By Irene M. Lagan
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 12/2/04)

The Institute for Psychological Sciences (IPS) recently honored Austin and Cathleen (Cathy) Cleaver Ruse, both leading figures in the pro-life arena, for their respective roles in advocating a culture of life. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., renowned for his work defending human life and last year’s award recipient, presented the Ruses with the John Paul II Award at the fifth annual John Paul II Award Dinner at the Willard Hotel in Washington.

"I have tremendous respect for these two friends who work locally and internationally to promote human rights," Santorum said. "It’s nice to have two great persons on the forefront who see very clearly that science and faith fit together well. This is a power couple in Washington, a couple who is out there on the front lines. They have been called by God and have answered that call faithfully."

Cathy, the chief spokeswoman on pro-life issues for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), plays a prominent role in the Church’s mission to teach and deepen respect for all human life throughout the United States. A graduate of Georgetown University Law School and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, she has commented on legal and legislative issues in numerous debates, PBSÕ firing Line and CNN’s Crossfire, and frequently appears in major national newspapers as an opinion writer.

"Cathy is a wonderful articulate spokesperson for life, a face in the pro-life movement. It is that great spirit of love within her that makes her a great and effective face for the pro-life movement," Santorum said.

"We all owe a debt of gratitude to Gladys Sweeney for all she’s done to bring the IPS to where it is today, after just five short years," Cathy said, after receiving her award. "There can be no doubt about the need for an approach to psychology that is founded on a Catholic vision of the human person. And you have answered that need with an institute devoted to this relationship between psychology and faith. Many people will benefit from this work."

Sweeney, whose vision for forming a new generation of psychologists formed in accordance with a Catholic vision of the human person helped bring the IPS into existence, currently serves as academic dean.

Austin Ruse is president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), a non-governmental organization that specializes in assisting United Nations (U.N.) delegations to negotiate U.N. resolutions, treaties and conventions.

Austin is also founder and president of the International Organizations Research Group, a New York-based think tank that publishes scholarly research on organizations whose policies influence life issues, such as the U.N. Population Fund, the World Bank and the World Health Organization.

In addition, Austin took on the added role of president of the Culture of Life Foundation, a Washington-based organization that provides information on life issues. He regularly briefs the White House, National Security Council staff and the U.S. Congress.

Austin commented on the need for Catholics to heed the God’s call to defend the life in these difficult times. "I travel all over this country and to points overseas, and wherever I go, I see catastrophe," he said. "And wherever I see catastrophe, faithful Catholics are there working to solve them. The Holy Father calls us to be among them. During the whole of his magnificent pontificate, his central message to young people, indeed to each of us, is we must strive the heights, never to settle for mediocrity. In the words of Father Neuhaus, we must dare to live the high adventure of Catholic orthodoxy. And in this troubled time, that means more than private piety. It means engaging in the public struggle."

Boston College Professor Peter Kreeft, a noted philosopher, Catholic apologist and prolific author, was the master of ceremonies. IPS President Father John Hopkins, ordained a priest for the Legionaries of Christ in 1991, said the final blessing.

IPS students Jill Bohacik and Peter Martin presented testimonies of their academic experiences at the IPS. Bohacik, a second-year student in the master of science program, emphasized the unique sense of mission that results from an integrated spiritual and academic formation.

"Wonderful things happen at IPS. Students have access to exceptional faculty, renowned lecturers, and remarkable dialogue and discussion," she said. "We are lucky to be in a place where so many extraordinary people come together. There rests within each person both an intellectual depth and a spiritual one. Students are able to draw from this wealth of knowledge and spirit to fill their own lives as they prepare to help fill the lives of others."

Martin, a student in the doctoral program, emphasized the rigor of the IPS curriculum, which requires students to study the philosophical underpinnings of psychology as well as Catholic moral and ethical training.

In addition, the event featured the St. Augustine’s Gospel Choir, founded in 1977 on the vision of Raymond B. Kemp, then pastor of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Washington. Since 1998, the St. Augustine’s Gospel Choir has been under the direction of Samuel E. Cromwell, whose talent has led the choir to perform nationally and abroad.

The IPS, founded in 1999, is a graduate school for psychology dedicated to providing students with an academic formation that incorporates the intellectual, philosophical and theological traditions with modern psychological approaches. The IPS has seen a rapid increase over several years and plans to move to a larger facility next year.