Assumption College Announces Forum on Church Crisis

Worcester, MA—Assumption College is pleased to announce a two-part forum called “The Crisis in the Church” on September 17th and 18th. Both events are free and open to the public.

The forum begins with a lecture called “The Nature of the Priesthood Today,” by Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A’69, on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hagan Campus Center. In this time of turmoil for the Catholic Church, questions surrounding the priesthood are being raised with greater sense of urgency. What is the nature of the priestly vocation? Why is celibacy a requirement? Why is the priesthood reserved for men? Fr. Dennis will speak on these issues and more.

The Student Government Association will present the second part of this forum on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 with "Crisis in the Church: A Panel Discussion.” The discussion, which will take place in the Salon of La Maison at 7:00 p.m., deals with the clergy sex abuse cases that have recently been brought forth in large numbers. Panelists include: Professor Marc Guerra, theology professor at Assumption College; Fr. Dennis Gallagher, vice-president of Mission at Assumption College; Tony McCaffery, former Jesuit Seminarian; Phil Saviano, Regional Director of SNAP (Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests); Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, Assistant Chaplain at College of the Holy Cross; Mary Jane Doherty, assistant to the President of Regis College and volunteer on the Commission for the Protection of Children; and Patricia Engdahl, Director, Office of Healing and Prevention, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester.

For more information on either of these events, contact the Office of Public Affairs at (508) 767-7160.