Empty Churches: Non-Affiliation in America

Fr. James L. Heft is a priest of the Marianist Order with a doctorate in historical theology from the University of Toronto. After faculty and administrative posts at the University of Dayton, in 2006 he founded the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he is the Alton Brooks Professor of Religion and President Emeritus of the Institute.

His areas of research include the Catholic intellectual life; interreligious dialogue; Catholic secondary and higher education; and the crisis of contemporary religious disaffiliation. He has published over 170 articles and book chapters and is the author or editor of thirteen books, most recently the title of this lecture, published last year by Oxford University Press.

His service includes on the national boards of the Conference of Christians and Jews and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Education Committee. The recipient of five honorary doctorates, in 2011 he received the Theodore F. Hesburgh Award from the University of Notre Dame for distinguished and long leadership and service in Catholic higher education in the United States.

The Dave Whittington Endowment was established for the purpose of educating and developing faithful and spiritual Catholic leaders in business, education, sciences, and the community by providing funding for lectures regarding faith and spirituality.

For further information, contact Therese Taxis at the Newman Catholic Community: ttaxis@uncnewman.org.

Ample parking available behind both buildings.