More than 275 scholars, Church leaders, and peacebuilding specialists from around the world gathered at Notre Dame in April 2008 to reflect on the theological, ethical, and practical dimensions of Catholic peacebuilding. Many came from countries torn by violent conflict, including Mindanao in the Philippines, the Great Lakes region of Africa, and Colombia. Participants included nine bishops from these three areas, as well as from Nigeria, Myanmar, and the United States.
The conference was a capstone to a series of international conferences sponsored by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network (CPN). Previous conferences have been held at the University of Notre Dame (2004), in the Philippines (2005), Burundi (2006), and Colombia (2007).
It also was the culmination of a major research project on Catholic peacebuilding sponsored by the CPN, the Kroc Institute, and the Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union. Papers presented at the conference will be published in a major volume on Catholic peacebuilding.
The CPN, which has been spearheaded by Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute and Catholic Relief Services since its founding in 2004, is a coalition of academics and practitioners, clergy, and laity, which seeks to enhance the study and practice of Catholic peacebuilding.
Conference co-sponsors
Catholic Peacebuilding Network
Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
Notre Dame Graduate School
Notre Dame Program on Catholic Social Tradition
Catholic Relief Services
Boston College’s Department of Theology
Boston College’s Center for Human Rights and International Justice
Catholic Theological Union’s Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry
The Catholic University of America's Office of the President
The Catholic University of America’s Life Cycle Institute
Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs
Sargent Shriver Peace Institute
University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
Washington Theological Union
The Catholic University of America's Office of the President
The Catholic University of America’s Life Cycle Institute
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Pax Christi International
Caritas Internationalis
Sant’ Egidio Community in the United States
Woodstock Theological Center
