"How Catholics Encounter the Bible" | Book Review Panel with Michael Peppard at the 2025 CBA Annual Meeting
In How Catholics Encounter the Bible, award-winning biblical scholar and historian Michael Peppard explores the paradoxical role of the Bible for Catholics--a book central to their tradition, but not usually in the form of a book. Biblical ideas and beliefs are more often mediated through diverse modes of storytelling, artistic imagination, and ritual. Peppard begins from the conviction that the Bible, for Catholics, is not bound with leather book covers, but with the liturgical binding of the sign of the cross, the wrought-metal framing of a stained-glass window, or the lyrical structures of a God-haunted poet. He thus de-emphasizes the act of private, individual reading and instead analyzes distinctively Catholic approaches to the Bible through ritual, literature, the arts, and ethics.
Panel and reception: The Hank Center was delighted to host a panel of scholars discussing Michael Peppard's recent book, How Catholics Encounter the Bible as the first plenary session of this year's Annual Meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association at Loyola University Chicago.
A special exhibit: As a way to experience glimpses into the varied Catholic encounters with Scripture through history covered in Peppard's book, the panel was supplemented with two opportunities over the following days of the Annual Meeting to visit a display of medieval and early modern manuscripts curated and presented by Loyola's Archives and Special Collections.
Panelists
Michael Peppard, Professor of Theology at Fordham University
Theresa Gross-Diaz, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Medieval Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago
Felipe de J. Legarreta, Clinical Assistant Professor at the Institute of Pastoral Studies
Anathea Portier-Young, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School
Brian Yong Lee, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Loyola University Chicago
Moderated by Julian Sieber, PhD Candidate in New Testament & Early Christianity at Loyola University Chicago
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Panel 7–8:30pm; Reception 8:30pm
Rooney Hall, Lake Shore Campus, Loyola University Chicago
Attendance is free and all are welcome.
About Michael Peppard
Dr. Michael Peppard is a scholar and teacher whose primary work brings to light the meanings of the New Testament and other Christian materials in their social, political, artistic, and ritual contexts. A professor of theology at Fordham University, he received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University, with prior degrees from Yale Divinity School, its Institute of Sacred Music, and the University of Notre Dame. He offers commentary on current events at the nexus of religion, politics, and culture for venues such as Commonweal, where he is a frequent contributor, as well as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and PBS.
Read more about Michael here.