2008 Woodie Awards
Bagley addresses faith and nation
Cait Rohan
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
If you're like many students at Loyola, you're considering a career in law. You, like all Americans, will also be called to serve on a jury. You also may be thinking how your values as a Catholic will affect you in the American legal system.
This past Wednesday Katherine Bagley, class of 2009, presented "Catholics, Good Catholics and the American Legal System" to address these issues.
"It's difficult to be pulled in two directions-- faith and nation," says Bagley. "We're all expected to be good Americans and Catholics are expected to be good Catholics. It's important to know that if you're compromising part of who you are as a Catholic because you think it's making you a better."
Bagley's talk centered on three issues-- the history of Catholics in the American legal system, American laws versus Catholic laws and how Catholics participate in the American legal system.
"Since many Loyola students will go on to be lawyers and maybe judges and everyone will likely be called to serve on a jury, how we participate in the legal system is a real concern, says Bagley. "It's important to know what we stand for when we participate as Americans and if one is Catholic, there are other considerations that must be recognized in order to make the best decisions and to really participate well."
First, Bagley talked about the history of Catholicism here in Maryland. Although Maryland was a colony founded by Catholics that promoted religious toleration, Bagley pointed out that Catholics still stood persecution. The 1704 Act to Prevent Popery sought to drive the Jesuits out of Maryland. Aside from in Maryland, Catholics clashed with common law across the United States.
Bagley then compared the American view of law versus the Catholic doctrines. Bagley said that the American understanding of law entails freedom and fairness for the individual, due process and equal protection, and no government group is to take away or hinder these rights. Bagley then spoke about the Catholic understanding of law. Bagley quoted Saint Thomas Aquinas as saying, "'Law must regard principally the relation to happiness.'"
This past Wednesday Katherine Bagley, class of 2009, presented "Catholics, Good Catholics and the American Legal System" to address these issues.
"It's difficult to be pulled in two directions-- faith and nation," says Bagley. "We're all expected to be good Americans and Catholics are expected to be good Catholics. It's important to know that if you're compromising part of who you are as a Catholic because you think it's making you a better."
Bagley's talk centered on three issues-- the history of Catholics in the American legal system, American laws versus Catholic laws and how Catholics participate in the American legal system.
"Since many Loyola students will go on to be lawyers and maybe judges and everyone will likely be called to serve on a jury, how we participate in the legal system is a real concern, says Bagley. "It's important to know what we stand for when we participate as Americans and if one is Catholic, there are other considerations that must be recognized in order to make the best decisions and to really participate well."
First, Bagley talked about the history of Catholicism here in Maryland. Although Maryland was a colony founded by Catholics that promoted religious toleration, Bagley pointed out that Catholics still stood persecution. The 1704 Act to Prevent Popery sought to drive the Jesuits out of Maryland. Aside from in Maryland, Catholics clashed with common law across the United States.
Bagley then compared the American view of law versus the Catholic doctrines. Bagley said that the American understanding of law entails freedom and fairness for the individual, due process and equal protection, and no government group is to take away or hinder these rights. Bagley then spoke about the Catholic understanding of law. Bagley quoted Saint Thomas Aquinas as saying, "'Law must regard principally the relation to happiness.'"
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