Murphy Scholars
Murphy Scholars is a graduate assistantship program for full-time, in-residence students in the Master of Arts in Catholic Studies or Law (JD) programs.
Catholic Thought, Law and Public Policy
Terrence J. Murphy Institute
About the Institute
As a partnership between the Center for Catholic Studies and the School of Law, the Murphy Institute works to engage the church, the academic community and the public in rigorous discussions that bring historical and contemporary Catholic perspectives to bear on debates about law and public policy.
From Augustine and Aquinas, to Galileo and Thomas More, on to Montesquieu, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis, the Murphy Institute plumbs the integrated thought and interdisciplinary riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition to create vibrant programming to engage the Church and community. We draw upon a range of academic disciplines and faith traditions to facilitate scholarship, provide public policy analysis, and support our graduate scholars.
Contact
Upcoming Events
Institute Focus Areas
Graduate Scholarship
The support of graduate level scholarship is a pillar of the mission and activity of the Murphy Institute. Students are able to participate in a variety of institute sponsored activities and programs, most notably the Murphy Scholars assistantship.
Public Events
We offer public lectures from prominent speakers, interdisciplinary panel discussions on topical issues, workshops, seminars and other events of interest to a wide audience. Recordings of our public programming can be found in our video archive.
As a sponsor agency with the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education, Murphy Institute programs are often eligible for CLE credit. For more information on these offerings, please visit our CLE page.
Research Papers
The Murphy Institute encourages and supports research of the Catholic intellectual tradition and its relevance to law and public policy by organizing conferences for national and international scholars. Papers, reports and other publications from conferences, roundtables and symposiums are available on this site whenever possible.
The teaching guide for Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching is currently available to download. In this text, contributors collectively make the case that Catholic teaching provides a compelling, pro-woman alternative to secular feminist views on abortion, sex, marriage, contraception and reproductive technologies.
Public Policy Analysis
The Institute serves as a resource to the civic community and universal church by providing nonpartisan analysis of public policy challenges at local, national and international levels. We provide analytical and research support to promote conversation and dialogue amidst recent challenges facing the Catholic Church and discuss paths forward. We also have supported the work of the Missions of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York and Geneva through student interns and fellows.
In 2013 the following reports were drafted in response to documents released for Session 22 of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva:
- Child Trafficking, Mary Leary, Prof. of Law, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Washington DC
- Securing the Human Right to Food Within and Across Borders, Barrett Brenton, Ph.D., Prof. Of Anthropology, St. John's University, New York and Ellen Messer, Ph.D., Visiting Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
- Patentability of Genetic Material, O. Carter Snead, Prof. of Law, and Joseph R. Ganahl, Notre Dame Law School, South Bend, IN
- Urban Poor, Charles Clark, Ph.D., Prof. of Economics, St. John's University, New York
- Religious Freedom report available by request. (Please send a request to MurphyInstit@stthomas.edu).
Links are included for the reports for which we have received author permission to make publicly available.
Graduate Scholarship
The support of graduate level scholarship is a pillar of the mission and activity of the Murphy Institute. Students are able to participate in a variety of institute sponsored activities and programs, most notably the Murphy Scholars assistantship.
Public Events
We offer public lectures from prominent speakers, interdisciplinary panel discussions on topical issues, workshops, seminars and other events of interest to a wide audience. Recordings of our public programming can be found in our video archive.
As a sponsor agency with the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education, Murphy Institute programs are often eligible for CLE credit. For more information on these offerings, please visit our CLE page.
Research Papers
The Murphy Institute encourages and supports research of the Catholic intellectual tradition and its relevance to law and public policy by organizing conferences for national and international scholars. Papers, reports and other publications from conferences, roundtables and symposiums are available on this site whenever possible.
The teaching guide for Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching is currently available to download. In this text, contributors collectively make the case that Catholic teaching provides a compelling, pro-woman alternative to secular feminist views on abortion, sex, marriage, contraception and reproductive technologies.
Public Policy Analysis
The Institute serves as a resource to the civic community and universal church by providing nonpartisan analysis of public policy challenges at local, national and international levels. We provide analytical and research support to promote conversation and dialogue amidst recent challenges facing the Catholic Church and discuss paths forward. We also have supported the work of the Missions of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York and Geneva through student interns and fellows.
In 2013 the following reports were drafted in response to documents released for Session 22 of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva:
- Child Trafficking, Mary Leary, Prof. of Law, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Washington DC
- Securing the Human Right to Food Within and Across Borders, Barrett Brenton, Ph.D., Prof. Of Anthropology, St. John's University, New York and Ellen Messer, Ph.D., Visiting Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
- Patentability of Genetic Material, O. Carter Snead, Prof. of Law, and Joseph R. Ganahl, Notre Dame Law School, South Bend, IN
- Urban Poor, Charles Clark, Ph.D., Prof. of Economics, St. John's University, New York
- Religious Freedom report available by request. (Please send a request to MurphyInstit@stthomas.edu).
Links are included for the reports for which we have received author permission to make publicly available.
Supporting Students
Supporting academic scholarship and the intellectual and spiritual development of graduate students is foundational. We recognize the crucial interplay between law and the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Learn More About Murphy Scholars
Moot Court Team
We are a proud sponsor of the School of Law's participation in the Notre Dame National Appellate Advocacy Tournament for Religious Freedom.
CLE Credit Opportunities
Murphy Institute is a sponsor agency with the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education. Various Murphy Institute events throughout the year may be approved for continuing legal education (CLE) credits. An online event listing and promotional material will indicate if CLE is applicable.
Our Leadership Team
Gregory Sisk
Co-Director | Pio Cardinal Laghi Distinguished Chair in Law
Msgr. Martin Schlag
Co-Director | Moss Endowed Chair for Catholic Social Thought
Michelle Rash
Program Manager
Monsignor Murphy’s Vision
The integration of law and the Catholic intellectual tradition was the vision of Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy, president and chancellor of the University of St. Thomas for more than 35 years, who believed in the importance of a Catholic law school in the Twin Cities.
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.
The Institute's endowment came from the combination of a bequest in Monsignor Murphy's estate and contributions from a group of his friends who shared his vision.
Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy
Monsignor Murphy Digital Archive
December 21, 2020 marked the 100th birthday of Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy, president of the University of St. Thomas from 1966-1991 and namesake of the Murphy Institute. In celebration of this milestone, the Murphy Institute announced a forthcoming digital archive featuring a collection of Msgr. Murphy's original manuscripts. This commemorative archive is possible due to the generous gift of digitized copies of over 150 sermons, dedications and addresses from the Murphy family.
The full collection is now available along with a foreword authored by Joan Wieland, '20, CSMA '22.
Contact Us
Phone: 651-962-4842
Email: murphyinstit@stthomas.edu
Mailing Address
MSL 400
1000 LaSalle Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
1000 LaSalle Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403