Catholic Public Life in Hard Times; An Augustinian Response - Renee Kohler-Ryan

What is a Catholic person to do in the face of so much turmoil in public life? Should we retreat, or should we respond by entering more fully into the public square? St. Augustine of Hippo was perpetually preoccupied with such questions. This presentation will explore some of what he has to say, and some of what we can learn from him, about maintaining a spiritual life while becoming involved in matters of public concern. Renee Kohler-Ryan is trained in philosophy and is the Dean of the School of Philosophy and Theology, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney. She has a forthcoming book on the thought of St. Augustine and contemporary philosopher, William Desmond, on moral and political philosophy. She teaches in areas of Catholic Thought including Philosophy of the Human Person, Moral Philosophy, and Philosophy of Art. She is writing a book on the Catholic Imagination, to be considered by Catholic University of America Press.