Department of Catholic Theology, Vytautas Magnus University

Title and Précis:

Theology of the Markets: What Kind of Free Economy John Paul II proposed in Centesimus Annus

     This project will make use of John Paul II’s methodology found within his Theology of the Body in order to better understand free markets theologically. Deepening the understanding of the free economy through enhanced theological anthropology is a novel and necessary way in which the Gospel message can become incarnate. Through the shared words of economy and theology, such as exchange, profit, price, creativity, and profit, a theology of the free market can be devised which concerns itself with communal creativity and subjectivity. An analysis and synthesis of recent academic research in the area of the meaning of the authentic economic liberty and democracy will be conducted in order to understand the moral-cultural prerequisites and challenges which come from Catholic social teaching.

Biography:

     Rev. Dr. Kęstutis Kevalas is the Vice-Dean of the Department of Catholic Theology, and Lecturer on Moral Theology and Pastoral Management at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. Dr. Kevalas earned his S.T.D. (Doctorate in Sacred Theology) from Vytautas Magnus University in 2008. Dr. Kevalas has studied and earned degrees from schools in both the United States and Lithuania.  In 2010, Fr. Kevalas was awarded the Acton Institute’s Novak Award for accomplished scholarship in the area of theology and economic morality.