2021 Judith Plaskow Lecture on Women & Religion

Every year, the Judith Plaskow Lecture on Women and Religion honors the legacy of Manhattan College professor emerita Dr. Judith Plaskow, who was critical to the development of Jewish feminist theology. This annual lecture centers around the intersection of religion with gender, race, and global issues.

Dr. M Shawn Copeland was the guest speaker of this important lecture on January 17th, 2021. Dr. Copeland is professor emerita of systematic theology at Boston College. Through her extensive scholarship on anthropological and political theology, Dr. Copeland is an internationally recognized Catholic theologian. In 2003, Dr. Copeland became the first African-American and African-American woman to be the president of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

In her online lecture, Dr. Copeland began with a seemingly simple question for thought: “Who is my neighbor?” In the United States as well as in theological history, this proves to be a complicated and pressing question. Citing the marked institutional violence perpetrated by police on Black Americans as well as the increase in general white supremacist racism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Copeland emphasizes the importance of thoughtfully answering this question.

The recording of this lecture will be available to the Manhattan College community within the next few weeks. Special thanks to Drs. Saracino, Bryant, and Imperatori-Lee for organizing and moderating this terrific event!