78th Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America; Baltimore, Maryland

Conference:  78th Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America; Baltimore, Maryland
June 13 – 16, 2024

Presentation: “Replacing Coercion with a Renewed Moral Authority: Lessons from the Spanish Experience”

Conference Report:

From June 13-16, 2024, I attended the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, thanks in part to a grant from the Kellogg Institute. The CTSA is the largest society of professional theologians in the world and its convention is one of the most prestigious conferences for my profession. Scholars from North America, Australia, Europe, and Africa gathered in Baltimore, Maryland, this year for three days of reflection and dialogue on the topic of “Social Salvation.”   

Given this topic, many of the presentations touched on issues of political theology, democratization, polarization in secular societies, and the effects of social structures on moral behavior. My presentation for the conference was titled, “Replacing coercion with a renewed moral authority: lessons from the Spanish experience.” This was an excerpt from the first chapter of my dissertation, in which I propose that the experience of Cardinal Enrique Tarancón, leader of the Spanish church through Spain’s democratic transition in the 1970s, offers us lessons on virtuous and moral leadership in times of political tension.  Also speaking on my panel was Professor Kathleen Bonnette of Georgetown University, who presented on deficiencies she sees in current clerical attitudes towards dialogue with the LGBQT community. Together, our presentations offered two perspectives on the same modern concern: how can we, as a society, foster effective dialogue in society by turning away from previously authoritarian ways of governing?  

Our presentations were well received by the audience and sparked a fruitful discussion. The questions I received mainly had to do with the separation I propose between virtue and moral authority, and the role that moral authority still plays in politics. There was also an opportunity to discuss the “new presence” of the Catholic church in plural, democratic societies post-Vatican II, and how political science research on this topic, which I incorporate into my dissertation, provides ample material for analysis. For me, these questions helped draw my attention to aspects of my dissertation which will be especially interesting for my audience, and also confirmed that my readers need some practical proposal of what church testimony would look like in situations of political tension. 

The rest of the conference was a thoroughly enriching experience for my professional growth. I was matched with a mentor, Dr. Cristina Lledo Gómez, who advised me on service to academia and recruited me for her own committee on women’s issues. I met several authors whose work I have used for my teaching and research, and I received helpful pedagogical advice from others. I also had the opportunity speak with publishers about the direction the theological publishing industry is going and how I might best package my proposal for turning my dissertation into a book. 

Once again, I am very grateful to the Kellogg Institute for the opportunities that attending this conference has afforded me. I extend my thanks to the many benefactors of the institute and to all those involved in the direction and administration. The CTSA conference was a positive experience for me thanks to your support, and I hope to continue attending the conferences and collaborating with the Society leadership in future years.