Archive for April, 2012

Jesuit Brother William Rehg has been named the new dean for Saint Louis University College of Philosophy and Letters, a program for young Jesuits studying philosophy and theology during their first years of study after the novitiate.

The dean of the College of Philosophy and Letters has the authority to adapt curriculum to meet each individual’s needs, which is important because Jesuits have a broad range of academic experience.  Some men enter the Society of Jesus with a college degree, perhaps even an advanced degree; a few come right out of high school.

Br. Rehg brings a vast amount of experience to the position. After graduating with a bachelor of science from Wright State University, Br. Rehg came to SLU to earn his master’s and licentiate in philosophy. He then went on to earn his master’s of divinity from Weston School of Theology and his doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University.

With more than 20 years of experience teaching at SLU, as well as Rockhurst and Northwestern, Br. Rehg has also served as a visiting scholar or professor at Georgetown, Berkeley, Jesuit School of Theology, Loyola and Goethe-University in Frankfurt, Germany.

He has also been granted a variety of awards and has a lengthy publishing record. Rehg is a past president of Philosophers in Jesuit Education as well as Jesuit Philosophical Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Theological Studies.

Br. Rehg is looking forward to the opportunity of leading the College of Philosophy and Letters, “I would like to express my gratitude to Fr. Michael Barber for his tremendous service as dean of Philosophy and Letters.  And I hope that I can continue in that spirit of service.”

[Missouri Jesuits]

Inadequate conscience protections may lead the Supreme Court to reject the 2010 health care law, a Jesuit priest and legal scholar predicted after three days of arguments in the historic case.

“I think there are sufficient problems with the bill, as passed, that the justices could say: ‘This is unconstitutional,’” Jesuit Father Robert J. Araujo, told Catholic News Agency on March 29.

“This is a very complicated law, and the more we examine it, we see more problems and concerns,” noted Fr. Araujo, who holds the John Courtney Murray Professorship at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

“I tend to think that’s on the minds of the lawyers and the justices: ‘Are we going to see more litigation, if we don’t resolve these conscience-protection and other issues?’”

“That’s why I see an opportunity for the court to say: ‘Look, there are some serious problems with this legislation. Congress has done a lot of work, (but) it’s their responsibility to write a law that will pass constitutional muster and judicial review.”

The court’s March 26-28 period of questioning focused on the law’s “individual mandate,” which requires virtually all citizens to obtain health insurance.

Most observers believe the law’s fate will hinge upon whether the requirement is judged to be a means of regulating interstate commerce – as the Obama administration maintains – or an unconstitutional overtaking of states’ power by the federal government.

Fr. Araujo thinks the law is unlikely to be upheld either fully or in part.

“Having followed the arguments and the questions, I don’t think the likelihood of a complete vindication is very strong.”

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In 1969, Jesuit Brother Jim Small came to Loyola Academy in Chicago’s northern suburb of Wilmette, Ill. to work as its resident carpenter, but it’s been a different kind of work and use of his talents that has benefited the Jesuit college preparatory high school the most.

After serving in the Navy during World War II followed by a stint as a Chicago police officer, Br. Small entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1952 at Milford, Ohio. When he came to Loyola Academy, Br. Small picked up a paintbrush and returned to a hobby he’d enjoyed since his childhood – painting. During the school’s first fundraiser in 1970, Br. Small included 36 of his original pieces, all of which were quickly purchased. Since then, he contributes between 60 to 100 paintings each year to Loyola Academy’s fundraiser and raises upwards of $45,000 annually for the school. The funds from the sale of his artwork are used to endow a scholarship fund for students in need.

While Br. Small’s work as a carpenter and an artist has done much for Loyola Academy, few would say those are his most important contributions. He’s known by students, alumni, staff, parents and coaches as a true man for others – someone with a generous spirit who humbly attributes his abilities to God’s grace.  It is his generosity that most would say is his great contribution to Loyola Academy.

Find out more about Br. Jim Small and his artistic talents in the Ignatian News Network video below: