ACU short course to offer insight into Catholic Social Teaching

Associate Professor Patrick McArdle

AUSTRALIAN Catholic University (ACU) Canberra Campus will offer a series of lectures on the key principles of Catholic social teaching during February and March.

As part of its short courses in theology series, ACU will host ‘Catholic Social Teaching: Living the Gospel’ from Monday 25 February.

Leading scholars and experts who will present lectures during the short course include Associate Professor Patrick McArdle, Dr Edmund Chia, Dr Janine Luttick, and Dr Sandie Cornish.

The short course has been designed to help the general public learn about the various aspects of Catholic social teaching and how it can be lived to help build a better world for the future of humanity.

National Coordinator of the Short Course in Theology at ACU Dr Joel Hodge said the University had chosen to focus on Catholic social teaching for this short course as it was a significant aspect of Church teachings that is widely discussed but often not fully understood.

“Catholic social teaching has been greatly influential in thinking about what it means to act justly and form a just and flourishing society. Its influence extends to both Christian and secular circles, including in discussions of modern human rights, ethical principles, and environmental justice,” said Dr Hodge.

“In Australia, many schools, hospitals, social service agencies and parishes draw on this ethos to understand and define their identity and mission. Our short courses aim to help individuals and organisations to have a holistic understanding of the theological foundations and ethical principles of Catholic social teaching.”

ACU Canberra Campus Dean Associate Professor Patrick McArdle will present a lecture on ‘Exploring human dignity’.

Professor McArdle said, “Human dignity is central to all moral thinking: human persons have dignity because of their social and rational nature.

‘We are beings of a particular kind – formed in and through relationships and with the creative agency to alter who we are as individuals and socially. This part of the short-course explores how thinking about human dignity shapes our morality and our quest to live the good life.”

This course is approved for 8 hours towards maintaining accreditation to teach religious education in Catholic schools (Canberra and Goulburn). If you are attending this course for accreditation purposes, a Certificate of Participation is required.

Source: Australian Catholic University