Oct. 27, 2014
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will be honored at The Catholic University of America on Thursday, Nov. 6, as the 2014 recipient of the Johannes Quasten Award, the only academic award given by the University's School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS). Cardinal Kasper will also speak on "Theological Background of the Ecclesiological and Ecumenical Vision of Pope Francis." His lecture will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Caldwell Auditorium. Monsignor Paul McPartlan, acting dean of the school of theology and religious studies, said, "Our school is delighted to give the award this year to His Eminence, Cardinal Walter Kasper, an outstanding theologian and Church leader, renowned for his work in systematic theology over several decades and for his contribution to ecumenism, particularly as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity from 2001 to 2010."Cardinal Kasper was a visiting professor at CUA in 1984, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the University, not only as a bishop-theologian still deeply engaged with the issues facing the Church today, but also as a friend."Cardinal Kasper was consecrated bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany, in 1989 and elevated to cardinal in 2001. He has taught dogmatic theology at universities in Germany and was a visiting professor at Catholic University in 1984. In 1990, he returned to Catholic University to give the Cardinal Dearden Lecture. He has written hundreds of scholarly and theological books, articles, and reviews, and was Catholic co-chairman of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity. The Quasten Award, named after Johannes Quasten, who taught patristic theology at Catholic University for more than 30 years, is awarded annually by STRS for excellence in scholarship and leadership in religious studies. The award was established in 1985, and distinguished recipients have included Raymond Brown, Louis Bouyer, Robert Taft, Geoffrey Wainwright, and Kallistos Ware.Cardinal Kasper will be one of two prominent cardinals hosted by STRS in early November. On Monday, Nov. 3, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will speak on "Donum Veritatis: The Contribution of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the Theological Enterprise." More information on that event can be found at http://trs.cua.edu/res/docs/news/MullerFlier.pdf .Both lectures are free and open to the public. Individuals requesting accommodations for disabilities should call 202-319-5683. MEDIA: Coverage of the lecture is welcome. Cardinal Kasper will not be available for interviews. For more information or to cover the lectures, contact Katie Lee or Mary McCarthy-Hines at 202-319-5600 or cua-public-affairs@cua.edu.