Chicago, IL (February 26, 2018) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Chancellor of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, delivered the welcoming remarks at the 23nd Annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture on Monday, February 26th, at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.
“It is my firm belief that we can and must talk about the hard issues like anti-Semitism, racism and Islamophobia. Such discussion will meet with resistance, no doubt, but we should not hesitate to learn from and speak about the truths of history.” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich. “It is also important to join forces to fight against what Pope Francis referred to as a culture of indifference. . . . [the Pope stated that] rejecting evil is not enough. We need to build the common good together.”
This year’s guest lecturer was Dr. Elena G. Procario-Foley of Iona College, where she is the Brother John G. Driscoll Professor of Jewish-Catholic Studies. Dr. Procario-Foley holds a M.A.Div. and Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her undergraduate work was in theology and philosophy at Fordham University.
Elena Procario-Foley teaches Iona’s core courses in Religious Studies. She has also developed the study abroad course to Auschwitz: Memory and Reconciliation: The Churches and the Holocaust. Her early research focused on the Christology of Flemish Dominican theologian Edward Schillebeeckx. She is interested in the various branches of systematic theology, their conversations with both pastoral practice and Christian feminism, and Catholic theology after Vatican II. Procario-Foley currently focuses work in the field of Jewish-Catholic relations. She is the immediate past chair of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations.
Dr. Procario-Foley’s lecture focused on the recent Vatican document: “the Gifts and the Calling of God are Irrevocable: A Reflection on the Theological Questions Pertaining to Catholic-Jewish Relations on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate.” She explored the thematic tensions present in describing the relationship of Christianity and Judaism theologically. These tensions present both challenges and opportunities. Dr. Procario-Foley called for further exploration of the relationship of Catholic-Jewish dialogue to interreligious dialogue with other religions. She also named issues of “revelation as the Word of God in Judaism and Christianity, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments” and issues around the Christian belief in the universality of Jesus Christ and the Church in salvation. Additionally, she asked for a consideration of the theology of the land in future Catholic-Jewish dialogue.
Four member of the Mundelein Seminary faculty participated in the 2018 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem lecture. Fr. Thomas A. Baima (Vice Rector for Academic Affairs), Dr. Melanie Barrett (Professor of Moral Theology), Fr. Emery de Gaal (Professor of Dogmatic Theology), and Mr. Thomas Dougherty (Director of the Center for Speech and Writing).
The Annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture series began in 1995, when Joseph Cardinal Bernardin delivered a lecture entitled “Anti-Semitism: The Historical Legacy and the Continuing Challenge for Christians” in the Senate Hall at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The annual lecture series continues to contribute to the dialogue between Jews and Catholics on issues affecting their relationship.
Lecture sponsors include the Archdiocese of Chicago Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; The American Jewish Committee; Anti-Defamation League; Chicago Board of Rabbis; Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Co-Sponsors for 2017 are Anshe Emet Synagogue.
More information about Catholic-Jewish relations is available at www.eia/archchicago.org
