In an age of turbulence, Lucia A. Silecchia, IHE Fellow and Professor of Law, explores how the anxieties that accompany uncertainty can offer an invitation to trust in God, whose plan is greater than what we can imagine.

IHE Fellow Jennifer Frey joined Amy Alznauer, Jessica Hooten Wilson, and Christine Flanagan on 3 June 2020 for the Collegium Institute's webinar on Flannery O’Connor and her relevance during the quarantine. The speakers probed into themes of philosophy, ordinary experience, and creativity in O’Connor’s work, which led to a deeper conversation on God’s grace as brought about by solitude, violence, and boredom.

Lucia A. Silecchia, IHE Fellow and Professor of Law, reflects on mentorship and how we can use our gifts and talents to become mentors to others.

Program Director Professor William Saunders provides an in-depth look at where pro-life issues stand in Washington. From the March for Life to Executive Orders and Policies to the Supreme Court, particularly highlighting the June Medical decision and its implications for unborn children.

IHE Fellow Jennifer Frey, host of the "Sacred and Profane Love" podcast, reflects on the pandemic and on how suffering leads many to seek out literature, philosophy, and theology.

Lucia Silecchia, a Fellow with Catholic Distance University, reflects on the “ordinary” aspects of what she will miss about the class of 2020 as they remotely graduate and her hopes for their future.

The EU finds itself stuck between recognizing the predatory intentions of China and seeking harmony with this Communist regime. Rather than confront China’s desire for expansionism and its egregious human rights violations, the EU mixes postmodern jargon with empty slogans, thus giving China the green light to continue its ways. Let’s take a look at how dangerous this precedent has become for the EU and the countries it represents.

IHE Director of Research and Planning, Emmett McGroarty, addresses why greater centralization and larger bureaucracy lead to a lack of accountability and widen the distance between government and its constituents. While reliance on experts is a necessary part of dealing with a crisis, such as COVID-19, this reliance cannot be an excuse for ignoring the normal system of check and balances, which keep the government tethered to the people.

A recent panel discussion, hosted by the Institute for Human Ecology and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, shows how using both economics and theology can help us better advance the common good.

In this piece, Chen Guangcheng and William J. Saunders discuss the effects of China’s authoritarian dictatorship on the freedom of its citizens, particularly during the pandemic. 

Lucia A. Silecchia, Professor of Law and IHE Fellow, shares a reflection in honor of Pope Saint John Paul II's 100th birthday on May 18. Silecchia shares some thoughts on the ordinary places in his hometown that shaped his life – and taught her some lessons about her own. 

Can anyone really be happy in a hedonistic society? That’s what IHE Fellow Jennifer Frey and her guest David McPherson of Creighton University ponder in Episode 22 of Sacred and Profane Love: Huxley on Love and Longing in Dystopia.

In times of global crisis, the wisdom of theologians brings not only spiritual comfort but also a blueprint of how to continue and strengthen one’s faith. Joseph E. Capizzi, Ph.D., executive director of IHE, and H. David Baer outline the crucial role of theologians during a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic, most significantly, to help people find God’s grace to lead them forward in faith rather than in fear. The authors also reflect on the social nature of the Church and how the love we have for each other is illustrated even as we practice social distancing.

In a joint statement of twenty experts in medicine, law, bioethics, theology, and public policy, M.A. in Human Rights Program Director, William J. Saunders, offers guidance and moral considerations for prioritizing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. When faced with economic crisis and concerns medical care capacity, these professors with myriad expertise apply reason and provide clarity for all of us, especially those in decision-making roles.