December 4, 2018
Emerging Leaders on Polarization in a Broken Church and Nation Event
Where can we find hope and ways forward in tough times? Clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up have caused justified anger and anguish among Catholics, and some are using the suffering of victims to pursue their own ideological agendas. Meanwhile…
October 10, 2018
Courageous Faith: Archbishop Óscar Romero, Saint and Leader Event
On October 14 the Church canonized Archbishop Óscar Romero, a courageous pastor and advocate for the poor who was assassinated in 1980. Gunned down while saying Mass, Romero will be El Salvador’s first saint. His brave witness to his faith and…
September 17, 2018
Crisis of Faith? Event
A Salt and Light Gathering for young Catholic professionals under 40.
This is a time of crisis for the Catholic Church. The horrific Pennsylvania grand jury report on clerical sexual abuse and revelations about Cardinal McCarrick have led to outrage…
June 4, 2018
Overcoming Polarization in a Divided Nation Through Catholic Social Thought Event
At a time of polarization in the United States and divisions in the Church, Catholic Social Thought offers affirmative ways to work together to defend human life and dignity, pursue justice and peace, and advance the common good in our country.
Four…
June 4, 2018
Though Many, One: Overcoming Polarization Through Catholic Social Thought Event
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…
September 29, 2014
Resisting the "Throwaway Culture": Pope Francis’ Message on Human Life and Dignity Event
The second Salt and Light Gathering, meant for Catholic public policy professionals under 40 years old, this event explored Pope Francis’ challenge to resist a “throwaway culture” and its implications for young leaders in public life.
October 1, 2013
The Francis Factor Event
The first six months of Pope Francis' leadership were marked by interest and excitement among Catholics and many others around the world. How were the simple ways and powerful words of the new pope impacting American public life? The inaugural…
Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life Selects New Director Feature
As director, Daniels said she hopes to focus on Washington, D.C. youth and their exploration of faith while connecting the values of the institute to greater world developments such as the conflict in Ukraine, racial justice and Pope Francis’ focus…
Kim Daniels joins John Carr as Co‑Director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University Feature
Dear friends, supporters, and partners of the Initiative,
I am happy to share the good news that Kim Daniels is joining me as Co-Director of the Initiative. We made this important announcement today at the start of our dialogue on President Biden…
Second American gets Vatican communications post Feature
Kim Daniels is a former spokesperson for the president of the US bishops’ conference, where she served both Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz.
She’s also a founder and former director of Catholic Voices USA. She is currently a…
Young Adults in this Election Year: Rebuilding Broken Trust in Institutions and Leaders Video
As the United States faces a divisive presidential election in November 2024, there is a crisis of trust in our nation, especially among young people. Younger generations are losing trust in government, economic institutions, media, and organized…
Faith and the Faithful and the 2024 Presidential Election Video
This pre-election Public Dialogue explored the political and religious dynamics of this tumultuous U.S. presidential election year after the attempted assassination of former president and current candidate Donald Trump, the withdrawal of President…
The Vocation of Journalists in a Time of Testing: Lessons from David Carr Video
For more on this event, visit: https://bit.ly/VocationOfJournalistsGU For more on the Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life: https://catholicsocialthought.georgetown.edu For CST's YouTube Playlist: https://bit.ly/3nNil4h…
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 After 60 Years Video
Sixty years ago, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and signed into law after a long moral and political struggle. This act fundamentally changed the United States, enacting legal protections against racial discrimination, prohibiting…
The Francis Factor at 11 Years Video
Eleven years ago Pope Francis stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with words of welcome and gestures of humility. He has spent the following years emphasizing that we are called to be a “poor Church for the poor” committed to the most…
Faith and the Faithful in the 2024 Election Video
The 2024 United States elections will test our nation’s democracy and the religious faith of many voters. A divided nation will choose its leaders. Religious communities and voters will affect those choices in decisive ways. As the U.S. presidential…
Promoting a Consistent Ethic of Life Video
The consistent ethic of life, an active commitment to protect all human life and promote the dignity of all, is being tested in new and challenging ways. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and its repercussions have generated intense conflict…
Solidarity with the Church and Jesuits in Nicaragua Video
The Catholic Church in Nicaragua is suffering. A bishop has been imprisoned, the Jesuit university closed, religious women expelled, charities closed, and seminaries dissolved. The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) has served the people and Church of…
Award-winning Film Join or Die and Dialogue on Isolation or Community? Solidarity in America Video
Georgetown University hosted the Washington premiere of Join or Die, which tells the story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam. The film analyzes America’s decades-long decline in community…
Caring for the Environment and Each Other: Pope Francis’ Follow-up to Laudato Si’ Video
In 2015 Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, a major encyclical on the environment offering a hopeful vision that challenged us all to better care for “our common home.” On October 4, 2023, Pope Francis released Laudate Deum, an unprecedented follow-up…
Catholic Sisters Living the Church’s Social Mission Video
Where do we see living examples of Catholic social teaching in action? Catholic sisters are at the forefront of work for justice, peace, and care for creation. They lead schools, soup kitchens, environmental advocacy efforts, anti-trafficking…
Whatever Happened to Matthew 25? Video
In the Gospel description of the Last Judgement, there is really only one question: how do we treat “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). In the midst of an intense battle over federal budget cuts and raising the debt ceiling, the central moral…
Human Dignity and the Migration Crisis at the U.S. Southern Border Video
The humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border has been visible for decades, but it has now reached an unprecedented level of urgency. Political unrest, ecological disasters, economic deprivation, and intensifying violence have resulted in…
Young Catholics, Work, and Labor in the New Economy Video
Young workers in the United States are wrestling with how their jobs affect their finances, relationships, and personal beliefs and values. What does work mean for young people in an economy that is dramatically changing how we work, where we work…
The Francis Factor at Ten Years Video
The Initiative’s inaugural Public Dialogue in 2013 was on “The Francis Factor,” examining how Pope Francis' new leadership of the Catholic Church might shape our Church and nation. A decade later, this landmark dialogue focused on the mission…
U.S. Catholics and Challenges to Democracy Video
A violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of a defeated president, sustained efforts to undermine faith in elections and the democratic process, political violence, and a growing “Christian” nationalism often linked with racism are just…
Neglected Voices in the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis Video
The Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis is an ongoing wound that has caused immense anguish and pain for abuse survivors and their families and friends, as well as the entire Catholic community. Church leaders have taken steps to respond, but much…
Why Do Pope Francis and Catholic Social Thought Matter Now? Video
This discussion on "Why Do Pope Francis and Catholic Social Thought Matter Now?" featured Fr. Robert Boxie of Howard University, Dr. Michelle González Maldonado of the University of Scranton, Dr. Russell Moore of Christianity Today, and Rev. Jim…
The Consistent Ethic of Life after Dobbs Video
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on abortion has generated enormous conflict, some confusion, and calls for new responses and policy choices on an issue that has deeply divided Americans for decades.
For advocates of a consistent ethic of life…
The Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church Panel 1 Video
The Russian war against Ukraine has underscored the critical importance of ecumenical collaboration in the service of peace and justice. The year 2020 saw Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's endorsement of a landmark statement, "For the Life of the…
“So What Did I Miss?” Video
Two years ago, in March 2020, the Initiative hosted its last in-person Public Dialogue. In these two very tough years, the United States has experienced:
- A global pandemic with nearly a million lives lost in the United States, lockdowns, closed…
The Francis Factor at Nine Years Video
Nine years ago, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit archbishop from Argentina, was introduced to a surprised world as Pope Francis. He bowed his head and asked us all to pray for him as he began to lead with humble ways, powerful words, and a call to…
Pro-life Movement at a Crossroads Video
January 22, 2022, marks the forty-ninth anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in all 50 U.S. states. This term, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the most important abortion case in…
Lifting Up the Voices of Female Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse Video
For more on this event, visit: https://bit.ly/2ZrccCv For more on the Berkley Center, visit: https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu October 25, 2021 | In a newly released historic report on the rates of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in France,…
Communion, Catholics, and Public Life: Where Do We Go From Here? Video
In June 2021, U.S. Catholic bishops vigorously debated and then voted to proceed with a document on “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” This discussion and decision have generated considerable conflict, confusion, and…
Immigration Challenges and Choices: People, Principles, and Policies Video
The United States has a new president with new policies on immigration and refugees. There is a new Congress with old divisions. Developments on the U.S.-Mexico border and violence against Asian Americans and immigrants raise old fears and new…
Life, Young Latinos, and COVID-19: Where Do We Go From Here? Video
A year after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the United States and the world, many are reflecting on the past year and where we go from here. It has raised questions about whose life is protected and valued by our health care system, which workers…
Young Catholics and the Biden Administration: Moral Principles and Policy Priorities Video
The election and inauguration of the second Catholic president of the United States has put faith front and center in a new administration and Congress governing amid a pandemic, a reckoning on racial injustice, an economic crisis, and a deeply…
Latinos, Young People, and the 2020 Election: What Happened? Why? What Now? Video
This online conversation examined how Latino voters and young voters of faith helped shape the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign. Four leaders came together to discuss how the Trump and Biden campaigns reached out to young voters…
Faithful Citizenship: Moral and Political Choices for Catholics in the 2020 Election Video
Two weeks before the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the Initiative brought together respected leaders with diverse perspectives to examine the moral and political choices Catholics are facing in the midst of a global pandemic, economic crisis…
Religion and Race Video
The killing of George Floyd sparked a renewed racial justice reckoning in our nation. The national response to police violence against Black Americans has affected our country and communities in a way previously unseen in a generation. These recent…
Fratelli Tutti Video
On Saturday, October 3, Pope Francis traveled to Assisi to the tomb of St. Francis to pray and sign his new encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
On Sunday, October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, his encyclical on human fraternity and social friendship…
Faith, Latinos, and the 2020 Campaign Video
Latino voters could be decisive in the November elections. As the United States faces an ongoing pandemic, an economic crisis, and calls for racial justice, both campaigns are reaching out to Latino voters, one of the largest voting blocs in the…
Election 2020 Left, Right, or Politically Homeless Video
In the middle of a challenging presidential campaign, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and the Archdiocese of Washington’s DCCatholic Young Adult Ministry Theology on Tap program partnered to help young U.S. Catholics think…
Justice and Faith, Family and Community Video
This Latino Leader Gathering for young Latino Catholics responded to twin crises faced in Latino communities right now: the injustice and racism revealed by the death of George Floyd and the outrage it has created, as well as the disproportionate…
Laudato Sí After Five Years Video
Five years ago, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si, the first papal encyclical to focus on care for creation as a central moral obligation. His groundbreaking letter brought together the call to protect the environment and to defend the “least of these”…
The Papacy Confronts Coronavirus Video
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected religious and spiritual life in innumerable ways, challenging ancient traditions and practices. Shortly before Easter, Austen Ivereigh, biographer of Pope Francis who writes for the Tablet, Commonweal, and America…
Moving Beyond a Life on Hold Video
This Salt and Light Gathering for Catholics under 40 invited young Catholics to reflect on how the COVID-19 crisis has changed everything from how we work, play, and socialize to how we worship God and serve our neighbors. Many young people are…
2020 Cardinal O'Connor Conference - Panel & Closing Video
2020 Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life panel discussion on "The Consistent Life Ethic and the Law." Panelists are introduced by conference director, Madeleine Ostertag (COL'20): Catherine Glenn Foster, J.D., President and CEO of Americans United…
Revolution of the Heart: Special Screening of Major Film on Dorothy Day for Young Leaders Video
Dorothy Day’s compelling faith, call to nonviolence, and care for the poor offer crucial lessons in these difficult days. Her fascinating story, complicated choices, and challenging witness are brought to life in the powerful new film Revolution of…
Fall 2019 Dahlgren Dialogue Video
The Dahlgren Dialogues are a series of substantive conversations with experienced leaders in the context of prayerful reflection on current topics at the intersection of faith and public life. Co-sponsored with the Initiative on Catholic Social…
Nationalism, Post-liberalism, and Pope Francis Video
Rising economic inequality and dislocation, eroded communal ties, and rapid cultural change have helped lead to the rise of nationalist movements and ideas in the United States and around the world. These economic and cultural developments have also…
Where Are We Now? Where Do We Need To Go? Video
In his 2019 Letter to the U.S. Bishops, Pope Francis reminds us that “we are not solitary pilgrims, for ‘If one member suffers, all suffer together.’” The twin crises of clergy sexual abuse and leadership failure in the Catholic Church have led to…
Keeping Faith in Demoralizing Times Video
This Salt and Light Gathering for young Catholic leaders in public life explored how to live with faith, hope, and charity at a time of division in the United States, crisis in the Catholic Church, and paralysis in Washington, DC. Four remarkable…
Faith, Race, and Politics Video
In a polarized nation, faith, race, and politics can be divisive topics on their own. Bringing them together can be explosive. This Public Dialogue sought to explore the intersections of faith, race, and politics in the United States in ways that can…
Lay Leadership for a Wounded Church and Divided Nation Video
This Public Dialogue focused on the often-overlooked costs of the clergy sexual abuse crisis on the Catholic Church’s credibility and impact on public life in the United States, asking how we can repair the Catholic community’s capacity to defend…
Faith and the Faithful in the 2020 Campaign Video
The place of faith and the roles of the faithful in U.S. politics are often misunderstood or neglected; generate confusion and conflict; and create challenges for religious communities and political leaders. The early stages of the 2020 U.S…
A Path Forward: Conversation and Dialogue on Clerical Sexual Abuse Video
The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life has organized a series of dialogues on the clerical sexual abuse crisis and lay leadership to address the anger and anguish haunting our family of faith. This conversation and dialogue brought…
Civil Dialogue in a Divided Nation: Lay Leadership in a Broken Church Video
This Dialogue, conducted at a Georgetown University Board of Regents meeting, featured panelists Mark Shields, weekly political analyst for PBS NewsHour and syndicated political columnist; Emma Green, staff writer on politics, policy, and religion at…
Stand for Life, All Life, Every Life: Resisting the Throwaway Culture Video
Abortion remains one of the most contested issues in American life. The experiences and voices of pro-life women are too often ignored because they challenge our stereotypes and preconceptions. This timely Dahlgren Dialogue featured women leaders…
Emerging Leaders on Polarization in a Broken Church and Nation Video
Where can we find hope and ways forward in tough times? Clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up have caused justified anger and anguish among Catholics, and some are using the suffering of victims to pursue their own ideological agendas. Meanwhile…
Courageous Faith: Archbishop Óscar Romero, Saint and Leader Video
The Church canonized Archbishop Óscar Romero, a courageous pastor and advocate for the poor who was assassinated in 1980. Gunned down while saying Mass, Romero will be El Salvador’s first saint. His brave witness to his faith and courage to stand up…
Crisis of Faith? Scandal, Pope Francis, The Synod, And Young People Video
This is a time of crisis for the Catholic Church. The horrific Pennsylvania grand jury report on clerical sexual abuse and revelations about Cardinal McCarrick have led to outrage and calls for action. Appalled at the abuse of vulnerable children and…