Rebecca Alpert Jim Biechler Marcus Braybrooke Ellen T. Charry Leobard D'Souza David Efroymson Gabriele Feyler Stefan Feyler Eugene Fisher Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer Krystina Gorniak-Kocikowska Yitz Greenberg Wan-Li Ho Sanaullah Kirmani Reinhard Kirste Hans Küng Lihua Liu Jack Malinowski Patricia Martinez Sergio Mazza Alan Mittleman Ronald Modras Paul Mojzes Malcolm Nazareth Angelika Quade Ida Raming Virginia Kaib Ratigan John Sahadat Simone Schaupp Ingrid Shafer Shu-hsien Liu Thomas Thompson Catherine Berry Stidsen

David Efroymson SWIDLER CITATION On October 23, 1977, La Salle University awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees to Arlene and Leonard Swidler. The text of the citation follows: Brother President: Recent years have seen significant change in the study of Religion and in its practice. The theological enterprise, for example, cannot go on today except in an ecumenical context. And the roles traditionally assigned to women, in church and in society, have been called seriously and justly into question. Two people who have contributed significantly and honorably to this situation are Arlene Anderson Swidler and Leonard Swidler. Their more public achievements are known to many. Together they conceived, bore, nourished, and then brought to Philadelphia the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, probably the most important and internationally most respected journal on ecumenism, inter-religious dialogue, and church reform. What they themselves have written, on ecumenism, on feminism, and on a wide range of related issues, is worthy of note. Not all they have written and stood for has been received without controversy, but their scholarship, their integrity, and their charity have never faltered. But much of their work has been unnoticed and thankless. Translating and editing the valuable work of others has occupied much of their time, and we are all the richer for it. Further, the commitment to long and sometimes tense hours of committee work is worthy of infinitely more recognition than it usually receives. They have each, and they have together, served with distinction on Diocesan commissions such as the Catholic Interracial Council in Pittsburgh and the Cardinal's Commission on Human Relations here in Philadelphia, and on national and international commissions, such as the Task Force on Women in Religion and that on Women in Liturgy, and the Reformed/Presbyterian--Roman Catholic Consultation. We honor them for their work separately and for their work together. We honor them for the work which has achieved some fame, but equally for what they have done unnoticed and unthanked. Brother President, it is my privilege to present to you Arlene Anderson Swidler and Leonard Swidler, each for the degree Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. The Response of the President, Brother Patrick Ellis, F.S.C.: Doctor Swidler and Doctor Swidler: It may be that the Catholic Church is not yet fully renewed, and that the churches are not yet one. It may be that women-and consequently men-are not yet fully free. But beginnings have been made. For your contribution to those beginnings, we are pleased to honor you today. Therefore, I am happy to confer on each of you the degree Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa.

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