Controversial theologian to speak in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE — In the heat of a presidential campaign, the thoughts of even casual observers often turn to politics. And when Democratic candidate Barack Obama recently had to address incendiary remarks made by his own pastor, just about everyone who was paying attention had to ask themselves about the link between faith and politics.

So it seems especially timely that the Church of St. Mary and The Hotchkiss School are sponsoring a lecture by the Rev. Richard P.  McBrien, an award-winning author and professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

McBrien will speak on “Faith and Politics in Our Time� in the Hotchkiss chapel Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.

McBrien has a long and somewhat controversial history as a priest and scholar in the Roman Catholic Church. He has also has roots in Connecticut, having attended St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. The West Hartford native also serves as a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

McBrien is the author of more than 20 books, including such works as “Catholicism,� “The Encyclopedia of Religion� and the “Harper-Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism.� He has often differed with the Catholic Church on some of its teachings.

McBrien also publishes a popular weekly theology column for the Catholic press. At least twice, the column was discontinued by Catholic papers in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Palm Beach, Fla. Bishop Thomas V. Daily of Brooklyn complained in 1990 that Father McBrien “shows too much disrespect for the Holy Father,� according to The New York Times.

The Times said that in a 1990 column which Brooklyn readers never saw, McBrien composed a “wish list� that included this admonishment on freedom of speech: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if in 1991 Catholic newspaper editors and publishers were to recognize that the Church’s capacity to teach with credibility is harmed, not helped, by the suppression of opinion columns with which they are personally uncomfortable?�

Admission to McBrien’s lecture in Lakeville is free and reservations are not required. However, donations to St. Mary’s are appreciated and preferred seating can be obtained by calling 860-435-2659 or 860-435-0502.