Von Hügel Institute
The Von Hügel Institute (VHI) is an academic research institute based at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge, England.
Founded in 1987, it is named after Anatole von Hügel (1854–1928), naturalist and co-founder (with the Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk) of St Edmund’s College. It was established, according to the College's Ordinances, to 'preserve and develop the Roman Catholic tradition of the College' by carrying out research on Catholic Social Teaching, on the relationship between Christianity and society, and on issues of social justice.
The institute has been directed by Rev Chris Moss SJ, the Rev Frank McHugh, Rev Frank Carey WF, Professor David Bridges, Rev David Clark and Professor John Loughlin, previously Professor of European Politics at Cardiff University.
Professor Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland and Honorary Fellow of St Edmund's has been appointed Patron of the VHI.
Director and staff
The Director (since March 2012) is Professor John Loughlin.
Projects
In recent years, the VHI has carried out projects on: the relationship between Catholic Social Teaching and the UK Government's 'Big Society' programme; on religious freedom in domestic and international politics; on Intellectual Property questions in the light of Catholic Social Teaching; on illegal trafficking in human organs; and on applying the sustainability and capabilities concepts of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum.
Other activities
The VHI runs public lectures including the VHI Lecture (delivered in 2012 by Professor Stanley Hauerwas of Duke University, USA and in 2014 will be delivered by the former Irish President Professor Mary McAleese); the Lattey Lecture which examines the links between Catholic Biblical Studies and Catholic Social Teaching (delivered in 2012 by Archbishop Bernard Longley of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, UK and in 2013 by Rev Timothy Radcliffe OP, former Master of the Dominican Order). The theme for 2012-13 lecture series will be 'Multidisciplinary Perspectives on the Human Person'.[1] and in 2013-14 the theme is "Faith and Governance".