St. Jerome’s University in the University of Waterloo
Department of Religious Studies
RS 151 — Fall 2013
Roman Catholicism
Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays, 11:30-12:20p.m., Classroom #3027
Course Outline
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Cristina Vanin
#3023, St. Jerome’s University
884-8111, ext. 28266
cristina.vanin@uwaterloo.ca
Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00p.m., or by appointment
Course Description
When you think of a religious ‘tradition’ such as Roman Catholicism, you may think of something
that’s static, unchanging — something ‘carved in stone.’ You certainly can find continuity in Catholicism;
some things have remained relatively the same over the centuries. We will examine some of these
characteristic rituals, structures, attitudes and ideas.
But the fact is that religious traditions, like any tradition, are rooted in persons and so they are also
dynamic, diverse, always changing and developing. The course will therefore pay attention to the ways
in which Roman Catholicism has developed and changed over time.
Furthermore, religious traditions have to do with persons who believe certain things, whose lives
are grounded in faith, and so we will look at how Christian faith emerges out of scripture and history,
and how it is expressed by this particular Christian tradition of Roman Catholicism. We will explore why
and how it is that people come to understand this faith and live it out in their day-to-day lives. We will
investigate the forces and movements that define contemporary Catholicism, especially the impact of
the ecumenical council, Vatican II, which took place between 1962 and 1965. We will explore questions
such as: what beliefs and practices are characteristic of Roman Catholicism? How did those beliefs
emerge? How are they understood today? What are the central aspects of Roman Catholic life? What
distinguishes Roman Catholicism from other Christian traditions?
We also will ask what it means to live as a Catholic Christian today. To do that, we look at the reality
of today’s world and ask what meaning and significance a Christian faith like Catholicism can have in the
face of the challenges and injustices we face. In a concrete way, the course provides you with an
opportunity to meet and investigate local persons and groups who are committed to working for justice.
Through the group project, you will experience the work these people do, examine how that work is
related to Catholic Christian faith— especially what it says about social issues, and present what you
learn.
Learning Objectives
• understand Catholicism as a living community of faith with distinctive rituals, structures, attitudes,
ideas and ways of living
• learn the major contours of the long and complex history of Catholicism
• study core aspects of Catholic faith
• find out about the impact and significance of Vatican II on contemporary Catholicism and its
engagement with social issues
• learn about, and experience, Catholicism’s approach to issues of social justice
• study the fundamental principles of Catholic social teaching
Required Texts (Texts available at the University of Waterloo Bookstore)
• Donovan, Daniel. Distinctively Catholic: An Exploration of Catholic Identity. Paulist Press, 1997.
• Massaro, Thomas, S.J. Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action. Second Classroom Edition.
Rowan &Littlefield, 2012.
Class Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays — 11:30 – 12:20p.m.
Marking Scheme
Participation:
Students are expected to read the assigned materials BEFORE class and to participate in class
discussions that will constitute an important part of the course.
Assignments
1. Group Project
Each student will participate in the preparation of a group project in which you will:
(a) research a local group that is committed to working for justice;
(b) spend time with the local group to experience and learn about its work firsthand;
(c) present what you learn about the relationship between this organization and Catholic social
teaching to the class and to the St. Jerome’s community through a poster and essay.
More details will follow. This group project is worth 40% of the total grade.
2. Test
There will be one in-class test in this course, worth 25% of the total grade. This test will cover
Chapters 1 through 6 of the Daniel Donovan text, Distinctively Catholic.
3. Final Exam
There will be a final examination that is worth 35% of the total grade. This will take place during the
final examination period, April 11 through April 25. The exam will cover the following material: the
Thomas Massaro text, Living Justice; Chapters 7 and 8 of the Daniel Donovan text, Distinctively
Catholic; material presented at the Lectures in Catholic Experience.
4. Attendance at Lectures in Catholic Experience
Students are required to attend TWO of the St. Jerome’s University Lectures in Catholic Experience
listed below in “Important Dates to Remember.” There will be questions on the lectures in the final
exam for this course.
Correspondence with the Instructor:
Students using email to contact me must include their first and last names, student number, and course
in which they are enrolled in the email subject line.
I will be communicating with you through your uwaterloo email account so please check it regularly.
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IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, October 4
TEST: Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapters 1 through 6
THANKSGIVING DAY — Monday, October 14 (No class)
Friday, October 25:
Lecture in Catholic Experience
7:30 – 9:00p.m., Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome’s University
Title: El Salvador — Passion for God and Compassion for the Other
El Salvador and its martyrs have taught us that no one can seriously seek God
without struggling for a more just world. This lecture considers how the experience
in El Salvador teaches us that no one can ‘know God’ without being open to God’s
presence in the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
Speaker: Dr. Martha Zechmeister
Professor Zechmeister is a member of the Congregatio Jesu and, currently, professor
of systematic theology at the Universidad Centroamericana José Canas, San Salvador,
El Salvador. Her main research interests are in political theology, Latin-American
liberation theology, and Ignatian spirituality.
Friday, November 15: Lecture in Catholic Experience
7:30 – 9:00p.m., Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome’s University
Title: A journey of hope through faith, tolerance and courage
On January 16, 2009, Israeli shells hit Dr. Abuelaish’s home in the Gaza Strip, killing
three of his daughters and his niece, yet he continues to be a proponent of peace
between Palestinians and Israelis. As he says in his book, I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza
Doctor’s Journey, “[A]s a physician and a Muslim of deep faith, I need to move forward
to the light…I need to bring them justice.” In this lecture, Dr. Abuelaish will talk about
the importance of taking this journey of hope together, and of the role of faith,
tolerance, and courage in moving toward forgiveness and peace.
Speaker: Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
Dr. Abuelaish is a Palestinian medical doctor and an associate professor at the Dalla
Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. He has experienced the
impacts of conflicts in countries like Palestine Egypt, Israel, Uganda, Yemen,
Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. Working as both an insider and outsider to conflict
leads him to consider doctors as peace-makers because of the moral doctrine of their
profession.
LAST CLASS — Monday, December 4: Group Poster Presentations in the St. Jerome’s Community
Centre
FINAL EXAM: This will take place during the examination period, December 5 through 20.
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UW POLICY REGARDING ILLNESS AND MISSED TESTS
The University of Waterloo Examination Regulations state that:
 A medical certificate presented in support of an official petition for relief from normal academic
requirements must provide all of the information requested on the “University of Waterloo
Verification of Illness” form or it will not be accepted. This form can be obtained from Health
Services or on the link provided above. If a student has a test/examination deferred due to
acceptable medical evidence, he/she normally will write the test/examination at a mutually
convenient time, to be determined by the course instructor.
 The University acknowledges that, due to the pluralistic nature of the University community,
some students may on religious grounds require alternative times to write tests and
examinations.
 Elective arrangements (such as travel plans) are not considered acceptable grounds for granting
an alternative examination time.
PROFESSOR’S POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS/ESSAYS AND MAKE-UP TESTS
1. Accommodation for a make-up test will be considered only if students provide a University of
Waterloo Verification of Illness form.
2. The written essay for the group project will be considered for late submission only if students arrange
this with the instructor BEFORE the due date.
PROFESSOR’S POLICY ON USE OF COMPUTERS/iPADS/CELL PHONES, ETC.
All cell phones, iPads, iPods, etc., must be powered down and stored during class time.
Laptop computers may be used in class but ONLY for taking notes.
Students using computers for anything other than note-taking will be asked to shut down their
computers and not bring them back to class.
OTHER INFORMATION
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of
Waterloo and its Federated University and Affiliated Colleges are expected to promote honesty, trust,
fairness, respect and responsibility.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing
academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an
action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism,
cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course
professor, academic advisor, or the Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred,
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disciplinary penalties will be imposed under St. Jerome’s University Academic Discipline Policy and UW
Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students
should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline.
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has
been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. For students who decide to file
a grievance, students should refer to Policy 70 – Student Petitions and Grievances. In such a case,
contact Dr. Scott Kline (scott.kline@uwaterloo.ca), Associate Dean of St. Jerome’s University.
Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 71 – Student
Discipline or Policy 70 – Student Petitions and Grievances if a ground for an appeal can be established. In
such a case, contact Dr. John Rempel (jrempel@uwaterloo.ca), Appeals Officer of St. Jerome’s
University.
Academic Integrity website (Arts): http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/academic_responsibility.html
Academic Integrity website (Math): https://math.uwaterloo.ca/math/currentundergraduates/regulations-and-procedures/cheating-and-student-academic-discipline
Academic Integrity Office (UW): http://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity/
Note for students with disabilities: The AccessAbility Services (AS) Office, located in Needles Hall, Room
1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students
with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require
academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AS Office at
the beginning of each academic term.
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SCHEDULE OF READINGS — Fall 2013
WEEK ONE
September 9
September 11
September 13
WEEK TWO
September 16, 18, 20
WEEK THREE
September 23, 25, 27
WEEK FOUR
September 30, October 2
**OCTOBER 4
WEEK FIVE
October 7
October 9, 11
WEEK SIX
October 14
October 16, 18
Introduction to the course
Overview of Catholicism
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Introduction
What does it mean to be part of a community of faith?
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapter 1
A Historical Community of Faith
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapters 2 and 3
A Sacramental and Structured Community
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapters 4 and 5
The Significance of Vatican II
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapter 6
TEST: Donovan, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Concern for social justice is part of what it means to be ‘church’
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 1
Catholicism as a public faith
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 2
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (no class)
The History of Catholic teaching about justice
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 3
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WEEK SEVEN
October 21, 23
**October 25
WEEK EIGHT
October 28, 30,
November 1
WEEK NINE
November 4, 6, 8
WEEK TEN
November 11, 13
** NOVEMBER 15
WEEK ELEVEN
November 18, 20, 22
WEEK TWELVE
November 25, 27, 29
LAST CLASS
Monday, December 2
Sources and methods of Catholic social teaching
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 4
LECTURE IN CATHOLIC EXPERIENCE, 7:30 – 9:00p.m.
— No class today —
Themes in Catholic social teaching
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 5
Catholic social teaching matters today
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 6
The Future of Catholic social teaching
• Thomas Massaro, SJ, Living Justice, Chapter 7
LECTURE IN CATHOLIC EXPERIENCE, 7:30 – 9:00p.m.
— No class today —
Catholicism and its struggles
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapter 7
What being Catholic means for living in the world today
• Daniel Donovan, Distinctively Catholic, Chapter 8
Group Poster Presentations: St. Jerome’s Community Centre
FINAL EXAM is scheduled during the Examination Period (December 5 through 20)
— The exam covers:
• all the material in the Thomas Massaro text (Living Justice),
• chapters 7 and 8 of the Daniel Donovan text (Distinctively Catholic) as well as
• the required Lectures in Catholic Experience.
*****NOTE: Elective arrangements (such as travel plans) are not considered acceptable grounds for
granting an alternative examination time.
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