Panel on the Separation between Church and State Sparks Debate among Saint Martin Seniors

In collaboration with the Cleveland Executive Fellowship program, Saint Martin hosted a distinguished panel Friday morning to discuss the separation between church and state and how this impacts the delivery of social services. The members of the Class of 2010 were prepared for this discussion by senior teachers and asked challenging questions of Dr. Dave Collings of Christ Church, the West Side Catholic Center’s Jerry Skoch, Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, and Hugh Williams of the Cleveland Food Bank.

All four panelists provided their audience with a lot to consider, and spent time after the panel discussion meeting in small groups with our seniors. Students and panelists discussed the Food Bank’s mission to feed the hungry, the West Side Catholic Center’s commitment to justice and the preferential option for the poor, and Dr. Collings reviewed the concept of the social contract with students.

Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, who also teaches at Cuyahoga Community College, reviewed Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and our moral obligation to work together to satisfy the basic needs of all people. She also spoke personally and inspirationally as a first generation college graduate, and challenged the Class of 2010 to “do something unique and distinctive, because if you don’t, no one will.” Finally, Ms. Turner called students to graduate from college and come back to Northeast Ohio to actively participate in our transformation.

Special thanks to Seth Kujat and Christine Zuniga Eadie of the Cleveland Executive Fellowship program. Seth and Christine worked with Saint Martin Vice President of Mission Steve Suding and our team of senior teachers to deliver a thought-provoking and inspirational discussion.