Ave Maria School of Law and Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America will be hosting a conference to celebrate Pope John Paul II's 1988 Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem (MD). The conference will be organized as an interdisciplinary study. Scholars from the disciplines philosophy, theology, law, economics, and sociology will examine how principles articulated in MD are relevant for issues raised in contemporary society. The panel topics will be drawn from the chapters of MD in logical sequence. They will range from the nature and significance of the feminine vocation to the meaning of equality, societal attempts to redress the disorder between men and women, the importance of the dual dimensions of motherhoodvirginity, and the relevance of the Church-Bride Mystery.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
(as of September 18, 2008)

OCT. 3 - FRIDAY MORNING :

  • 10:30 -12:00 Morning Registration

  • 11: 30 Introductory Comments

    • Eugene R. Milhizer, Acting Dean and Associate Professor of Law, Ave Maria School of Law (3-5 min)

    • Veryl V. Miles, Dean and Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America (3-5 min)

  • 11:45 Luncheon keynote Address

    • Marguerite Peeters, Director of the Institute for Intercultural Dialogue Dynamics, Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Lateran University (affiliate in Belgium) and the Pontifical University Urbaniana (Rome) (30-45 minutes)

  • 1:30 - 2:15 Presentation
    • Topic: Overview of MD and Commentary on Conference themes
    • Sr. Prudence Allen, Ph.D. (Phil.)
      • Seminary Professor, Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado (USA)

  • 2:15 - 2:30 Break

  • 2:30 - 4:00 Presentations and Discussion

    • Topic: The nature of the feminine vocation, and its importance for the human race (MD, Chapter II: Woman-Mother of God (Theotókos);
      See also Chapter VI: Motherhood-Virginity).

        • Moderator:Sister Prudence Allen, Seminary Professor, Archdiocese of Denver
        • Sister M. Timothy Prokes, Professor of Theology at Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College ("The Feminine Vocation an Overview")
        • Lisa Schiltz, St. Thomas University, Faculty of Law, Minneapolis (The Feminine Vocation and American Law)
        • Maria Sophia Aguirre, Catholic University of America, (The Feminine Vocation and Economics)
        • Ilaria Morali, Gregorian University, Faculty of Theology, Rome (The Feminine Vocation and Inter-religious Dialogue)

  • 4:00 - 4:15 Break

  • 4:15 - 5:45 Presentations and Discussion
    • Topic: The importance of Christian anthropology for an understanding of equality and how different conceptions of equality impact men and women, in particular, and society, in general. (MD, Chapter III: Image and Likeness of God; See also MD, Chapter II: Woman-Mother of God (Theotókos )

        • Moderator: Robert A. Destro, The Catholic University of America, Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion
        • Isobel Camp/Rafael Gonzales, Ph.D candidates in Philosophy from the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, and the Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum, Rome, respectively ("The Philosophical Meaning of Equality")
        • Margaret McCarthy, John Paul II, Institute for Studies in Marriage and the Family
        • Gerald Bradley, University of Notre Dame, Faculty of Law - (The Meaning of Equality Under the American Constitution)
  • 6:00 - 6:30 Cocktails

  • 6:30 - 8:30 Dinner and Address

    • The Reverend Monsignor Grzegorz Kaszak, Secretary, Pontifical Council for the Family, Vatican City State (30-45 min.)

OCT. 4 - SATURDAY

  • 8:00 Introductory Comments

      • Helen Alvare (3-5 min)
      Mass - Celebrant: The Most Reverend Francisco González, S.F., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington DC
  • 9:00-10:30 Presentations and Discussion
    • Topic: The disturbance of the original relationship between man and woman and the issues and challenges associated with efforts to confront the disorder (MD, Chapter IV: Eve – Mary; See also Chapter V: Jesus Christ; Chapter VIII: The Greatest of These is Love)

        • Moderator: TBA
        • Mary Leary, Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (Pornography)
        • Brad Wilcox, University of Virginia, Faculty of Sociology ("The Social Science Evidence on the Distinctive Talents that Mothers Bring to the Parenting Enterprise")
        • Ernest Caparros, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law; Pontificia Università della Santa Croce , ("The Impact of Misinterpreted Manhood on the Distortion of Dimensions of Womanhood")
        • Sisterr. Thomas Augustine Becker, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (Catholic Education for an Authentic Christian Womanhood)
        • Jane Adolphe, Ave Maria School of Law, (International Law Issues)
  • 10:30-10:50 Break

  • 10:50 - 12:20 Presentations and Discussion
    • Topic: The dual dimensions of the female vocation: motherhood-virginity and their relevance for combating both national and international attacks on the natural family. (MD, Chapter VI: Motherhood-Virginity; See also Chapter II: Woman-Mother of God (Theotókos))
        • Moderator: Jane Adolphe, Ave Maria School of Law
        • Robert Fastiggi, Theology faculty, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI (Mary: the Exemplar of Faithful Love for Virgins, Spouses, Mothers and the Church)
        • Reverend John Coughlin, University of Notre Dame Faculty of Law, (Marriage)
        • Katherine S. Spaht, Louisiana State University, Faculty of Law (Divorce Reform e.g. Covenant marriage)
        • Helen Alvaré, George Mason University, Faculty of Law, (Family Law)

    • 12:20 - 2:00 Lunch

    • 2:00 - 3:30 Presentations and Discussion
      • Topic: The relevance of the Church-Bride mystery for contemporary society. (MD, Chapter VII - The Church - The Bride of Christ)

          • Moderator: Mrs. Mary Ellen Bork, Free-Lance Writer and Lecturer
          • Mary Shivanandan, John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and the Family, (Motherhood-Virginity)
          • Father Joseph Isanga, Ave Maria School of Law, (A Response to Concerns about Ephesians 5 and its Relation to Domestic Violence)
          • Lisa Lickona, Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pope John Paul II Institute, Washington, D.C. (A Commentary on Women, Marriage and Headship)
          • Reverend Joseph Isanga, Ave Maria School of Law, ("A Response to Concerns about Ephesians 5 and its Relation to Domestic Violence")
          • Howard Bromberg, University of Michigan, (The Mystery of Spousal Love: A Juridical Perspective on Polygamy, and "Same Sex Marriage")

    • 3:30-3:50 Break

    • 3:50 - 4:50 Presentation and Discussion
      • Topic: The scholarship to be pursued in the future and other possible plans of action legislative, pastoral, etc.
          • Moderator: Helen Alvaré, George Mason University, Faculty of Law
          • Teresa Collett, University of St. Thomas, Faculty