Civic Engagement - Demonizing the Dialogue

2014-06-18 18:00:00 – 2014-06-1821:00:00

Wednesday, June 18 | 6 to 9 pm | Clocktower Lounge in the Gallagher Student Center at Xavier University

Cincinnati is currently at the center of national debate on balancing the beliefs of religious organizations against the personal rights of their employees. The city has been thrust into the middle of this debate with the release of the Cincinnati Archdiocese’s 2014 employment contract. This debate, like many similar ones being played out across the nation, are fought in the media with no communication between the sides. The connectivity of our world enables us to connect to others, but many only connect to those with similar beliefs and ideals. Ultimately, this leads to many Demonizing the Dialogue – or attacking the other side without fully understanding it.

For our next civic engagement event, we would like to explore both sides of the issue and facilitate a healthy, productive discussion on the topic. Our goal is to bring young professionals of different backgrounds together to discuss this important issues in a healthy, productive setting. Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at the Clocktower Lounge in the Gallagher Student Center at Xavier University as we delve into this debate and discuss ways to better understand the “others” position. Panelists will include:

Ken R Craycraft Jr will eloborate on the Catholic position and discuss the issue from a legal perspective. A graduate of Duke University School of Law, Ken Craycraft has been practicing law since 2001. Ken’s work at Shade Law Group LLC involves helping injured and aggrieved clients to resolve disputes as efficiently and with as little stress and expense as possible. He is committed to civility and collegiality in civil litigation, keeping in mind that few people want to sue or be sued, but that some disputes cannot otherwise be resolved. Prior to his law career, Ken was a university professor, teaching Moral Theology at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology from Boston College, as well as master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Christian University. His academic work concentrated on the intersection between theology and political theory, as well as the role of religion in American law and public life. In addition to dozens or articles and reviews in such publications as Crisis, First Things, Review of Politics, Theology Today, and the Journal of Law and Religion, he is the author of The American Myth of Religious Freedom

Greg Landsman will talk about the challenge of secular and faith based initiatives in a pluralistic society. Greg Landsman currently serves as the Executive Director for The Strive Partnership, an education consortium of local providers and funders working together to improve academic achievement along the education continuum – kindergarten readiness, proficiency scores, graduation rates, and postsecondary enrollment and completion rates – in Cincinnati, Newport and Covington. Before joining Strive, Landsman was appointed Director of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives by Governor Ted Strickland in October of 2007.

Bill Lonneman will talk about his experience in helping creating dialogues as bridges of understanding between faith groups. In the wake of public revelations about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic church, Bill Lonneman attended the original Boston gathering of Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) in 2002. He returned home and became one of the founders of the Greater Cincinnati chapter of VOTF; the next year he was fired from his Pastoral Ministry position at a local parish. In 2004 he completed his MA in Theology at Xavier. Since 2006, in his capacity as Advancement Coordinator for Franciscans Network, he has helped to organize Muslim-Christian dialogues in the city. Bill is a member of the nursing faculty at the College of Mount St. Joseph and lives in College Hill with his wife, Julie.

Mary Kay Connolly will speak about the use of service learning as a methodology for bridging the gap between sacred and secular interests. Mary Kay is the Director of Service Learning as a part of the Myerson Service Learning Initiative on behalf of Chidren’s Inc. Mary Kay received her degree in Counseling and Social Work from Xavier University. In 2012-2013, over 26,000 students investigated an issue, designed solutions or supports to address a need, acted through serving others, reflected upon their service impact and then demonstrated their increased knowledge or 21st Century skills. This initiative demonstrates that collaboration can work between secular and sacred education through the pedagogy of service learning.