Richard S. Myers

Professor of Law

Ave Maria School of Law

3475 Plymouth Road

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

(734) 930.9842

Fax (734) 622.0757

rmyers@avemarialaw.edu

Richard S. Myers is Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kenyon College. He earned his law degree at Notre Dame, where he won the law school’s highest academic prize. He began his legal career by clerking for Judge John F. Kilkenny of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Professor Myers also worked for Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue in Washington, D.C. His law practice focused on antitrust law and appellate litigation, including work on several cases before the United States Supreme Court. He taught at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law before joining the Ave Maria faculty.

He has published extensively on constitutional law, including articles in the law reviews of Ave Maria School of Law, Catholic University, Case Western Reserve, Notre Dame, and Washington and Lee.

He is a co-editor of St. Thomas Aquinas and Natural Law: Contemporary Philosophical and Theological Perspectives (Catholic University of America Press 2004) and a co-editor of Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy (Scarecrow Press 2007).

Professor Myers is the President of University Faculty for Life and the Executive Secretary of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists.

Professor Myers is married to Mollie Murphy who is an Associate Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law. They are the proud parents of six children—Michael (18), Patrick (16), Clare (14), Kathleen (12), Matthew (10), and Andrew (7).

Panel 53: Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy (Scarecrow Press 2007)

Stephen M. Krason (Franciscan University of Steubenville) “The Encyclopedia as a Social Movement”

Richard S. Myers (Ave Maria School of Law) “History, Structure, and Purpose of the Encyclopedia”

This panel will focus on the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy, which was recently published by Scarecrow Press. The publication of this Encyclopedia is the culmination of a six-year long effort. The project was initially developed by Dr. Joseph A. Varacalli and was supported by the Society of Catholic Scientists. The Encyclopedia, which includes entries on over 800 topics from nearly 300 contributors, is a major scholarly work of impressive scope. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the Catholic vision of society, social relations, and the human person. The Encyclopedia combines theoretical work on important topics and scholarly disciplines (e.g., economics, moral theology, natural law, philosophy, and psychology); social science perspectives on a variety of topics (e.g., alcoholism and drug abuse, forgiveness and mercy, and globalization); and treatment of practical policy implications that flow from applying the Catholic religious, moral, and intellectual tradition to contemporary issues (e.g., abortion, assisted suicide, immigration policy, school choice, and torture).

This panel will focus on the origin, development, and content of the Encyclopedia. The session will also discuss how the Encyclopedia can promote a social movement that will help to foster proper social development and to further the new evangelization.

Panel 2: University Faculty for Life (UFL) and Its Long Island Chapter: Goals, History, Activities, and Future

Abstract for paper by Richard S. Myers (Professor, Ave Maria School of Law; President, University Faculty for Life)

This paper will focus on UFL’s current activities and goals. In the last few years, UFL has tried to build on its early success by continuing to promote pro-life scholarship on abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. Our recent conferences have featured plenary talks that have addressed the new challenges presented by scientific developments and international pressures. Recent speakers have included notable scholars such as Helen Alvare (Catholic University), Robert George (Princeton), John Keown (Georgetown University), and Richard Wilkins (BYU). In the future, UFL plans to (1) continue our high-quality conferences, (2) promote the visibility of the scholarship of our members, and (3) expand our educational efforts.

Jamaica, Queens, New York 11439