“Sex in the City of God” may initially sound like a spinoff of the long-running series “Sex in the City” starring Sarah Jessica Parker, but it is actually referring to the sixth annual undergraduate Marriage, Family and Dating conference to be held April 8-9.
The conference, officially titled this year, “Sex in the City of God: Exploring Our Relational Tension in these In-Between Times,” is focused on tensions from any type of relationship, not just on a romantic level as the title suggests, conference chairperson Amelia Blanton said.
“Within itself, the focus sounds really broad, and it is,” Blanton said. “But we’re really focusing on the idea that within any relationship there are problems; there are tensions that cause us to think, and we need to work through those.”
Beyond the focus of the conference, it is an opportunity for undergraduate students to present research and arguments. Saint Louis University students have submitted three of the papers.
Besides allowing for the presentations by students, the conference will also feature Todd Salzman, Ph.D. Salzman is the current theology department chair at Creighton University.
Not only does Salzman teach and administer at Creighton, he is also known for his authorship, specifically for his collaborative work on “The Sexual Person: Toward a Renewed Catholic Anthropology.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops denounced Salzman’s work in 2010. Through a released statement the USCCB said that Salzman and his coauthor, Michael Lawler, “base their arguments on a methodology that marks a radical departure from the Catholic theological tradition.” The USCCB also said that Salzman and Lawler “reach a whole range of conclusions that are contrary to Catholic teaching.”
Julie Rubio, professor in the theology department, said, though Salzman has been criticized, he is still well respected by his theologian peers as both a scholar and speaker.
“Salzman is pushing the edges of the tradition, but in respectful way,” Rubio said.
Daniel Finucane, professor in the theology department and the conference’s faculty advisor, recognizes the controversy that Salzman carries with him but said that this forum is the “place to deal with controversy intelligently.”
“To be able to debate, understand those arguments is what this conference is for,” Finucane said. “The conference is an extension of the classroom.”
Blanton also acknowledges how various members of the Catholic community have received Salzman and his work, but also distinguishes that the conference is not meant to be a place of exclusivity, especially in regards to thought.
“It’s an opportunity for us to come with open minds and open hearts and to hear different perspectives we haven’t thought about,” Blanton said. “Perhaps others will disagree with you, but it’s not the end of the world.”
Salzman was also selected to speak at the conference before the statement of the USCCB was released, Blanton said.
Blanton and conference executive board member William Otto both stress that, though the conference appears to be about sexuality and romantic relations, it is not entirely as such.
“Relationships are what humanity is built upon,” Otto said. “This conference will provide a forum for all students to have the opportunity to voice their views, their concerns about relational tension.”
The conference will commence on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. with a social event held at Crave Coffee House. The papers will be presented on Saturday, April 9 beginning at 9 a.m. with Salzman speaking at 11:05 a.m.
