The Catholic Contribution is a virtual lecture series by Professor John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy of Education, Australian Catholic University (Melbourne). Presented by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), the aim of this series is to understand the nature, development and self-understanding of Roman Catholicism and its contribution to the culture of Europe and beyond, not just historically but through to the present day and into the future. This means going to its origins in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the experience of the apostles in making sense of these, as well as in founding communities based upon them, in which those teachings were preserved and transmitted to the wider world.
Turning from the concerns and controversies of the present day to deeper and more enduring matters, the series will explore the Catholic contribution from historical, cultural and philosophical perspectives to build a picture of Catholicism as providing a clear-sighted, realistic and ennobling understanding of human nature.
The series will begin with Professor Haldane presenting an introduction on "What does it mean to be Catholic?", followed by other lectures on:
- The Jewish/Classical Synthesis
- Rebuilding of the West
- The Church and Society
- Catholic Anthropology and Catholic Education
- Professor Haldane in Discussion
Attendance is free and open to all.
About Professor John Haldane
Professor Haldane is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Chair of the Royal Institute of Philosophy in London, and a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life in Rome. He was named by the Tablet in 2018 as one of the 50 most influential Catholic minds in the world, and by the Catholic Herald in 2019 as one of the ‘Catholics of Today’. He writes regularly for both secular and Catholic media and has appeared extensively on BBC radio and television, and on the ABC in Australia. He has held many visiting professorships and is in constant demand around the world as a lecturer, public speaker, media presenter and conversationalist.