Just and Moral Society

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The Just and Moral Society: From Ideal to Reality

Program

Morning Session

8:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

9 a.m. Welcome and Opening Reflection

Margaret John Kelly, DC, Ph.D., Executive Director Vincentian Center for Church and Society

9:15 a.m. "The Just and Moral Society"

An examination of the philosophical, theological, ethical and legal concepts that frame the foundations as well as the need for reflection on a Just and Moral Society. Father Coughlin will also suggest some basic criteria for evaluating a Just and Moral Society within our global society.

John J. Coughlin, O.F.M., J.D., J.C.D ., Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School

(Sponsor: Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Burke)

10:15 Current efforts toward building a just society and identification of forces which advance and inhibit just structures and systems for the vulnerable. Discussion with Fr. Coughlin, Panelists and Conference Participants

Panelists:

Hon. Oscar de Rojas, Director, UN Financing for Development, "Achieving the Millennium Development Goals"

Margaret Hanson , LCSW , BCD , AIC/International Association of Charities, Ladies of Charity USA, "Against Poverty Acting Together: Vincentian Work for Systemic Change"

Ellen P. Finn O.P., M.Ed., LCSW, Associate Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brooklyn, "CCUSA Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America"

Veronica M. White, JD , Executive Director, New York City Center for Economic Opportunity "Reducing Poverty in New York City"

Moderator:

Michael A. Simons, JD , Professor of Law, St. John's University School of Law

11:45 Lunch, Networking and Exhibits

Afternoon Session

1-1:50 p.m. Concurrent Workshops: Constructive, Developmental Responses to Local and Global Issues - Highlighting Practices That Relate Systemic Change and Transformative Service [Registrants may choose one workshop in each period. ]

2 -2:50 Concurrent Workshops Repeated

1. Right to and Responsibility for Effecting Systemic Change through Political Participation

Catholic social justice is grounded in the idea of subsidiarity in service to solidarity. This workshop will discuss the need to link service efforts with political participation to achieve systemic change. It will highlight work of the World Youth Alliance International , a global coalition promoting social awareness and social change through organizing and leadership development of youth working regionally and internationally to impact policy and culture.

Presenter:

Mary Halpine, President, World Youth Alliance International, NY

Moderators:

Robert F. Pecorella, Ph.D ., Associate Professor, Department of Government and Politics, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University

Robert R. Tomes, Ph.D . Associate Professor, Division of Social Sciences, College of Professional Studies, St. John's University

2. Right to and Responsibility for Sustainable Development

" Development is another name for peace," and the work of sustainable development, one that integrates the dignity and rights of the human person, the protection of creation and the promotion of the common good, is the work of each "citizen of the world" and each nation. This workshop will view sustainable development from the perspective of local particularities and global interdependence.

(Sponsored by the Local Societies Initiative of the Metanexus Institute)

Presenters:

Aggrey Abdi Lidonde, Founder and President of the Beverly School of Kenya

Barrett P. Brenton, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Sociology and Anthropology, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Moderators:

Basilio G. Monteiro, Ph.D ., Associate Professor, Division of Mass Communication, Journalism, TV and Film, College of Professional Studies, St. John's University

Christopher P. Vogt, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, St. Johns College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University

3. Right to and Responsibility for Health Care: The Pathology of Poverty

Poverty is a major impediment to establishing a just and moral society, not only are people marginalized, but their right to life can be threatened. Dr. Brondolo will share her research on the relationship of racism and poverty to cardiovascular risk factors and Dr. Forman will present the work of Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) at Mount Sinai. The PEHSUs were created to provide centers of excellence in the emerging field of pediatric environmental health across the US. Dr. Forman will also describe a major National Children's Study to be launched this fall.

Presenters:

Elizabeth Brondolo, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University

Joel Forman, M.D ., A ssociate Professor of Pediatrics and Community and Preventive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Moderators:

Sue M. Ford, Ph.D. and Marc E. Gillespie, Ph.D. , Associate Professors in the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. John's College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University

(Sponsored by the Local Societies Initiative of the Metanexus Institute)

4. The Right to and Responsibility for Education: Critical Literacy as a Vehicle of Hope

This workshop examines emerging educational theories and models to achieving a just and moral society. The notion of "local literacies" found in diverse populations will be discussed within a framework of critical literacy and will be viewed through the perspective of educating incarcerated youth. The School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center will demonstrate successful outreach and educational models for immigrant and underserved women in the US, embracing the belief that women are the agents of transformation for family, communities and the world.

Presenters:

Brett Elizabeth Blake, Ph.D. , Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Adolescent Education Programs in the School of Education, St. John's University

S. Catherine Feeney, SSND , Director, SSND Educational Center, Ozone Park, NY

Moderator:

Belenna M. Lauto, M.A. , Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University

(Sponsored by the Talbot Foundation)

5. Right to and Responsibility for Employment: From Restaurant Workers to Executive Compensation, The State(s) of America's Work Force

The earnings of low-wage workers are stagnant or declining, while executive compensation has reached new heights. What does Catholic Social Thought teach us about just compensation for earners at all levels of the economy? What strategies can be employed to achieve economic justice? We will examine the work of two noted lawyers in the field of labor law as well at the unique model of the Urban Justice Center that collaborates with community groups and private law firms to litigate for worker's rights.

Presenters:

Molly Biklen, J.D., Staff Attorney, Community Development Project, Urban Justice Center , NY

Susan J. Stabile , J.D., Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law, MN

Moderator:

Gina M. Calabrese, J.D. , Associate Director, Elder Law Clinic and Assistant Professor for Clinical Education, St. John's University School of Law

6. Right to and Responsibility for Respect and Security for Women and Children: Arresting Trafficking

Systemic change requires analysis of all aspects of an issue. This workshop examines trafficking through a global perspective of the demand nations, the transient nations and the sending nations. What are we doing to arrest violence and economic insecurity of women and children?

Presenters:

Carmen Maquilon, Director of Immigrant Services, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre

Clare Nolan, R.G.S., NGO representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council for the Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

Moderator:

Marilyn A. Martone, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University

3 p.m. "From 21 st Century Slavery to Freedom: Call to Global Solidarity"

Creating the Just and Moral Society will require that each of us share the responsibility and participate actively as global citizens. Practicing the virtue of solidarity will unite hearts, minds and hands to build a world where human dignity, truth and freedom, justice and peace will prevail.

Presenter:

Simon Aban Deng Refugee, former child slave, founder of the "Sudan Freedom Walk" and consultant to the United Nations Human Rights Council

Moderator:

Charles M.A. Clark , Ph.D . Associate Dean and Professor of Economics, Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University

(Sponsored by the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity, Albany, NY)

3:55 p.m. Closing Remarks

Mary Ann Dantuono, J.D. , Associate Director, Vincentian Center for Church and Society, St. John's University

4:15 p.m. Eucharistic Liturgy

Homilist: Rev. Thomas F. McKenna, C.M. , Provincial Superior, Congregation of the Mission, Eastern Province, Philadelphia, PA

Brochure (PDF)

Conference Statement and Goals

Speakers and Moderators

Registration (Word) (PDF)

For information and registration contact
Vincentian Center for Church and Society 718.990.1612 or vccs@stjohns.edu

Previous Conferences in this series

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