Pius XI award for Jesuit priest

THE ANNUAL Pius XI Award honoured the lifetime achievement of the distinguished Jesuit scholar Rodger Charles, who has written a number of important books on Catholic social teaching. A reception at Campion Hall on June 7 took place in his honour.
The Pius XI Award is given by the Society of Catholic Social Scientists (SCSS) to men and women who have made an outstanding contribution to building up a true Catholic social science.
Former awardees include Mary Ann Glendon (now American Ambassador to the Holy See) and Robert P George.
The award was presented by Professor John Finnis (University College, Oxford) and Stratford Caldecott (director of the Centre for Faith and Culture for the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts).
Fr Charles took the occasion to express his delight in the direction the Society of Jesus was taking under Benedict XVI.
Among those attending were Jesuit colleagues including the Master of Campion Hall, Fr Peter L'Estrange, who hosted the reception; chairman of the Chesterton Society and former editor of The Catholic Herald, Dr William Oddie; former students of Plater College and
members of the Catholic Social Guild; the Librarian of St Benet's Hall, Michael Black; and graduate students from the University.
Dr Stephen M Krason, the President of the SCSS, sent from Steubenville a message that praised Fr Charles for an outstanding body of work that had not yet received the recognition it deserved, work that laid the foundations for that Society itself.
"With this award, the SCSS thanks — as best it can — Fr Charles for all that he has done for the Church, and for his role in scholarly evangelisation: making better known, explaining, and showing the applications of the treasury of the Church's social teaching."
Professor Finnis celebrated the scientific rigour and Catholic integrity that had enabled Fr Charles to produce important contributions to history and the social sciences often under extremely difficult conditions.
His work had helped to revive and keep alive interest in the Church's authentic social doctrine at a time of great confusion in the Church.