Michael W. Higgins
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael William Higgins (born October 24, 1948) is a Canadian academic, writer and vice president for Mission and Catholic Identity at Sacred Heart University
in Fairfield, Connecticut
. Higgins and his wife Krystyna, a professional piano accompanist, liturgical musician and freelance editor, have four children.
, where Higgins is now on the school's "Hall of Fame"
Higgins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in English and Philosophy from St. Francis Xavier University
(1970), an MA in English from York University
(1971), a Bachelor of Education (Theatre Arts specialization) from the University of Toronto
(1973) and a PhD from York University
(1979) with a thesis entitled Thomas Merton — the Silent-Speaking Poet: A Study of his Poetry.
at the University of St. Michael's College
(Toronto
), later teaching Religious Studies there before moving to St. Jerome's College in Waterloo, Ontario
(1982–2006). From 1989 to 1995 he served as Associate Dean, before becoming Academic Dean and Vice-President (1995–1999) and President and Vice-Chancellor (1999–2006). In 2006 Higgins became President and Vice-Chancellor, as well as Professor of English and Religious Studies at St. Thomas University
in Fredericton, New Brunswick
. In August 2009, eighteen months after a controversial lockout (before the faculty union had taken a strike vote) and subsequent strike, Higgins announced his resignation as President of St. Thomas, effective December 31, 2009. Four days later, on January 4, 2010, he commenced as a Visiting Senior Executive in Residence at Sacred Heart University (SHU). Since July 1, 2010, Higgins has served as Vice President for SHU's Mission and Catholic Identity department. In this role Higgins is responsible for leading initiatives that preserve, promote and integrate Catholic mission, vision and values throughout the University. He directs such programs at the Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding as well as the new and developing Institute for Vatican II Studies.
He has been a monthly columnist for The Toronto Star (1986–2006), as well as a commentator for CBC Television
, Commonweal, and The Globe and Mail.
In 2009, Higgins spoke out about the lifting of the excommunications of the bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X, saying bishop Richard Williamson must apologize for his negationist views or be expelled from the Roman Catholic Church. As a radio documentarian for the CBC
, he has prepared more than 60 one-hour scripts for Ideas, Celebration, and Testament, and has been a regular contributor to Morningside, This Morning, Sunday Edition, as well as to CTV
's Canada AM
and to TV Ontario's Studio 2 and Agenda. Several of Higgins' programmes have been nominated and short-listed for public-broadcasting awards. Higgins was the main consultant for John McGreevy's six-hour television series, Sir Peter Ustinov's 'Inside the Vatican, and for John Bailey's film version of Ron Hansen
's novel, Mariette in Ecstasy. He has also served as a consultant for CBC's Man Alive.
Dr. Higgins was working on a CBC documentary series, when, in April 2010, it was announced that he would be serve as biographer of Henri J.M. Nouwen
, the only biographical account of Nouwen's life and works to be authorized by Nouwen's Legacy Trust.
In November 2010, Higgins released Suffer the Children Unto Me: An Open Inquiry into the Clerical Sex Abuse Scandal, which was co-authored with Peter Kavanagh. The book deals with the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis and the media. The authors describe it as "an exploration of the modern sexual abuse scandal from a number of perspectives". The authors go beyond simply chronicling the issue and its players. They also carefully scrutinize how the media have both reported on and influenced the crisis. In June 2011 The Catholic Journalist, the newspaper of the Catholic Press Association
of the United States & Canada, awarded the book first place in their category for gender issues. With the award the CPA stated that "The gift of this book is its clear, story-telling language
and its richly nuanced entry into deeply troubling but necessary questions that involve media coverage, social mores, systemic and cultural factors, legal procedures, theological understandings, and institutional demands."
who provided his education up to the college level. Trudeau frequently displayed the logic and love of argument consistent with that tradition. A second great spiritual influence in Trudeau's life was Dominican
. A third spiritual influence in Trudeau's spirituality was a contemplative
aspect acquired from his association with the Benedictine
tradition.
Trudeau was convinced of the centrality of meditation
in a life fully lived, according to Higgins. He took retreats at Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Quebec
and regularly attended Hours
and the Eucharist
at Montreal's Benedictine community. Trudeau's spirituality, according to Higgins, "suffused, anchored, and directed his inner life. In no small part, it defined him."
. He has been listed in the Canadian Who's Who (1997), and was named among TVO's 'Top Ten Lecturers of Ontario' (2005). Higgins was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters
from Sacred Heart University (2008), and has been nominated for the Governor-General's Award in non-fiction (1990, My Father's Business).
Dr. Higgins was Knighted by Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic
as a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Michael's Cathedral in September 2004, and was promoted to the rank of Knight Commander in October 2008.
Higgins has also published over 60 articles, essays, film reviews and book reviews (general and academic). He is credited with over 75 published interviews, documentaries, dramas, and radio and television commentaries (including appearances on CTV's Canada AM
, CBC Newsworld
, CBC Radio's Ideas
and a CBS Washington Special. Higgins also provided the ethical and humanistic perspective on the Discovery Channel's @discovery.ca twice per month, along with Dr. Pauline Mazumdar, Dr. Kee Dewdney, Rob Sawyer and Jay Ingram.
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. Higgins and his wife Krystyna, a professional piano accompanist, liturgical musician and freelance editor, have four children.
Personal
Born in Toronto, Higgins attended St. Thomas Aquinas School for his primary education, and received his secondary education from the Vaughan Road Collegiate InstituteVaughan Road Academy
Vaughan Road Academy is a Toronto District School Board International Baccalaureate school in the Oakwood-Vaughan neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. Vaughan Road is situated at the Vaughan Road and Winona Drive intersection close to Oakwood Avenue and southwest of Forest Hill. It works in...
, where Higgins is now on the school's "Hall of Fame"
Higgins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in English and Philosophy from St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
(1970), an MA in English from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
(1971), a Bachelor of Education (Theatre Arts specialization) from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1973) and a PhD from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
(1979) with a thesis entitled Thomas Merton — the Silent-Speaking Poet: A Study of his Poetry.
Professional
Higgins also did graduate work in TheologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of St. Michael's College
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
(Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
), later teaching Religious Studies there before moving to St. Jerome's College in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
(1982–2006). From 1989 to 1995 he served as Associate Dean, before becoming Academic Dean and Vice-President (1995–1999) and President and Vice-Chancellor (1999–2006). In 2006 Higgins became President and Vice-Chancellor, as well as Professor of English and Religious Studies at St. Thomas University
in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
. In August 2009, eighteen months after a controversial lockout (before the faculty union had taken a strike vote) and subsequent strike, Higgins announced his resignation as President of St. Thomas, effective December 31, 2009. Four days later, on January 4, 2010, he commenced as a Visiting Senior Executive in Residence at Sacred Heart University (SHU). Since July 1, 2010, Higgins has served as Vice President for SHU's Mission and Catholic Identity department. In this role Higgins is responsible for leading initiatives that preserve, promote and integrate Catholic mission, vision and values throughout the University. He directs such programs at the Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding as well as the new and developing Institute for Vatican II Studies.
He has been a monthly columnist for The Toronto Star (1986–2006), as well as a commentator for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, Commonweal, and The Globe and Mail.
In 2009, Higgins spoke out about the lifting of the excommunications of the bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X, saying bishop Richard Williamson must apologize for his negationist views or be expelled from the Roman Catholic Church. As a radio documentarian for the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, he has prepared more than 60 one-hour scripts for Ideas, Celebration, and Testament, and has been a regular contributor to Morningside, This Morning, Sunday Edition, as well as to CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
's Canada AM
Canada AM
Canada AM is a Canadian breakfast television news show, which has aired on the CTV Television Network since 1972. It is currently hosted by Beverly Thomson and Seamus O'Regan, with Marci Ien reporting from the headline news desk and Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports...
and to TV Ontario's Studio 2 and Agenda. Several of Higgins' programmes have been nominated and short-listed for public-broadcasting awards. Higgins was the main consultant for John McGreevy's six-hour television series, Sir Peter Ustinov's 'Inside the Vatican, and for John Bailey's film version of Ron Hansen
Ron Hansen
Ron Hansen may refer to:*Ron Hansen , American novelist*Ron Hansen , Canadian politician*Ron Hansen , baseball player*Ron Hansen...
's novel, Mariette in Ecstasy. He has also served as a consultant for CBC's Man Alive.
Dr. Higgins was working on a CBC documentary series, when, in April 2010, it was announced that he would be serve as biographer of Henri J.M. Nouwen
Henri Nouwen
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen , was a Dutch-born Catholic priest and writer who authored 40 books about spirituality.- Writing :...
, the only biographical account of Nouwen's life and works to be authorized by Nouwen's Legacy Trust.
In November 2010, Higgins released Suffer the Children Unto Me: An Open Inquiry into the Clerical Sex Abuse Scandal, which was co-authored with Peter Kavanagh. The book deals with the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis and the media. The authors describe it as "an exploration of the modern sexual abuse scandal from a number of perspectives". The authors go beyond simply chronicling the issue and its players. They also carefully scrutinize how the media have both reported on and influenced the crisis. In June 2011 The Catholic Journalist, the newspaper of the Catholic Press Association
Catholic Press Association
The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada is an association of newspaper and media specialists specialized on reporting on the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1911, it has over 600 member organizations...
of the United States & Canada, awarded the book first place in their category for gender issues. With the award the CPA stated that "The gift of this book is its clear, story-telling language
and its richly nuanced entry into deeply troubling but necessary questions that involve media coverage, social mores, systemic and cultural factors, legal procedures, theological understandings, and institutional demands."
Trudeau's Spirituality
Higgins has been noted for his research on the spirituality of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Trudeau was a Roman Catholic and attended church throughout his life. While mostly private about his beliefs, he made it clear that he was a believer. Trudeau maintained, however, that he preferred to impose constraints on himself rather than have them imposed from the outside. In this sense, he believed he was more like a Protestant than a Catholic of the era in which he was schooled. Higgins found that Trudeau's spirituality incorporated elements of three Catholic traditions. The first of these was the JesuitsSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
who provided his education up to the college level. Trudeau frequently displayed the logic and love of argument consistent with that tradition. A second great spiritual influence in Trudeau's life was Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
. A third spiritual influence in Trudeau's spirituality was a contemplative
Contemplation
The word contemplation comes from the Latin word contemplatio. Its root is also that of the Latin word templum, a piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, or a building for worship, derived either from Proto-Indo-European base *tem- "to cut", and so a "place reserved or cut out" or...
aspect acquired from his association with the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
tradition.
Trudeau was convinced of the centrality of meditation
Christian meditation
Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to get in touch with and deliberately reflect upon the revelations of God. The word meditation comes from the Latin word meditārī, which has a range of meanings including to reflect on, to study and to practice...
in a life fully lived, according to Higgins. He took retreats at Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Quebec
Saint-Benoit-du-Lac, Quebec
Saint-Benoît-du-Lac is a community of 48 people, part of the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec. It only comprises an abbey and its immediate surrounding lands.-External links:*...
and regularly attended Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
and the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
at Montreal's Benedictine community. Trudeau's spirituality, according to Higgins, "suffused, anchored, and directed his inner life. In no small part, it defined him."
Recognition
Among his awards are an Ontario Arts Council Award (1988 and 2001), Faith Today's God Uses Ink Award for Non-fiction (1999) and recognition as a 'notable alumnus' of St. Michael's College SchoolSt. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
. He has been listed in the Canadian Who's Who (1997), and was named among TVO's 'Top Ten Lecturers of Ontario' (2005). Higgins was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
from Sacred Heart University (2008), and has been nominated for the Governor-General's Award in non-fiction (1990, My Father's Business).
Dr. Higgins was Knighted by Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic
Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic
Alojzij Matthew Ambrožič was a Roman Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Toronto. He was made a cardinal on 21 February 1998.-Biography:...
as a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Michael's Cathedral in September 2004, and was promoted to the rank of Knight Commander in October 2008.
Publications
Higgins is the author or editor of over a dozen books, including:- Suffer the Children Unto Me: An Open Inquiry into the Clerical Sex Abuse Scandal, co-authored with Peter Kavanagh, Ottawa: Novalis Publishing, 2010.
- Stalking the Holy: In Pursuit of Saint-Making, Toronto: House of Anansi, 2006.
- Power and Peril: The Catholic Church at the Crossroads, co-authored with Douglas R. Letson, Toronto: HarperCollins. 2002.
- Soundings: Conversations About Catholicism, co-authored with Douglas R. Letson, Ottawa: Novalis, 2000.
- The Muted Voice: Religion and the Media, Ottawa: Novalis, 2000.
- Heretic Blood: An Audiobiography of Thomas Merton, (CBC Audio Cassettes) 1999.
- Heretic Blood: The Spiritual Geography of Thomas Merton, Toronto: Stoddart, September, 1998. [U.S. edition in 1999; Sangue Eretico: La Geografia Spirituale di Thomas Merton (Garzanti) Italian (2001) and French edition Thomas Merton: La voie Spirituelle d'un hérétique (Bellarmin) (2000)].
- The Jesuit Mystique, co-authored with Douglas R. Letson. Toronto: Macmillan, 1995; London: HarperCollins, 1995; Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1995.
- Catholic Education—Transforming Our World: A Canadian Perspective, co-edited with Trafford, McGowan and Murphy, Ottawa: Novalis, 1991.
- My Father's Business: a biography of G. Emmett Cardinal Carter, co-authored with Douglas R. Letson. Toronto: Macmillan, 1990.
- "How Can We Sorrow"?--Essays on the Resurrection, edited by Michael W. Higgins, University of St. Jerome's College Press, Waterloo, 1989.
- Women and the Church: A Sourcebook, co-edited with Douglas R. Letson. Toronto: Griffin House, 1986.
- Portraits of Canadian Catholicism, co-authored with Douglas R. Letson, Toronto: Griffin House, 1986.
- Thomas Merton: Pilgrim in Process, co-authored/edited with Donald Grayston. Toronto: Griffin House, 1983.
Higgins has also published over 60 articles, essays, film reviews and book reviews (general and academic). He is credited with over 75 published interviews, documentaries, dramas, and radio and television commentaries (including appearances on CTV's Canada AM
Canada AM
Canada AM is a Canadian breakfast television news show, which has aired on the CTV Television Network since 1972. It is currently hosted by Beverly Thomson and Seamus O'Regan, with Marci Ien reporting from the headline news desk and Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports...
, CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
, CBC Radio's Ideas
Ideas (radio show)
Ideas is a long running scholarly radio documentary show on CBC Radio One. Co-created by Phyllis Webb and William A. Young, the show premiered in 1965 under the title The Best Ideas You'll Hear Tonight...
and a CBS Washington Special. Higgins also provided the ethical and humanistic perspective on the Discovery Channel's @discovery.ca twice per month, along with Dr. Pauline Mazumdar, Dr. Kee Dewdney, Rob Sawyer and Jay Ingram.