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Patrick Carey, Ph.D.
William J. Kelly, S.J., Chair in Catholic Theology
Since the late 1960s, Dr. Patrick Carey, the William J. Kelly, S.J., Chair in Catholic Theology, has examined the relationships between Catholics and other religious groups in the United States, focusing some of his research on the influence of Catholicism on politics and social thought.
This year, Marquette has honored Carey with the Lawrence G. Haggerty Award for Research Excellence for his accomplishments and dedication to his scholarship.
“What’s important about this award is not the individual — it’s that the university rewards scholarship and research,” said Carey about receiving the award. “It’s actually a very Catholic way of doing things — to honor an individual who becomes a symbol for what’s taking place in the entire university.”
Carey’s first bit of inspiration for his life’s work came from a college history teacher who taught a course on American Catholicism. Although an undergraduate major in philosophy at St. John’s University in Minnesota, he later became interested in and did graduate work in theology and the history of theology.
Carey is transfixed by the dynamic ebbs and flows of Catholic thought through the key eras in U.S. history. He talks almost rhythmically about how Catholics as a group reacted to slavery and the Industrial Revolution. He speaks empathically about the social injustices that afflicted the predominantly lower- and working-class Catholics prior to the 1960s.
In the true Jesuit tradition, Carey’s exploration of the past is not merely an interest or quest for knowledge — it’s a vocation. It’s his calling.
Carey’s academic journey has included writing numerous historical studies on American Catholic thought and its leading thinkers. He was the first to gather and compile into a seven-volume, critical edition the earliest scattered writings of Orestes Brownson, “A very interesting creature,” according to Carey. “But also the strongest intellectual in 19th-century Catholic American history.” In 2004 Carey published a biography of Brownson, which won him a first-place Catholic Press Award. “I think it’s the best thing I’ve done,” he said, “up to this point.”
Although the Haggerty is an award for research and scholarship, Carey is — like many before him — a teacher first. In fact, one of his edited books, Biographical Dictionary of Christian Theologians, is a quasi-encyclopedia that provides brief biographical sketches of the major Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant theologians in the history of Christianity. “It’s handy for students,” Carey added modestly.
Carey has a passion for the formation of Catholic identity at all levels of schooling. “I’m interested in how Catholic identity fits into the total educational enterprise,” he said. “Students at the university level are arriving with very little understanding of their own faith, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. We need to keep passing on the faith by intelligently, sympathetically and critically examining the Christian tradition at the college and university levels.”
To that end, the Marquette University Board of Trustees in 2005 approved the Master of Arts in Christian Doctrine, inspired and implemented by Carey, who is also a long-time member on the religious education committee of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The degree provides a broad understanding of the faith for those teaching theology in Catholic high schools, for those involved in other ministries and for those interested in theological enrichment.
Carey’s educational focus goes well beyond young students. A proponent of life-long learning, Carey teaches a course about Catholic mission and identity at Marquette
for untenured faculty.
Carey, who is married with two grown sons, has no immediate plans to slow down. He’s in the midst of writing a biography of Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., and has recently updated his Catholics in America (2008).
Past Recipients
2007 - Charles Wilkie, Ph.D., Chemistry
2006 -
James T. Buchanen, Ph.D., Biological Sciences
2005 -
Chieu D. Tran, Ph.D., Chemistry
2004 -
Gerald F. Harris, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
2003 -
Rev. Roland J. Teske, S.J., Ph.D., Philosophy
2002 -
Athan Theoharis, Ph.D., History
2001 -
Robert H. Fitts, Ph.D., Biology
2000 -
James R. Kincaid, Ph.D., Chemistry
PÈRE MARQUETTE
DISCOVERY AWARD
HONORARY DEGREES
- Nominations for Honorary Degrees
- Listed by Year - Honorary Degree Recipients 1980 to present
- Listed by Name - Honorary Degree Recipients 1980 to present
FACULTY AWARDS FOR
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
- 2007 Recipients of the Faculty Awards for Teaching Excellence
- Past Recipients of the Faculty Awards for Teaching Excellence
LAWRENCE G. HAGGERTY AWARD
FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCES
WAY KLINGLER FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Quick Facts About Marquette
| Identity: | Catholic, Jesuit, private |
| Established: | 1881 |
| Location: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Undergraduate: | 8,048 |
| Postgraduate: | 3,500 |
| Campus: | Urban, 80 acres |
| Athletics: | 14 NCAA Division I teams (Big East Conference) |
| Colors: | Blue and Gold |
