Faith perspective essential to dialogue on issues, says archbishop

Published: 2007-10-30

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic institutions of higher learning could play a key role in offering a faith perspective on "challenging issues of our day," Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said Oct. 23 in a talk at The Catholic University of America. In his talk on "The Role of Religion in a Pluralistic Society: Religious Faith and Public Policy," he said that kind of dialogue is especially needed in a time when societal attitudes and court decisions have sought to erode the contribution of faith to the country's common good. "Our Catholic institutions of higher learning would be prepared out of their own Catholic identity," Archbishop Wuerl said, "to speak to the challenging issues of our day, once again out of our legacy, heritage and tradition, just as Catholic health care institutions speak to issues of public debate today out of a Catholic understanding of the dignity and worth of each person and the sacred trust of exercising health care." He gave the annual Cardinal John Dearden lecture sponsored by Catholic University's School of Theology and Religious Studies. Archbishop Wuerl noted the fundamental place that religion occupied in most of the past four centuries in America. "Until very recently in public civil life, he added "mention of God was taken for granted and prayer inspired by belief in God was a routine part of public, government sponsored programs and activities."

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