“The Declaration of Independence and Catholic Social Teaching ” with Dr. Constance Nielsen – Faculty Speaker Series

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Location: St. Ambrose Academy (702 S. High Point Rd Suite 209, Madison)

RSVP: By Monday, November 16, 2026. All ages welcome. https://CST250.eventbrite.com

Many misconceptions exist regarding the Church’s views on the tradition of “liberal democracy.” Isn’t the Church monarchical? Wasn’t the King chosen by God? Didn’t Pope Leo XIII condemn “Americanism”? Isn’t democracy the product of the Enlightenment the Church so consistently criticizes? And yet, Leo said that the form of government should be chosen by the governed, the tradition adamantly defends private property, and the Declaration clearly declares rights as given to each individual by God.

In this talk, Dr. Nielsen will examine the tensions and the points of contact between Catholic Social Teaching’s presentation of the role of government and the American experiment.