Jordan Denari Duffner (Georgetown) and Julie Schumacher Cohen (Scranton) have a new book with Orbis coming out this month called 'Palestine, Israel, and Catholic Social Teaching: A Guide.' 

The book can be pre-ordered from Orbis Books, Bookshop.org, or Amazon.

Description: How can our Catholic faith guide us in thinking about Israel-Palestine? Through the lens of key Catholic Social Teaching principles, the book traces the history of Israel-Palestine, present-day injustices, and related issues in the U.S. Authors Jordan Denari Duffner and Julie Schumacher Cohen are American Catholic scholars with a track record of educating and advocating for Palestinian rights and freedom, and for justice, peace, and equality for Israelis and Palestinians alike. They offer readers of this compelling book concrete ideas for how to act, speak, and pray for a better future in Israel-Palestine.

With afterwords by Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, and Israeli Jesuit, Fr. David Neuhaus, the book has been endorsed by Archbishop John Wester, Sr. Helen Prejean, Austen Ivereigh, Fr. David Hollenbach, S.J., and more. 

The authors will be holding virtual and in-person events across the county. Please contact them if you are interested in hosting them at your university or institution.

https://orbisbooks.com/products/palestine-israel-and-catholic-social-teaching?srsltid=AfmBOoqF6AiQLC16IwaXKWSxHKAXcddPaAm5kZSDNUr9IIRPf2hSMqdx

F.A.I.T.H. and the Future Conference

Friday, February 26, 2027 – 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Gus Machado College of Business, St. Thomas University

Call: Artificial intelligence is already challenging and changing the ways in which we learn, work, and live together. Following the call of Pope Leo XIV in his encyclical Magnifica humanitas, all persons of good will, especially those from communities of faith, must help shape of our common future. The F.A.I.T.H. and the Future Conference — Faithful Approaches to Intelligent Technology and Humanity — invites scholars, practitioners, educators, and students to explore how faith traditions can inform the ethical development and use of AI. Held at St. Thomas University's Gus Machado College of Business on Friday, February 26, 2027 (8:30 AM–3:30 PM), the conference seeks to build bridges between technologists, theologians, ethicists, health practitioners, and the communities AI most affects.

 

We welcome proposals from graduate students, post-docs, adjuncts, independent scholars, or faculty for presentations on the following topics: AI and the Human Person (dignity, creativity, flourishing); AI for the Common Good (reducing inequality, serving vulnerable communities); Faith-Inspired AI Solutions; AI and the Environment (sustainability and peace); Bias and Justice in AI; AI in Education; AI and Human Judgment (keeping humans in control); AI for Accessibility; AI and Privacy; and AI and Solidarity (empowering marginalized voices).

 

Proposals should be limited to 250 words and are due November 20, 2026. The webpage for submissions is here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=zp3gkjYPzkSvtSipaJOkx8d0sfzn6whJqWcxHlnZz-tUQUpKNzlWUFZaQldQVVQ3RFI1UVNPWDQzMC4u&route=shorturl

Or you can go here: https://www.stu.edu/faith-future-conference/ and click on “Register Now.” Click on "I would like to submit a presentation or poster proposal,” and then follow the instructions.

The CTSA invites all members attending the Annual AAR/SBL Meeting to attend a joint reception with the Catholic Biblical Association. The reception will be held on Sunday, November 22. 

 Join us for an evening of collegial conversation, light refreshments, and networking as we celebrate shared commitments to scholarship and teaching. A brief program will highlight upcoming CBA and CTSA initiatives, events, and opportunities for scholarly engagement in the year ahead.

Location information is in the AAR/SBL programs.

Sharing this news from the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University: As the global Church reflects on ten years of Amoris Laetitia, Dr. Julie Hanlon Rubio, Professor of Christian Social Ethics at JST-SCU, was invited to present her work at a week-long Vatican gathering convened by Pope Leo.

Talking about "new forms of fragility" within the institutions of marriage and family, Dr. Rubio encouraged a "broader praxis of accompaniment." Dr. Rubio's participation underscores the importance of her scholarship and JST-SCU's commitment to culturally contextualized approaches to theology.

Read more about Dr. Rubio’s presentation and the gathering in America Magazine:

https://bit.ly/4spfwr1

Explore updates and photos from the convening:

https://bit.ly/4yIeAzK

https://bit.ly/4sjSXEb

President Catherine Clifford wishes to share this information with the CTSA membership:

The Proposed Canonical Norms in Light of the Synod on Synodality. A Conversation with Co-drafter Prof. Myriam Wijlens

On 21 October 2026, 2:00 – 3:15 PM ET
Please register at https://ustpaul.ca/en/event/proposed-canonical-norms-in-light-of-the-synod-on-synodality/

On September 30, 2026, the Secretariat for the Synod in Rome published the report of the Canon Law Commission. With the approval of Pope Francis this Commission was established to propose changes of canonical norms for the Latin Church on the basis of the results of the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality, particularly its Final Document approved on October 26, 2024. The Commission expresses the need for short term, midterm and long-term modifications. The Report published lists possible short term revisions for the Latin Church.

Join us for a conversation with Prof. Myriam Wijlens, a consultor to the Synod and member of the Synod’s Canon Law Commission. She will shed light on the working method and the proposals that the Commission offered.

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Myriam Wijlens

Myriam Wijlens is a Dutch theologian and full professor of Canon Law at the University of Erfurt. She obtained her Doctorate in Canon Law from Saint Paul University in Ottawa and a Habilitation from the University in Münster. On behalf of the Dicastery of Christian Unity, she has served on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (2008-2031) and as its co-moderator since 2022 as well as on ARCIC since 2018. Pope Francis appointed her as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (2018-2022). He also appointed her as a Consultor to the Secretariat of the Synod (2021-2026) and at his request she served as an expert to the XVI General Ordinary Assemblies for the Synod on Synodality (2023-2024). In 2023 she was appointed as a member of the Synod’s Canon Law Commission.

The CTSA Board of Directors gathered at the October 2026 meeting approved changing the deadline to submit new applications to CTSA membership (Active and Associate) and adjustment of status, thus streamlining our timeline as we now hold our Business Meeting online during the month of May. The new deadline to submit new CTSA membership applications and requests for adjustment of status is April 15. Please share this information with students and colleagues considering CTSA membership. May this be an opportunity to encourage all members to invite others to join the Society and to renew your own engagement. Please visit the CTSA website for information and updates on current activities.

Sincerely,

Hosffman Ospino, PhD
CTSA Secretary 

President Catherine Clifford has written her Fall Letter to the membership. Please read the letter here. 

CTSA President Catherine Clifford recently wrote a letter to Catholic Biblical Association President Amy-Jill Levine.

You may read the letter in the attached file:

CTSA presidential letter to CBA president.pdf

• 2026 Scherer Lecture offered by Dr. Michelle Clifton
• "Word Made Flesh: Abolishing Bars with Books"
• Register here: https://lstc.edu/event/scherer-lecture-2026/

• 2026 Luzbetak Lecture offered by Dr. Joanne Doi, MM 
• “Dark Spaces Birth New Stars: Hope in Dismal Times”
• Register here: https://ctu.edu/event/28th-annual-louis-j-luzbetak-lecture-on-mission-and-culture/