BOSTON -- David O’Brien, Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and nationally-recognized scholar in the history of American Catholicism, was the keynote speaker at Emmanuel College’s annual Sister Marie Augusta Neal, SND Lecture Nov. 1. He spoke on the topic of “Discipleship and Citizenship: A Catholic Americanist Perspective.”

O’Brien addressed topics regarding his examination of contemporary issues of politics as they relate to Catholicism in the United States.

O’Brien also cited the Catholic Church’s longstanding commitment to social justice and this commitment’s connection to politics. He referred to the lecture’s namesake -- Sister Marie Augusta Neal, professor of sociology at Emmanuel for 37 years -- and her focus on issues of social justice and women in the Church. O’Brien had worked with Sister Marie Augusta Neal over the years, and followed her teachings and writings.