Fred Kammer

FR. FRED KAMMER, SJ

Fred Kammer is a priest, an attorney, and a member of the U.S. Central and Southern Province of the Jesuits. Since March 1, 2009, he has been the director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute [JSRI] at Loyola University New Orleans. JSRI is a collaborative project of Loyola University and the Jesuit Province offering research, social analysis, theological reflection, and practical strategies for improving the social and economic conditions of the Gulf South, with particular focus on issues of poverty, race, and migration in the light of Catholic social teaching.

From 2002 to 2008, he was the Provincial Superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus, guiding their post-Katrina recovery and service to the devastated region’s poor and needy. From 1992 to 2001, he was the President/CEO of Catholic Charities USA, the nation's largest voluntary human service network.

Fred has worked in a number of programs for the underprivileged, both as a lay volunteer, an attorney, an advocate, and an administrator. From 1990 to 1992, he was the Policy Advisor for Health and Welfare Issues, Department of Social Development and World Peace, U.S. Catholic Conference. Prior to that, from 1984 to 1989, he was Executive Director of Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge. Earlier, from 1977 to 1983, he was Director of the Senior Citizens Law Project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Fred is also a retreat director and author. His first book, Doing Faithjustice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought, was published by Paulist Press in May, 1991 (second printing, 1992; third printing, 2005). His second book, Salted with Fire: Spirituality for the Faithjustice Journey, was published in January, 1995, again by Paulist Press, and republished in 2008 by Wipf and Stock Publishers. His third book, Faith. Works. Wonders.—An Insider’s Guide to Catholic Charities, was published in September, 2009 by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This New Orleans native received his J.D. from Yale University and M. Div. from Loyola University in Chicago.

Fred explains key concerpts of Catholic Social Teaching in a series of short videos developed by the Loyola University New Orleans Institute for Ministry [October 2013]}. Try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1iTmOj0LqQ –I-Key principles of CST; and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnEFVcY6ZkU –II-Modern CST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C9ofv8Lwag –III-biblical roots; and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tQoYoIuGRc –IV-economic systems and CST; and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxgIT6G8rQk –V-civic responsibility; and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM9elvDbybM –VI-How to live CST; and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXAqgeuDeIc –VII-The future of CST