Neutrality in Liberal Legal Theory and Catholic Social Thought

1985. I presented an earlier version of this paper at the inaugural Symposium on Catholic Social Thought and the Law hosted by Villanova University School of Law in 2003. I wish to thank everyone at Villanova who helped to plan and organize that first symposium, especially Mark Sargent, who as Dean of Villanova has demonstrated a palpable enthusiasm for fostering the Catholic intellectual tradition and with it the identity of Catholic institutions like Villanova Law School. Although perhaps not quite a "movement" within the legal academy, Villanova's now annual conference and others like it have helped to revive once dormant circles of Catholic legal scholars. I also wish to thank the students who have taken my course in Catholic Social Thought and my friend and colleague Vincent D. Rougeau of Notre Dame, with whom I first taught the course. Thanks also to Anthony Pottinger for his research assistance and Charlene Sneed for her assistance in preparing the manuscript. I also wish to thank Margaret for reviewing earlier drafts of the piece. Most of all, I wish to thank Susan Nelligan Breen and our sons, Peter and Philip Breen, for their patience and understanding, and example in living the ideals of Catholic social thought.