March 16, 1982 - Archbishop John Roach, Archbishop of the Minneapolis/St. Paul archdiocese and President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops speaking at St. John's University. Archbishop Roach addressed the topic "Episcopal Leadership and Social Justice.”
December 7, 1984 - Teddy Kollek, mayor of Jerusalem since 1960, speaking at Minnesota Meeting, in Minneapolis. Kollek’s address was titled "Jerusalem: Toward the Year 2000" - a reference to the turn of the century celebration Israel plans to mark the 3000th anniversary of the Kingdom of David. The moderator for this Minnesota Meeting was Lewis Lehr, a member of the board of Minnesota Meeting and the Chief Executive Officer of 3M Corporation. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
October 17, 1985 - MPR’s Kate Moos reports on fundamentalism churches. Moos interviews advocates, followed by critics on the doctrine of these churches, including Fundamentalists Anonymous.
November 2, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistd talks with Ginger Oakland about development of Hmong Methodist Church in Minnesota.
March 24, 1986 - Faye Wattleton, national president of Planned Parenthood and pro-choice advocate, and John Willke, national president of "Right to Life" and leader of the pro-life movement debate the subject of abortion. Debaters were joined by St. Olaf seniors Erin Rasmussen and Cathryn Abresch. Moderator of the debate was Dr. Joan Gunderson, history professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, where the debate took place.
June 26, 1986 - Cal Thomas, former broadcaster and now syndicated newspaper columnist for St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Thomas’s address was on the topic of the need for integrity. Thomas is the author of numerous books; his latest, "Liberals for Lunch". Talks about values, spirituality, role of religion in American life, divorce, the media, and a little about the social problems of teenage pregnancy, VD, etc. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
December 31, 1986 - MPR’s Beth Friend visits the Minneapolis home of Charlotte Kula as she prepares latkes in celebration of Hanukkah. Kula shares her thoughts on the recipe and much more.
July 14, 1987 - MPR’s Stephen Smith profiles street preachers outside Caboose bar in Minneapolis. Smith interviews street preacher Shirley Reed, and various bar patrons.
August 20, 1987 - The 10th annual Summer Conference on Theology and the Church, held at Concordia College in Moorhead, presenting a debate on religious fundamentalism. Erling Jorstad, professor of history and American studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, shares his views on fundamentalism and the religious right. Jorstad has studied and written extensively about fundamentalism. Countering Jorstod, Reverend Edward Dobson, editor of "The Fundamentalist Journal" and board member of the Moral Majority, presents his viewpoint on the Religious Right. Dobson is also co-author of a book with the Reverend Jerry Falwell, former vice president for student affairs at Liberty Baptist University at Lynchburg, Virginia.
September 4, 1987 - Father Robert Drinan, professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, speaking at the College of St. Benedict. Father Drinan’s address was on the topic "Religion and Politics in Contemporary American Society". Drinan presents a historical perspective of the church/state problems, and what may happen going forward. Following his speech, Father Drinan answered audience questions. Father Robert Drinan is best known to most of us as a former member of congress where he served 10 years from 1971 to 1981. Drinan was ordained a priest (Society of Jesus) in 1953. From 1956 to 1970, Drinan was dean and Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. He is the author of numerous books including, "Beyond the Nuclear Freeze", "Vietnam: An Armageddon", and "Democracy, Dissent and Disorder".