That observation comes from respected Chesterton scholar Dale Ahlquist, one of the keynote speakers at an upcoming Toronto conference that will examine the issue of faith in the public square. It was an issue dear to Chesterton that has only grown in importance over the decades.
鈥淐hesterton saw that people would be offended if you actually stood up and said what you believe,鈥� said Ahlquist. 鈥淗e saw that there was less freedom (in his lifetime) than when we had more local public squares. It is the loss of the public square that has been one of the main problems.鈥�
For three days in early August, the Archdiocese of Toronto and St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app Seminary are teaming up to revive the public square. They have organized an event in downtown Toronto from Aug. 5-7 in which prominent speakers will address the role of religion in civic life.
It is an issue that concerned Chesterton and has become even more contentious today as a more secular, culturally diverse society confronts a host of situations that are creating friction between civil society and religion. The recent pronouncement by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau that pro-life supporters will be banned from carrying the party banner in an election is just one example.
The three-day conference, called Faith in the Public Square, will be held at St. Michael鱿鱼视频app College School, Centre for the Arts and will examine the role that religion should play in civic life. The event marks the windup of a year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app Seminary, and will feature public sessions with talks given by Ahlquist (Aug. 5), Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (Aug. 6) and Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins (Aug. 7).
Ahlquist, host of EWTN鱿鱼视频app The Apostle of Common Sense that explores Chesterton鱿鱼视频app writings, will examine Chesterton鱿鱼视频app views on the subject of religion in civic life. Chaput will speak about the relationship between law and morality. And Collins will review Thomas More鱿鱼视频app defiance of Henry VIII and discuss staying faithful to God, family and country in a secular age.
All three speakers have 鈥渟ome kind of public notoriety in addressing the issue of faith in relation to the public square,鈥� said Matthew Sanders, manager of special projects in the archdiocese.
鈥淒ale Ahlquist, for instance, is a Chesterton scholar, and Chesterton is quite famous for making faith practical for people in their everyday life,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淎lso, Ahlquist is a staunch defender of the importance the faith can have in effecting public policy and moral judgment.鈥�
Chaput was invited because 鈥渁nyone who鱿鱼视频app paid any attention to Archbishop Chaput鱿鱼视频app career would know he鱿鱼视频app one of the most publicly outspoken leaders in the Amercian Church,鈥� said Sanders, especially on the 鈥渞elevance of faith in the public square鈥� and 鈥渙ne鱿鱼视频app conscience in political matters.鈥�
Collins has been active in the debate 鈥渂etween faith and how it interacts with public life,鈥� said Sanders, referring to the cardinal鱿鱼视频app disapproval of Trudeau鱿鱼视频app insistence that all federal Liberals tow the party line on abortion.
The cardinal鱿鱼视频app plan is 鈥渃aring for the gathered and reaching out to the scattered,鈥� said Msgr. A. Robert Nusca, quoting the cardinal. Nusca, associate professor of the New Testament, was rector of St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app during the planning days of the event.
Nusca is concerned that modern society not only discounts the contribution religion can make to civic life but the public square 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 recognize or want religion,鈥� he said.
鈥淥ur faith informs our actions, our public life,鈥� he added. 鈥淥ur faith gives us a moral compass.
鈥淭he larger context is the New Evangelization. There needs to be a conversation between secular society and people of faith.鈥�
In addition to the public sessions, there will be three days of private lectures focusing on the issue of the media and law.
The public lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. and cost $20 per session.
For more information and tickets, visit www.archtoronto.org/ faithinthepublicsquare.