When the late Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Bernardin, was working on his written projects, he received many drafts from his team of collaborators. In the margins of these drafts, he was known to give feedback that insisted upon greater balance, wider scope, more precision. One aide quipped that a document sent to Cardinal Bernardin made a trip to "the Department of Nuance."
With Cardinal Bernardin’s blessing, the Bernardin Center opened in 1997, months after the Cardinal's death, to continue his “legacy and ecclesial vision.” For almost 30 years, the Center has funded countless programs as well as a full-tuition academic scholarship that support research into the interests closest to the Cardinal's heart: reconciliation and peacemaking, interreligious dialogue, the empowerment of young people, and the consistent ethic of life.
In an increasingly polarized political landscape, it’s time to breathe some nuance into online conversations about life issues, climate change, gender and sexuality, scientific and technological advancement, criminal justice, immigration and so many more. This is the Bernardin legacy itself.
The Bernardin Center is housed at Catholic Theological Union, a graduate school of theology and ministry in the heart of the Hyde Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. CTU was founded in 1968 by three men's religious congregations who collaborated to create a different kind of seminary education. Today, CTU is still cooperatively owned by more than 20 religious communities, in partnership with many more men's and women's orders, serving both men and women, religious and lay, online and in-person, from all around the world. Here at CTU, we do contextual theology, rooted in our tradition, and responsible to the signs of our times.
This spirit of awareness - of both our history and what the signs of our times require - is the ethos of this podcast. Together, we'll engage in lively, thoughtful, equitable conversations about the topics most relevant to today's Church and world. We'll hear from ministry professionals, thought leaders, academics, creatives, and many others whose lived experiences give necessary context to the issues on everyone's minds.
Before we go, thanks are in order. This podcast is produced by The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union, which is led by Peter Cunningham and Steve Millies. We also owe much to Erin Neises, our graphic designer; Ron Brown, our audio editor; and Andrew Millies, who composed our theme music.
Welcome to The Department of Nuance.
Learn more about the Bernardin Center at ctu.edu/bernardin-center
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bernardincenter.substack.com
