Maria Teresa (MT)

Davila

Academic Title

Chair, Religious and Theologies Studies & Associate Professor

Research Interests
  • Racial justice
  • Migrant justice
  • Public theology
  • Political theology
  • Ethics of the use of force and nonviolence
  • Liberation theology and ethics
Education
  • Ph.D, Theological Ethics, Boston College
  • Master, Theological Studies, Boston University
  • B.A., Psychology, Brown University
Areas of Expertise
  • Immigration
  • Racism
  • Catholic Social Teaching
  • Religion in the Public Square
  • Life issues/abortion
Recent Publications

Catholic Media

Dr. Davila is a frequent contributor to Theology en la Plaza in National Catholic Reporter:

Recent Publications

  •  “The Political Anthropology of Fratelli Tutti: The Transcendent Nature of People’s Political Projects Grounded in History.” Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 19.1 (Winter 2022): 89-103.
  • “Making Spirits Whole: Homeless Ministries as a Tool for Integral Development.” Land of Stark Contrasts: Faith-Based Responses to Homelessness in the United States. Edited by Manuel Mejido Costoya (2021).
  • “A ‘Preferential Option’: A Challenge to Faith in a Culture of Privilege.” The Word Became Culture. Edited by Miguel Díaz (2020).
  • “The Ministry of Accompaniment Among the Unhoused: Reconceiving the Spiritual Works of Mercy.” Street Homelessness and Catholic Theological Ethics. Edited by James Keenan and Mark McGreevy (2019).
  • “The Political Theology of Catholic Social Teaching.”T&T Clarke Handbook of Political Theology. Edited by Ruben Rosario Rodriguez (2019).
  • With Ruben Rosario, Teresa Delgado, and Victor Carmona. “U.S. Latino/a Contributions to the Field: Retrospect and Prospect.” Journal of the Society for Christian Ethics. Vol 38.2 (2018): 45-56.
  • “The Option for the Poor in Catholic Social Teaching.” The Grace of Medellín: History, Theology and Legacy – Reflections on the Significance of Medellín on the Church in the United States. Edited by Margaret Guider, Ernesto Valiente, and Felix Palazzi (Miami, FL: Convivium Press, 2018).
  • “The Chuck-E-Cheese Challenge (Simple Living).” Encountering the Sacred: Feminist Reflections on Women’s Lives. Edited by Grace Kao and Rebecca Todd Peters (New York: Bloomsbury, 2018).
  • “Discussing Racial Justice in Light of 2016: Black Lives Matter, a Trump Presidency, and the Continued Struggle for Racial Justice.” Journal of Religious Ethics, 45.4 (2017): 761-792.
  • “Love and Justice in a Home with Mental Health Needs.” Parenting as Spiritual Practice and Source for Theology: Mothering Matters. Edited by Annie Hardison-Moody and Elizabeth Gandolfo (Palgrave McMillan, 2017).
  • “The Option for the Poor in Laudato Si: Connecting Care of Creation With Care for the Poor.” The Theological and Ecological Vision of Laudato Si: Everything is Connected. Edited by Vincent Miller (London, UK: Bloomsbury, 2017).
  • “Public Theology as Bridge Building.” Horizons (Spring 2017): 367-373.
  • Living With(Out) Borders: Theological Ethics and People on the Move. Co-edited with Agnes Brazal (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2016). **Winner – third place in the category “Immigration”, Catholic Press Association book prize.**
Honors and Awards
  • September 2020-May 2022, WABASH CENTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THEOLOGY AND RELIGION, “Becoming anti-racist agents for change,” symposium grant.
  • June 2020, CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION – THE CATHOLIC JOURNALIST AWARDS – Honorable mention, Best blog by lay person, “Theology en la Plaza,” monthly column in the National Catholic Reporter.
  • June 2017, CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION BOOK AWARD WINNER – Immigration, for the co-edited volume Living With(out) Borders.
  • May 2016, THE LOUISVILLE INSTITUTE, First Book Grant for Minority Scholars. Grant allows for a one-year sabbatical for research and writing during academic year 2016-2017.