“Abuse in the Church: A Night of Reckoning” is the topic of the annual Murray/Bacik Lecture in Catholic Studies, which will take place Wednesday, Dec. 5.

The talk begins at 7 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall at The University of Toledo.

Dr. Peter Feldmeier, the Murray/Bacik Endowed Professor of Catholic Studies and chair of the UT Department of Philosophy, will deliver the lecture.

He said the lecture will examine the history of the Catholic sex abuse crisis in the 21st century, and how poorly the church has handled the allegations.

“It’s not going to be a slash job, but I’m not going to pull any punches either,” Feldmeier said. “I hope those who attend leave with a better understanding of the problem and a sense of hope for the church.”

Feldmeier has been at the University for seven years. He earned his PhD in Christian spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., and his research areas of interest include Christian spirituality, comparative theology, Buddhist-Christian dialogue and religious mysticism.

He is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the College Theology Society, the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, and the American Academy of Religion.

The lecture is free, but tickets are required; RSVP at the College of Arts and Letters website at utoledo.edu/al.

Free parking will be available in lots 12 and 12E by the Law Center and the Center for the Performing Arts.