CFP for Workshop on Migration, Transnationalism and Catholicism

Workshop date: 25 February 2015

Place: Middlesex University, London, UK

Deadline for abstracts: 15 November 2014

This workshop will explore the various ways in which contemporary
international migration and transnationalism affect Catholicism both as
practices and institutionally. The focus is on the diversity of ways in
which international migration makes an impact: as individual faithful
bring their religious practices to new contexts; as the faithful in
immigrant societies relate to changes due to migration; and, with regard
to transnational religious flows and exchanges within the Catholic
Church. In relation to an exploration of the ways in which the practices
of the faithful are affected by migration and transnationalism, it is
also pertinent to ask, how Catholicism institutionally, whether in the
Vatican, at bishop conference or diocese or parish level, is impacted by
migration and transnationalism, and how the Catholic Church as an
institution responds. The geographic scope of the theme is explicitly
global, and perspectives beyond the Global South to Global North
movement of migrants are necessary. Furthermore, the global religious
landscape is also changing, and there are interesting comparisons to be
drawn for example between the ways in which migration and
transnationalism may affect Catholic and Pentecostal parishes as well as
the individual faithful in particular geographic contexts.

Abstracts for papers on particular case-studies which illustrate
dimensions of the diversity of ways in which migration and
transnationalism are making their mark on Catholicism are welcome,
whether focusing on individual or institutional perspectives globally,
with a theological perspective, adopting a comparative approach between
contexts or denominations or religions, and using qualitative or
quantitative methods. There is no charge for the workshop but we are
unable to offer any support for travel and accommodation.

Please send abstracts (200 words + title), together with your name,
position, institutional affiliation and discipline to Dominic Pasura
(d.pasura@mdx.ac.uk) and Marta Bivand Erdal (marta@prio.no) by 15
November 2014.

Decisions about selected abstracts will be communicated by 1 December
2014. All participants will be expected to submit full papers of 7 000 –
9 000 words, including references, no later than 15 February 2015.