Sisterhood and Solidarity in Sweden and Iceland

L to R: Mary E Hunt of WATER, Solveig A. Bóasdóttir
of Iceland, Ann-Cathrin Jarl of Sweden

Mary E. Hunt was privileged to offer the keynote lecture at a weekend symposium on “Friendship, Theology and Sisterhood” sponsored by the Seglora Foundation and hosted by the Sigtuna Foundation in Sigtuna, Sweden, November 9-10, 2013. Participants included journalists, ministers, academics,and activists notably WATER Volunteer in Global Service, Ann-Cathrin Jarl.

In her lecture, “Love Your Friends: Feminist Relational Ethics for Solidarity,” Mary spoke of friendship as foundational to a good society. Other speakers looked at historical and philosophical issues related to friendship. Mary also gave a public lecture on “Friends Act Friendly,” encouraging people to “practice” being friends in the hope of creating a most just world.

Dr. Hunt lectured on “Post Colonial Catholicism: A U.S. Feminist Perspective,” at the Theological Institute at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Former WATER Visiting Scholar Dr. Solveig A. Bóasdóttir is the dean of the faculty. Both Sweden and Iceland have small Catholic populations including people who seek to create new models of church.