The Woodstock Theological Center is an independent research institute located at Georgetown University that carries out theological and ethical reflection on the most pressing human issues of the day. Drawing on the Roman Catholic tradition, the Woodstock Center is ecumenically open, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative with, among others, the business community, government, religious groups, universities, other research centers, and the media.
Father Tom Reese, S.J., directs Woodstock's Religion & Public Policy program, and is one of the nation's most quoted experts on issues relating to the Catholic Church and the relationship of Catholicism to civil society. He holds a Ph.D. in political science, and has authored several popular books, including Archbishop and Inside the Vatican.
Watch video of Father Aloysious Mowe, S.J., speaking at the November 2008 Woodstock Forum on "Muslims & Christians: Where Do We Stand? Three Jesuits Speaking from Experience".
Each issue of the Woodstock Report contains stories about recent Forums, reflections by the Research Fellows and guest contributors on topics of current interest, and a letter from Gap Lo Biondo, S.J., Woodstock's Director. You can download recent issues of the Woodstock Report in PDF format; or enter your e-mail address in the box below to receive the Woodstock Report and other news by e-mail:
Woodstock's International Visiting Fellows Program brings scholars from around the world to spend time at the Center carrying out a research project of their own design. Recent Fellows have come from Australia, Chile, Malaysia, and Zimbabwe.
On May 5, 2009, a Woodstock Forum was held at the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola in New York, NY, on the topic of "Muslims and Christians: Where Do We Stand?" The event featured Daniel Madigan, S.J., Aloysious Mowe, S.J., and Patrick Ryan, S.J., and was moderated by Dr. Mehmet Pacaci.
At the national Catholic Media Convention on May 29, the Catholic Press Association honored Woodstock Fellow Ilia Delio, OSF, and her co-authors with Book Awards in the "Spirituality" and "Social Concerns" categories for Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth. The award stated that "Firmly grounded in the Franciscan tradition that sees God’s creation and the Incarnation as 'fully and integrally' related, the book contains science, theology, practical advice, and inspiration. For the reader who is equally devoted to both Jesus and to our fragile world, this is a gem."
What role can -- and should - forgiveness and reconciliation play in the hyper-competitive worlds of business and politics? In 2006, Woodstock's Arrupe Program in Social Ethics for Business hosted an event on that topic, with a panel of speakers moderated by John Langan, S.J. The event generated a paper on Forgiveness and Revenge in Politics and Business.
