Carrying Forward Drew Christiansen’s Legacy

Catholic Social Teaching, Environmental Justice, Just War, and Peacebuilding

November 14-15, 2022
Location: Georgetown University

When Berkley Center and Georgetown colleague Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J., passed away in April 2022, he left behind a significant legacy applying the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching to issues of peacebuilding, just war, nuclear disarmament, and environmental justice. This two-day conference gathered influential scholars and practitioners—many of whom worked for decades with Fr. Christiansen—who honored his contributions and explored current and future challenges related to these topics. Panels addressed interreligious peacebuilding, with a focus on the Middle East; just war, peacebuilding, and non-violence; current challenges in nuclear arms control and disarmament; and fostering environmental justice.

Public Health Measures: This event took place in-person on the Georgetown University campus. Georgetown University required all visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or to attest to having a medical or religious exemption from being vaccinated. All visitors completed the COVID-19 visitor registration for this event.

This event was co-sponsored by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University; Churches for Middle East Peace Catholic Advisory Council; the Catholic Peacebuilding Network; the Center for Religion and Culture at Fordham University; the Global Security Institute; the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America; the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Keough School of Global Affairs, at the University of Notre Dame; and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of International Justice and Peace.

Schedule

Monday, November 14 | Healy Hall, Riggs Library

1:30 - 1:45 p.m. EST | Opening Remarks
President John DeGioia, Georgetown University

1:45 - 2:45 p.m. EST | Plenary Address
Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., Georgetown University

2:45 - 2:50 p.m. EST | Break

2:50 - 4:05 p.m. EST | Nuclear Weapons: Moving Beyond the Current Impasse
David Koplow (moderator), Georgetown University
Maryann Cusimano Love, Catholic University of America
Jonathan Granoff, Global Security Institute
Martin Hellman, Stanford University
Douglas Shaw, Nuclear Threat Initiative

4:05 - 4:15 p.m. EST | Break

4:15 - 5:30 p.m. EST | A New Start for Nuclear Arms Control
Carole Sargent (moderator), Georgetown University
Amb. James Goodby, Stanford University
Daryl Kimball, Arms Control Association
Jenifer Mackby, Federation of American Scientists
Greg Thielmann, Arms Control Association

5:30 - 6:15 p.m. EST | Reception

Tuesday, November 15 | Copley Hall, Copley Formal Lounge

8:45 - 10:00 a.m. EST | Interreligious Peacebuilding: The Middle East
Amelia Uelmen (moderator), Georgetown University
Joseph Cornelius Donnelly, NGO Permanent Delegate to UN (emeritus)
John Borelli, Georgetown University
Rabbi David Saperstein, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom
Sir Jeffrey Abood, Churches for Middle East Peace

10:00 - 10:10 a.m. EST | Break

10:10 - 11:25 a.m. EST | Environmental Justice
John Carr (moderator), Georgetown University
William Barbieri, Catholic University of America
Patricia Andrasik, Catholic University of America
Walter Grazer, former director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Environmental Justice Program
Erin Lothes, Saint Elizabeth University

11:25 - 11:35 a.m. EST | Break

11:35 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. EST | Just War, Just Peace, and Nonviolence
Maryann Cusimano Love (moderator), Catholic University of America
Steve Colecchi, former director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of International Justice and Peace
Laurie Johnston, Emmanuel College
Gerard Powers, University of Notre Dame

12:45 - 1:00 p.m. EST | Concluding Remarks
Thomas Banchoff, Georgetown University
Maryann Cusimano Love, Catholic University of America
Gerard Powers, University of Notre Dame

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Michael Kessler, executive director of the Berkley Center, delivers prefatory remarks.

Georgetown University President John DeGioia discusses Rev. Drew Christiansen's impact on the Georgetown community.

Senior Fellow Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., reflects on Rev. Christiansen's lasting legacy in his plenary address.

Georgetown Law professor David A. Koplow chairs the panel on moving beyond the current impasse of nuclear weapons.

Ambassador James E. Goodby explores nuclear disarmament in the panel on a new start for nuclear arms control.

Rabbi David Saperstein discusses interreligious peacebuilding in the Middle East.

Sir Jeffery M. Abood, KCHS, recollects Fr. Christiansen's advocacy on behalf of Palestinian Christians.

The environmental justice panel takes a question from the audience.

Gerard Powers responds to a question during the panel on just war, just peace, and nonviolence.

Maryann Cusimano Love delivers some closing remarks.

Participants

Jeffrey Abood Toggle

About Jeffrey Abood

Sir Jeffery M. Abood, KCHS, chairs the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace. He was knighted by the Vatican into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He has edited two books: A Great Cloud of Witnesses: The Catholic Churches' Experience in the Holy Land (2014) and Is Peace Possible? (2020) with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land.

Jeffrey Abood's Profile

Patricia Andrasik Toggle

About Patricia Andrasik

Patricia Andrasik is an associate professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at the Catholic University of America (CUA). She is also a licensed architect in Washington, DC. Prior to arriving at CUA, Andrasik was a Fulbright Student Scholar at the Technical University of Slovakia and earned her Master of Architecture degree at the University of Oklahoma.

Patricia Andrasik's Profile

William Barbieri Toggle

About William Barbieri

William Barbieri is associate professor of ethics in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and director of the Peace and Justice Studies Program at the Catholic University of America, where he is also a fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and the Center for the Study of Culture and Values.

William Barbieri's Profile

John Borelli Toggle

About John Borelli

Dr. John Borelli, a historian of religions and theologian, is special assistant for Catholic identity and dialogue to President John J. DeGioia of Georgetown University. Borelli has been at Georgetown University since 2004, where he teaches, manages conferences and events, coordinates dialogues, facilitates workshops, and promotes university relations with offices and institutes of the Holy See.

John Borelli's Profile

John Carr Toggle

About John Carr

John Carr is co-director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Previously, he served for over 20 years as director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

John Carr's Profile

Stephen Colecchi Toggle

About Stephen Colecchi

Stephen Colecchi served as the director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2004 to 2018. He worked on various international issues and coordinated the office's work with Catholic Relief Services, the Church, and other international bodies. Colecchi previously served as special assistant to the bishop and diocesan director of Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, and the Campaign for Human Development in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. Colecchi holds a doctor of ministry degree from St. Mary's Seminary and University, a master's degree in religion from Yale University, and a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.

Stephen Colecchi's Profile

Joseph Cornelius Donnelly Toggle

About Joseph Cornelius Donnelly

Joseph Cornelius Donnelly served as the permanent delegate to the United Nations for Caritas Internationalis (now emeritus), where he was chairman of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council. His advocacy work has focused on humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding around the world through organizations like Pax Christi International, the Catholic Peacebuilding Network, and Churches for Middle East Peace.

Joseph Cornelius Donnelly's Profile

James E. Goodby Toggle

About James E. Goodby

Ambassador James E. Goodby is an Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. During his time in the United States Foreign Service Ambassador Goodby was appointed ambassador to Finland and worked on nuclear issues, including the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and cooperative threat reduction. He also taught at Georgetown, Syracuse, and Carnegie Mellon Universities.

James E. Goodby's Profile

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