On November 2, Woodstock's Catholicism and Civic Renewal program hosted a panel discussion on "The Ethics of Eating," investigating the role of genetically modified foods. The evening brought to a close a series seminars of lawyers, theologians, and historians exploring the question of how Catholics should approach the issue of genetically modified food. Panelists in the discussion included: Walter E. Grazer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Andrew Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety; Jeffrey Marlett of the College of Saint Rose; Frank A. Orban, III of deKieffer and Horgan; Andy Rivas of the Texas Catholic Conference; and Josette Lewis of the U.S. Agency for International Development. John Farina, director of the Catholicism and Civic Renewal program, moderated the event.

You can find news of the project and videos of the evening's discussion on the Catholicism and Civic Renewal web page.

On November 30, theologians at and associated with Woodstock gathered to share their research and thoughts. Their disussions are a way of further reflecting upon and developing the the theology that underpins the projects at Woodstock.

Present at this gathering were Woodstock fellows John Haughey, S.J., Philip Rosato, S.J., and Leon Hooper, S.J.; Woodstock director Gap Lo Biondo, S.J.; visiting fellow John Burkhard, O.F.M.; former visiting fellow Cathy Nerney, SSJ; and Edward McCormack from the Washington Theological Union.

Woodstock fellow Tom Reese, S.J., attended the meeting of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. He was interviewed by numerous media outlets on the topic. His interview with the PBS show Religion and Ethics Newsweekly is available on their website.

He was also in the news during Pope Benedict's recent trip to Turkey, featured on venues including CNN, CBS, and Al Jazeera English. An online interview is available on the CBS website.  

Former Woodstock fellow and founder of the Preaching the Just Word program Walter Burghardt , S.J., wrote a cover essay on Courage for the July 14 issue of the National Catholic Reporter.

Entilted "Courage: Absence of fear or grace under pressure?" the article examines the spirituality of courage in our everyday lives. This year marks Burghardt's 75th anniversary of joining the Jesuits.

Woodstock's brown bag lunch seminar series resumed this semester with Susan Rakoczy, IHM, an International Visiting Fellow from South Africa, presenting on "Research on the Theology and Praxis of Discernment" on November 2.

On December 6, Visiting Fellow John Burkhard, O.F.M. Conv., presented "The Body of Christ: An Exegetical, Historical, Ecumenical, and Systematic Study."

Woodstock has received news of the good work that former Visiting Fellows are now doing around the world:

Eugene Goussikindey, S.J., a Berkley-Woodstock visiting scholar in 2006, has returned to Benin and is working with his Jesuit community to establish a new Center for Study, Research and Creativity. Their vision includes a resource library and training sessions on general mangagement and specific topics such as peacebuilding and HIV/AIDS.

Catherine Halvey Goodwin, International Visiting Fellow in 2004-2005, has been working at Washington Theological Union as director of the Center for Ministry and Public Life. Last October, she organized a day long discussion on the Guantanamo Bay situation by registering WTU as a participant with universities from all across the country in the simulcast teach-in from Seton Hall Law School. In her social justice teaching, she has illustrated the complex connections between poverty, wars, scarce resources, the effects of global warming on the poorest communities, by analyzing the situation in Darfur and the changing face of the Amazonian region. She is also working on an African and Amazonian project called PLANT (Partnership for the Land and Agricultural Needs of Tradional peoples).

Margaret Scott, ACI, International Visiting Fellow in 2004-2005, returned to the U.S. to give several lectures this year. In July she gave the plenary address, "Is this my Body? The Eucharist and Aids," at the 19th Annual Catholic HIV/Aids Ministry Conference in Chicago. In November, she presented at the Jubilee Year gathering in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and spoke on "Fruit of the Earth and Work of Human Hands: The Eucharist and Social Justice; Eucharist and Eco Justice." The book that she was researching and writing at Wodostock, Yesterday's Bread, is currently with the publisher.