St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral in Norwich is one of seven churches in England and Wales to receive funding of £70,000 from the Scientists in Congregations programme. Each church has been awarded up to £10,000 to carry out projects exploring the relationship between science and faith. The aim is to show how engaging with science can lead to a deeper experience of faith. The project at St John’s Cathedral focuses on helping Catholic professionals in the life sciences to navigate challenges related to human dignity. The project, titled ‘Human Dignity and Moral Decision-making in the Life Sciences,’ will be led by Dr Richard Maguire and Professor George Lomonossoff.
The project at St John’s Cathedral will address various topics such as abortion, end-of-life care, gender theory, surrogacy, euthanasia, and assisted suicide, among others. Through a series of workshops, professionals from different denominations, faiths, or no faith at all working in the life sciences will have the opportunity to share their experiences and challenges. The information gathered will be anonymized and presented to a panel of Catholic theologians and scientists to explore ways of making Church teachings accessible to Catholic life science professionals. The goal is to empower these professionals to articulate their beliefs about human dignity in a clear and loving manner to those who may not share the same views.
The project at St John’s Cathedral will also include teaching workshops, seminars, and written materials based on the findings and recommendations of the specialist panel. The ultimate aim is to help Catholics, as well as scientists who share their views on human dignity, to communicate their beliefs about the sanctity of the human person effectively to the wider culture. The dates for the workshops will be announced soon, along with the project’s website where attendees can express their interest in participating. Anyone interested in attending the workshops or sharing their experiences in the life sciences with the project team can contact them via email.
The Scientists in Congregations programme is an ecumenical initiative run by Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS). It involves various denominations, including the Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Pentecostal Churches, and the Church of England. Through these grants, churches like St John’s Cathedral in Norwich have the opportunity to engage with scientists in their congregations and explore the intersection of science and faith. The project aims to empower professionals in the life sciences to navigate ethical challenges in the field while upholding their beliefs about human dignity and the sanctity of life.
