About Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy

The institute is named for the late Monsignor Terrence Murphy, who served the University of St. Thomas for 50 years, including 25 years as its president. Murphy was the university's chancellor when he died in February of 2004.

His 2001 book, A Catholic University: Vision and Opportunities, emphasized the themes of teaching religious and ethical values, ecumenism and openness to those of all faiths and cultures; service; recognizing and meeting community needs; and an entrepreneurial spirit.

About the Terrence J. Murphy Institute

The Institute is a collaboration between the University of St. Thomas Center for Catholic Studies and School of Law.   Its purpose is to explore the intersection between law and Catholic thought on a variety of topics.  In its activities, the institute draws upon the resources of both programs as well as from other academic disciplines and faith traditions.

The institute's activities focus on four areas:

• Facilitating scholarship and scholarly discussions concerning law and the Catholic intellectual tradition;
• Engaging and serving the community through public events;
• Developing curricular resources for relating law and the Catholic tradition in the classroom;
• Providing nonpartisan public policy analysis rooted in the Catholic tradition.