Chaucer Drive Study Center

LEADERSHIP FOR AMERICA

SEMINAR 2012

MONDAY, JULY 2 – SATURDAY, JULY 7

Featherock Conference Center -- Schulenburg, Texas

Leadership for America is an annual college-level seminar series for qualified high school boys from Texas. Starting this year, the Seminar will focus on particular leaders and concepts. Because of their inherent value, some of them will be repeated in subsequent years. The Seminar is also designed with the purpose of strengthening the Catholic faith of the participants through formative talks, daily Mass, and the rosary. The formation given is in keeping with the spirit of the Prelature of Opus Dei - finding God in everyday life.

FACULTY:    Dwight G. Duncan - Professor of Law, U. Mass Dartmouth

                   Richard P. Hogan, Jr. - Appellate Attorney, Houston

TOPIC
THE PHILOSOPHY OF LAW

The dignity of the human person rests on the truth that man is a being endowed with reason and free will. Talk of “rights” only makes sense when they are connected to the Natural Law. In today's society there is a serious push-and-pull between the higher Natural Law and judicial pronouncements that contradict it in such issues as gay marriage, abortion, and euthanasia. This year's seminar will look closely at the relationship between Divine Law, Natural Law, and Human Law. Is law based merely on the popular majority or must it answer to higher principles?

In this year’s seminar we are going to probe the following philosophical questions:

• Is there a Natural Law that must be respected by all, even if you do not believe in it?
• Where do human rights come from?
• What obligation does a citizen have to follow the laws of society when they conflict with his conscience?
• How can I tell if my conscience is right or wrong?
• Do animal rights exist? Do same-sex couples have a right to marry?
• How do ideologies such as positivism, relativism, secularism, and individualism conflict with objective truth?
• If it’s true for you, does it have to be true for me?
• Why popular sovereignty cannot legislate evil.
• How in a morally neutral government, the strong and powerful end up oppressing the weak and poor.
• Can the government tell me what to do? Can religion tell me what to do? Who is right and when?
• How the U.S. Supreme Court damages the common good with serious moral errors in the past (slavery) and now (abortion).
• Are "gay rights" true civil rights?
• What are the true principles and purpose of marriage?

ELIGIBILITY

Motivated and academically successful high school boys entering their junior or senior year as well as those who are entering their freshman year of college. In a very few cases some entering sophomores will be admitted.

COST

$420 Payable to: CHAUCER DRIVE STUDY CENTER  (Partial scholarships are available)

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE

Applicants will be admitted by a selection committee.  An interview may be required at a sponsoring study center (Wingren, Montevista, or Chaucer).  Click on the REGISTER NOW button at the bottom of this page or in the grey register tab above. For more information, please call JL Marti in Houston at: (713) 703-1829.

SEMINAR DATES & SCHEDULE

This year's Leadership for America Seminar will begin on the afternoon of Monday, July 2 and end on Saturday morning, July 7 at Featherock Conference Center in Schulenburg, Texas. The daily schedule will include the following:

• Mornings: Prayer, Holy Mass, seminar classes, free time and study time.
• Afternoons: Holy Rosary, sports/swimming, classes.
• Evenings: Talent show, free time, debate night, reading time.
• Special Events: Guest speakers, High Hill pilgrimage, movie night.