Las Casas Institute

*BOOK LAUNCH*
Reminder that we will be launching John Loughlin's recently released monograph Human Dignity: Its Roots and Challenges in Western Thought! Tracey Rowland, Notre Dame Australia, will lead the launch. Please join us June 9th!

https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/event/human-dignity-its-roots-and-challenges-in-western-thought/

**NEW SEMINAR**
We've added an extra talk this term to our seminar series Thinking Social Justice!

Catholic Social Justice on the American Right

A dialogue grounded in a Catholic understanding of social justice that transcends ideological lines. Dr James Bergida, Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute, will lead this seminar starting at 5pm, Wednesday the 10th of June in the Aula of Blackfriars Hall.

https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/event/catholic-social-justice-on-the-american-right/

Hugo Slim, our Las Casas Institute Director, has published a blog on The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE site, exploring the long and nuanced history of deception in activism, and the reasons for today’s activists to exercise caution, while being prepared to lie and deceive to protect the fundamental rights of humanity and nature.

An excerpt reads:
There is a long and noble tradition of secret operations and deliberate deception in the global history of humanitarian, human rights and environmental activism. Undercover activism has saved millions of lives and brought public attention to violations of all kinds. It still does in many places round the world today. [But] if habitual, it can do lasting moral damage to people operating in secret…

To read the full blog post, please follow the link:

Undercover Activism: when is it right to use secrecy, deception and lies? - Activism Influence and Change Hugo Slim explores the long and nuanced history of deception in activism, and the reasons for today’s activists to exercise caution, while being prepared to lie and deceive to ‘protect the fundamental rights of humanity and nature.’ Many left leaning activists cite Hannah Arendt – perhaps to...

The Las Casas Institute was pleased to host this academic conversation between Dr Maria Power and Dr Eduardo Gutiérrez with the Centre for Theological Formation, Javeriana—exploring the complex role of communities of faith in peacebuilding processes.

Echoes of Faith: Religious Voices in the Peacebuilding Landscapes of Ireland and Colombia The Las Casas Institute at Blackfriars Hall was pleased to host this online academic conversation—co-organised with the Centre for Theological Formation (Pon...

'European Values and the European Union: Theory and Practice'

Last week's seminar led by Prof John Loughlin, Senior Las Casas Fellow, and Dr Christian Gsodam, Advisor at the European External Action Service, is now live on our YouTube channel. In particular, they discussed the values of human dignity and the rule of law.

This event is in the framework of European Future Talks, an initiative launched by Dr Christian Gsodam to foster discussion and democratic participation in European integration.

Las Casas Institute European Values and the European Union: Theory and Practice

'Sisters created fragile spaces where hope and trust endured, and despite the challenges and realities of life in the grassroots, remained committed to breaking down enmity'

Las Casas Fellow Dr Briege Rafferty has a feature article in the Irish Catholic

Nuns in the midst of violence in Northern Ireland - The Irish Catholic New book of research tells the stories of religious sisters during the Troubles For generations, nuns were the backbone of Irish life, their contributions characterised by practical, sustained and deeply valued service. While academics including Prof. Deirdre Raftery have noted the largely undocumen...

**TERM CARD**

The full term card for Las Casas events is now live! We are excited for you all to join us at the many events we're running this Trinity.

NEW PUBLICATION: Briege Rafferty, Catholic Sisters, Conflict and Peace in Northern Ireland, 1968–2008 (Abingdon: Routledge, 2026)

Dr Briege Rafferty, Research Fellow of the Las Casas Institute and a key part of our Women Religious Project, will publish this in-depth study of Catholic sisters in Northern Ireland during the Troubles later this month. The book enriches our understanding of religious life in Northern Ireland during the latter part of the twentieth century and will be of interest to scholars of Catholic studies, peace and conflict studies, oral history, gender studies and Irish studies.

To pre-order a copy, please see the publisher's website: https://www.routledge.com/Catholic-Sisters-Conflict-and-Peace-in-Northern-Ireland-1968-2008/Rafferty/p/book/9781032715841

A book launch will be held later this year.

Our institute patron, Crd Timothy Radcliffe, was a guest on Newsnight yesterday speaking in response to recent comments made by the US president about Pope Leo. A clip of that interview has been posted on X.

BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) on X

‘It is important not to say: “this is not our war”'

The Las Casas Institute sat down with Fr Zdzislaw Szmanda to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the impact on the Ukrainian people, and what we, as Dominicans and Catholics, can do.

Fr Zdzisław on the Dominican Work in Ukraine, Hope, and Action 'It is important not to say: "this is not our war"'.In this interview, the Las Casas Institute sat down with Fr Zdzisław Szmańda, the director of the St. Tho...