USF Welcomes British Jesuit as New LoSchiavo Chair
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 18, 2014 -- British Jesuit priest Rev. Frank Turner has been named the Anna and Joseph LoSchiavo Chair in Catholic Social Thought for the 2014-2015 academic year, a joint appointment by the department of Theology and Religious Studies and the Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at the University of San Francisco (USF).
The purpose of the Anna and Joseph Lo Schiavo Chair is to promote and advance Jesuit identity and ideals at USF, either by a professorship held by a Jesuit, or by symposia or conferences that approach current issues from a Catholic moral perspective. As LoSchiavo Chair, Fr. Turner will be teaching a course during spring semester titled, “Catholic Social Teaching in Dialog.” The course will explore themes such as the role of government, economies in social context, and international development.
“Fr. Turner brings with him a wealth of knowledge on advocacy and public policy,” said Mike Duffy, director of the Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at USF. “He has vast experience working with policy makers to ensure that the poor and marginalized are treated justly and not excluded. The Lane Center will utilize his expertise of applying the principles of Catholic social thought to current policy issues.”
Fr. Turner’s work aims to integrate the political dimensions of the search for social justice with the exploration of Christian faith through philosophy and theology. His work has taken him across Europe. He has taught at universities in Manchester and London, while residing in areas of social deprivation. He also served as principal advisor and representative on international affairs to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. Through his involvement with the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) as the Secretary for European Affairs, Fr. Turner has engaged with European political structures to help them better respond to social justice issues in EU countries and beyond. Prior to that, he worked as General Director of the Jesuit European Office. Having presence in four countries, the office reflects and comments on current affairs from the primary position of justice and peace.
In 2012, Fr. Turner served as the Lane Center’s Summer Scholar-in-Residence where he delivered a three-part lecture series on ethics and public discourse.
The Lo Schiavo Chair provides an opportunity to invite Jesuit scholars from around the world to spend time at USF interacting with faculty, staff, and students on issues of social justice, social ethics, and moral theology. The Anna and Joseph LoSchiavo Chair was established by Lina and Josephine LoSchiavo, the late sisters of USF Jesuit Father John LoSchiavo, in memory of their parents.
Media interested in requesting an interview with Fr. Turner, or for more information about USF’s Lane Center, please contact Anne-Marie Devine Tasto, senior director of media relations, at (415) 422-2697 or abdevine(at)usfca(dot)edu.
About the Joan and Ralph Lane Center
The Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at USF enriches and enlivens the Jesuit Catholic character of USF and engages and develops Catholic social thought for the Church, the city and world. The Lane Center staff, along with the Advisory Board and Anna and Joseph Lo Schiavo Chair in Catholic Social Thought, work to advance the scholarship and application of the Catholic intellectual tradition in the Church and society with an emphasis on social concerns. The Lane Center sponsors academic programs, research, and public praxis to promote and engage Catholic social thought especially in response to contemporary issues in order to fashion a more just and humane world. For more information, please visit http://www.usfca.edu/lanecenter/.
About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is located in the heart of one of the world's most innovative and stunning cities and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields. Its diverse student body enjoys direct access to faculty, small classes, and outstanding opportunities in the city itself. USF is San Francisco’s first university, and its Jesuit Catholic mission helps ignite a student’s passion for social justice and a desire to “Change the World from Here.” For more information, please visit http://www.usfca.edu.
Anne-Marie Devine Tasto, University of San Francisco, +1 (415) 422-2697, [email protected]
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