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TEMPE — Dominican Father James Thompson is kicking off a series of three- and four-part lectures next Tuesday at All Saints Catholic Newman Center.

The first set of three, beginning Sept. 9 and continuing on subsequent Tuesdays, will cover the divisions of Christendom. Fr. Thompson will examine Catholicism relationship to the Eastern Church and the splintered West.

In the second set, beginning on Oct. 7, Fr. Thompson will examine Catholic teaching’s guidance on political choices and forming a Catholic conscience.

During his homily at the 9:15 p.m. Mass last Sunday, the Dominican friar gave students a “pop quiz” on Catholic social teachings. Among his many points, Fr. Thompson stressed that no political party perfectly matches up with Catholic social teaching, which takes the human dignity of every individual as its guiding principle.

In November, local Bible scholar Fr. Vernon Meyer will join Fr. Thompson for a study of St. Paul. The priests will examine Paul as the zealous pharisee and a Roman citizen, his conversion and his faith in the “Cross of Christ,” St. Paul’s teaching about women, and the Eucharist during the four Tuesday lectures, Nov. 4-25.

For more information, visit the Newman Center Web site.

Related stories in The Catholic Sun:

• “Dominican to lead lectures on Pope Benedict“, March 20, 2008.
• Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted’s column on the Year of St. Paul, “Preparing for the Holy Year: How can we in the Phoenix Diocese celebrate the Pauline Year?” July 3, 2008.
• “Holy Year, holy journey: Local Catholics prepare for Pauline pilgrimage,” Aug. 21, 2008.
• “Holy Year: Church embarks on yearlong celebration of St. Paul,” July 4, 2008.
• “Bishop leads diocese into Year of St. Paul,” July 18, 2008

See also the Phoenix Diocese resources on the Year of St. Paul.

(Photo: Fr. Thompson preaching during daily Mass at ASU’s Danforth Chapel, by Ambria Hammel.)

~JD