Noted theologian to speak on torture March 19

WINONA, Minn. — Dr. William Cavanaugh will speak on "Torture, Terror, and Resistance: Theological Reflection on the Political Landscape" Monday, March 19, at Saint Mary’s University.

The event — free and open to the public — will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall, located in Saint Mary’s Hall.
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Dr. Cavanaugh is an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He brings a radical vision, grounded in a deeply traditional understanding of Catholic teaching, to bear on issues such as consumerism, corporate power, the nation-state, war and torture. He has written extensively on these issues, and his clear, insightful approach has been compared to that of the great Catholic activist and writer Dorothy Day.

Among his recent writing on torture is his book, “Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ” (Blackwell Publishing, 2006).

He worked as a Catholic lay missioner in Chile during the Pinochet regime and helped found a Catholic Worker house, Casa Guadalupana, for primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants on St. Paul’s West Side. He is also active in the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), which speaks against torture as a moral issue from a variety of religious perspectives.

The talk is sponsored by a number of departments and offices at Saint Mary’s University including the departments of Theology, History, and Social Science; the Lasallian Core Tradition and the Lasallian Honors programs; the Office of Campus Ministry and the Office for Mission.

The sponsors believe that torture is one of the most important political and moral issues facing our country today; it is their hope that this talk will deepen our understanding and provoke thoughtful discussion. For further information about this event, contact Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust at (507) 457-1995 or swindley@smumn.edu