Thursday, August 27

Thursday programming sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion

Forefront Science for Religion Reporters

How Does Science Work? A Brief Introduction to the History, Philosophy and Practice of Science
Building the foundation for discussions on how forefront science offers new insights into what it means to be human, science historian Melinda Baldwin (Harvard University) will outline how science works — peer review, funding, ethical oversight, methodology — while science writer Rachel Gross (Slate) will review the unique qualities necessary for strong science reporting. Together, they provide insights into the world of science that will broaden attendees’ perspectives for the panels that follow.

• Moderator: Jennifer Wiseman, AAAS

• Melinda Baldwin, Harvard University

• Rachel Gross, Slate Magazine

Lunch: What Does it Mean to be Human? Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Artificial intelligence and robotics are at the forefront of computer science research and can be leveraged for a host of real-world applications. These advances raise significant questions about human nature and the ethics of creating artificial beings endowed with human-like features and intelligence. Drawing on his own innovative research into evolving intelligence and the scientific virtues, Professor of Philosophy and Computer Science & Engineering Robert T. Pennock, Michigan State University, will explore the possibilities of this very present future.

What Does it Mean to be Human? Implications of Genetic Engineering
Ever since the human genome was mapped at the turn of this century, ethical concerns have followed. Gene-editing techniques using enzymes to essentially cut and paste select genetic sequences (including the unprecedented efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 technique) raise new concerns about the unknown consequences of altering a person’s genome, even to treat potentially devastating genetic disorders like Huntington’s Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia and Neurofibromatosis.

• Moderator: Christine Scheller

• Douglas Lauffenberger, MIT

• Ted Peters, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences

What Does it Mean to Be Human? Implications of the Search for Life Beyond Earth
Astrophysicist Jennifer Wiseman will explore new findings in the search for planets and life beyond Earth with Harvard evolutionary biologist and Episcopal priest Lucas Mix. No longer constrained to science fiction, the search for new extrasolar planets is accelerating at an incredible rate as new worlds are discovered, some of them potentially habitable. This discussion will consider implications of these new findings for our understanding of the significance of life in the universe.

• Moderator: Se Kim, AAAS

• Lucas Mix, Harvard Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology and Episcopal priest

• Jennifer Wiseman, AAAS

Dinner sponsored by the Knights of Columbus
On the Eve of Pope Francis' Visit to the United States, we take a look at the views of Americans and American Catholics. Presented by Mary Griffith and Jaime Lynne Bishop of Marist Poll.

Dessert & drinks sponsored by “Risen” movie
Rich Peluso, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Friday, August 28

Friday programming sponsored and organized by the Pontifical University of Santa Croce and Columbia Magazine

Breakfast: World Meeting of Families and the Papal Visit
Officials involved in planning and communications related to Pope Francis’ visit will discuss details of his highly anticipated trip to the United States. This practical, nuts-and-bolts panel will cover important aspects such as estimated crowd sizes, media accreditation and access, logistics, security, transportation and the daily papal schedule. The panel will also help to explain the significance of the World Meeting of Families and the planned events.

• Donna Farrell, World Meeting of Families

• Kenneth Gavin, Archdiocese of Philadelphia

• Meg Kane, Brian Communications

• Helen Osman, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Pope Francis: Myths and Realities
Since the night of his election in March 2013, Pope Francis has been the source of intense speculation and even confusion in some quarters. Four papal observers — two university professors and two journalist-authors of books on Pope Francis — will help to sort out the facts from the myths to provide a balanced understanding of Pope Francis and his papacy.

• Moderator: Greg Erlandson, Our Sunday Visitor

• Alejandro Bermúdez, Catholic New Agency

• Austen Ivereigh, Catholic Voices

• Maryann Cusimano Love, the Catholic University of America

• Rev. John Paul Wauck, Pontifical University of Santa Croce

Lunch: What to Expect from Francis: An Insider’s View
Pope Francis has deep roots in Latin America and has become an international media personality. This panel will look at both of those aspects in detail, with these two panelists sharing their extensive knowledge of Pope Francis, and what we can expect from this trip and his papacy.

• Moderator: Daniel Arasa, Pontifical University of Santa Croce

• Guzmán Miguel Carriquiry Lecour, Commission for Latin American

• Rev. Thomas Rosica, Holy See press office

Pope Francis and the Meaning of Family
With the World Meeting of Families and a Synod of Bishops in Rome only weeks away, three experts will discuss why the family is such a priority for Pope Francis.

• Moderator: Mary Hasson, the Catholic Women’s Forum a the Ethics & Public Policy Center

• Helen Alvaré, George Mason University School of Law

• Carl Anderson, Knights of Columbus

• Bishop Jean Laffitte, Pontifical Council for the Family

Ethnicity, Family and the Changing Face of the U.S. Catholic Church
There is no question that the face of the Church in the United States is changing rapidly. This panel will discuss the factors that will shape American Catholicism in the decades ahead.

• Moderator: Jonathan Reyes, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Archbishop José H. Gomez, Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

• Mark Gray, CARA Catholic Polls at Georgetown University

• W. Bradford Wilcox, University of Virginia

Bishops’ Panel on Pope Francis and His Visit
Three Catholic archbishops involved in different parts of the Pope Francis visit — to the United Nations, to the World Meeting of Families, and his meeting with the Bishops of the United States — will discuss what media professionals need to know about these papal events and provide context for where they fit into the Pope’s pilgrimage as a whole — to his papacy, to the Catholic Church in America and to American culture.

• Moderator: Rev. John Paul Wauck, Pontifical University of Santa Croce

• Archbishop Bernardito C. Auza

• Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

• Archbishop Joseph Kurtz

Dinner sponsored by Faith Counts
Faith Counts, a multi-faith social media campaign aimed at promoting the value of faith, will announce the Grand Prize Winner of its "Film Your Faith" video contest. Brief remarks and a $20,000 check presentation will follow a showcase of the top two-minute film submissions.

Saturday, August 29

Breakfast sponsored by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
The ERLC presents President Russell Moore's newest book, "Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel."

Muslim Matters: What American Muslims are Talking About
How do American Muslims talk to one another about race and racism? About marriage, dating and gender roles? About the gaps between immigrant generations and their children and grandchildren? We'll introduce the conversations that American Muslims have with one another and to the some of the divisions — national, racial generational, theological — that can be hard to map from the outside.

• Moderator: Matthew Miller, Lansing Sate Journal

• Dilshad Ali, Patheos Muslim

• Abdullah Pocius, Albania Masjid, Philadelphia

• Kameelah Rashad, Muslim Wellness Foundation

Religion and Violence
From the rampages of ISIS to the Charlie Hebdo and Boston Marathon massacres, from the strong religious overtones of the Russia-Ukraine war to attacks on American mosques and Muslims, and to the kidnap-murders of Jewish and Arab youth in Israel, the question regularly arises: Why do people kill — and die — for religion? But is this even the right question, when far more people who share the same religion, background and grievances of the killers refrain from killing? What other factors are involved?

• Moderator: Peter Smith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• Naveed Ahmad, Silent Heros, Invisible Bridges

• Hasan Azad, Religion Dispatches and Islamic Monthly

• Tom Heneghan, ThomsonReuters

Lunch sponsored by the Pew Research Center
Experts from the Pew Research Center will present embargoed survey findings from their research on religion and public life.

• Jessica Hamar Martinez, Pew Research Center

• Gregory Smith, Pew Research Center

Church in the City: Thriving, Dying or Just Getting By?
As many of America's cities experience economic revival and draw young professionals and retirees to city life, many urban churches face uncertain futures and complex challenges. How are they finding creative ways to build community? How do they find the money and the members to serve long-term residents and newcomers?

• Moderator: Bob Smietana, Religion News Service

• Rev. Leslie D. Callahan, St. Paul’s Baptist Church

• Shane Claiborne, The Simple Way

• Alvin Sanders, World Impact

How to Cover a Papal Trip in Three Easy Steps
1) Add the Rev. Thomas Rosica, English language assistant to Holy See Press Office and head of Salt and Light Catholic Television Network; Austen Ivereigh, author of “The Great Reformer,” a widely hailed biography of Pope Francis; David O’Reilly, religion reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a veteran of several papal trips; John Thavis, author and journalist specializing in Vatican and religious affairs; plus a dash of David Gibson, national reporter for Religion News Service and longtime Vatican-watcher 2) Stir together and mix with a room full of reporters who can share their own experiences and ask questions specific to the upcoming U.S. papal visit. 3) Enjoy a refreshing primer on all things Francis and feel yourself relax about the prospect of what will be a stress-inducing week of impossible deadlines for everyone else!

• Moderator: David Gibson, Religion News Service

• Austen Ivereigh, Catholic Voices

• David O’Reilly, The Philadelphia Inquirer

• Rev. Thomas Rosica, Holy See press office

• John Thavis, self-employed

RNA member meeting

Silent auction and reception

Awards banquet sponsored by Missio

Sunday, August 30

Breakfast sponsored by “90 Minutes in Heaven” movie
Rick Jackson, Giving Films

Papal site tours

Box lunch: Everything You Didn’t Think to Ask about the Papal Tour sponsored by “90 Minutes in Heaven” movie
Papal tour spokesperson Meg Kane will join forces with the archdiocese’s director of communications Ken Gavin to give insider tips about covering the papal trip and to answer logistics questions that arise after the morning’s tours.