This profile was current as of 2017, when she was part of the on-campus Kellogg community.
My name is Lorraine Cuddeback, and Im a PhD student in moral theology and christian ethics in the Department of Theology. I received a BA from Loyola University in Maryland, and an M.Div here, at Notre Dame. I specialize in Catholic social ethics, and work with Todd Whitmore as my advisor. My area of research concerns the Catholic social tradition in dialog with feminist and disability theologies, especially as it relates to people with intellectual disabilities. My dissertation will look at how Catholic social teaching renders human dignity, and can address questions about the agency and participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social spheres. My work aims to improve the capacity of church institutions for full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as for promoting their flourishing and well-being.
My theological methodology relies on the insights developed by Latin American liberation theologies, particularly their claim to the preferential option for the poor. For my dissertation research, I make use of the liberationist turn to the social sciences to help understand the experience of marginalized communities by taking up ethnographic field research. Through use of ethnography and the epistemic privilege of the poor, my theological work can give church institutions a greater capacity for responding to experiences of marginalization, injustice, and oppression.
Outside of my academic work I enjoy other kinds of creative pursuits, including cooking, baking, and singing with a local church choir. I also like running and playing soccer to keep me active and energized.