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The Politics of Faith and Reason?
Or the Triumph of the Will?
A basic
“either-or” choice seems more and more to be forced upon
contemporary Catholics. Either they accept as somehow written
into the nature of things the dominant pluralist political, social
and economic system, or they reaffirm their loyalty to a
classical and Christian vision of man and society that clashes
profoundly with it. What are the origins of that system? In what
ways do classical and Christian political, social, and economic
concepts contradict it? How is it that many believers have been
falsely convinced that the pluralist system fulfills the Catholic
vision? What can be done to drive home the truth that pluralism is
an attack on both Faith and Reason and a recipe for the triumph of
the will in public and private life? These are the themes to be
developed by the Roman Forum faculty at the 2010 Summer Symposium.
Faculty, Clergy, Musicians
Dale Ahlquist (President, American Chesterton Society)
Dr. Miguel Ayuso-Torres (University of Madrid)
Rev. Mgr. Dr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula (Human Life International)
James Bogle, Esq. (Author, A Heart for Europe)
Dr. Jeffery Bond (Lecturer in Philosophy, Politics, and Literature)
Dr. Danilo Castellano (University of Udine)
Joshua Copeland (Chorister)
Rev. Bernard Danber, O.S.A.
Christopher A. Ferrara, J.D. (President, ACLA)
David J. Hughes (Musical Director)
James Kalb, Esq. (Author, The Tyranny of Liberalism)
Michael J. Matt (Editor, The Remnant)
Dr. Brian M. McCall (University of Oklahoma)
Professor John Médaille (University of Dallas)
Dr. Robert Moynihan (Editor, Inside the Vatican)
Rev. Dr. Richard Munkelt (University of Fairfield)
Rev. Gregory Pendergraft, F.S.S.P.
Dr. John C. Rao (St. John’s University)
Rev. Richard Trezza, O.F.M.
(Plus other speakers from the US and Europe, to be announced)
Daily Program
Each day
involves three lectures (morning and pre-dinner), and Sung Mass in
the Extraordinary Rite (Tridentine Mass) at noon. There are no
lectures on Sundays. Musical and theatrical entertainments take
place in the garden of the Angeli in the evenings after
dinner.
Cost
The full cost of
the Gardone program in a double occupancy room is 2,000 Euros. This
includes: tuition, room and board (very ample breakfast and dinner
with wine, beer, and other beverages at will; all gratuities also);
transportation to and from Malpensa Airport in Milan; a boat trip on
Lake Garda; and excursions to Venice and in the Lake region. A
number of full and partial scholarships are available.
Preference will be given to professors, students, clergy, and
seminarians. Nevertheless, anyone who genuinely cannot afford the
full tuition and believes himself to be a worthy candidate for
assistance may apply.
Accommodations and the Setting
Accommodation
and lectures for the Gardone program are at the Locanda agli
Angeli and the Hotel Villa Sofia on Lake Garda, in the
foothills of the Alps in northern Italy. Rooms are mostly doubles,
with bath. A limited number of singles is also available.
Both hotels are located in Gardone Sopra, a ten-minute walk from the
lakefront, where free, clean beaches with a number of amenities can
be found. They offer beautiful swimming pools and gardens on their
premises. Meals are taken at the Angeli and at other
trattorie several minutes walk away. Mass is in the parish
church, also within walking distance. Arrangements to arrive earlier
or stay later, at additional cost, may be made through the director.
Gardone is
within easy traveling distance of Verona, Venice, Trent, Brescia,
Milan, Ravenna, Pavia and Padua. In years past, participants have
rented cars to tour the area, taken private and more extensive boat
trips on the lake, attended the opera in Verona, and even ventured
as far away as Florence. The region offers opportunities not only
for swimming, but for hiking, biking, boating and scenic walks as
well. The lectures are scheduled in such a way as to allow time for
recreation and sightseeing.
Transportation
Transportation
to Italy must be arranged privately. Two shuttles (morning and
afternoon) to Gardone will be provided from Malpensa on July 1st,
and one back to the airport on the morning of July 12th.
Participants arriving and leaving at different times or arriving at
and leaving from different airports are responsible for making their
own arrangements for getting to Gardone. Gardone can be reached by
shuttle from the Airport to Milano Centrale (50 minutes), train to
Brescia (50 minutes), and bus to Gardone Riviera (50 minutes), or by
taxi from the airport (which can be very expensive).
Application
Applications can
be e-mailed ([email protected])
or sent by post. First time applicants only must include
name, address, telephone number, e-mail, date of birth, occupation,
academic degrees attained or pending, and the names and phone
numbers of two references. Application should be made as soon as
possible as there are only limited places available.
Payment
A non-refundable
deposit of $500 will secure one’s reservation. Once again, space is
limited, so it is advisable to send this in as soon as possible
after acceptance. Payment of the remaining fee, equivalent to
2,000 Euros as of May 1, 2010, must be made no later than May 15th,
2010. Deposits and all other payments must be made out to the Roman
Forum and mailed to Dr. John C. Rao, 11 Carmine St. Apt. 2C, New
York, NY 10014.
Final Notes
Seminar
participants must eventually send us both their
arrival and departure information. It is also important
to let us know if you wish to arrive earlier or stay later than the
scheduled symposium dates (at extra cost). We would appreciate this
information by June 15th, by e-mail. A representative of
the Roman Forum will meet participants at their arrival gates.
Should the contact person not be found, please look for the bus
driver holding a sign saying Molinari Agency, Gardone Riviera.
His cell phone number will be sent to you by e-mail just before the
departure date. In case of trouble, telephone the Locanda agli
Angeli (from the USA, 011-39-0365-20991; from Italy,
0365-20991).
Barring the
unpredictable, the weather should be sunny and quite warm/hot. We
are in the foothills of the Alps, however, so one may need a sweater
or light jacket for dining and sitting outside in the evening.
Please also bring a light poncho or some other form of protection
from a shower. If you do enjoy swimming and hiking, do not forget a
bathing suit and good walking shoes. Tennis courts are available for
use nearby. Access to the Internet is available from the Angeli,
the Villa Sofia and the café-restaurant La Taverna
(the latter in the main square at Gardone Sopra, two minutes away
from the Angeli). There at ATM machines just outside the
Angeli, and at the Banco di Brescia, a short distance
away from the Villa Sofia.
Gardone’s
greatest difficulty is laundry. There is no laundromat in the
village. Someone does stop by every day to pick up any laundry that
needs to be done, to be returned the next day. Under normal
circumstances, laundry costs are expensive in Italy. With the
dollar-euro exchange what it now is, it may be the greatest
expenditure of your trip. There will be a general orientation at
cocktail hour on Thursday, July 1st at the Angeli.
A schedule of masses, as well as information about the Sunday boat
trip and excursions during the week will be handed out at that time.
Please consider giving a
tax-deductible donation to support clergy, seminarians, and
students. Mail all applications and send donations to:
Dr. John C. Rao, Director
The Roman Forum
11 Carmine Street, # 2C
New York, NY 10014
Or e-mail to
[email protected]
“Even if the wounds of this shattered world enmesh
you, and the sea in turmoil bears you along in but one surviving
ship, it would still befit you to maintain your enthusiasm for
studies unimpaired. Why should lasting values tremble if transient
things fall?” (Prosper of
Aquitaine) |