Philip A. Cunningham, PhD
Professor of Theology; Director, Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations

Dr. Philip A. Cunningham is Professor of Theology (specializing in Christian-Jewish Relations) and director of the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. He has served as president of the International Council of Christians and Jews and on the Advisory Committee on Catholic-Jewish Relations for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is the webmaster of the Internet resource Dialogika of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations.
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- Doctor of Philosophy in Religion and Education, 1992, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Dissertation : “A Content Analysis of the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in Current Roman Catholic Religion Textbooks” - Master of Arts in Religious Education (Theology - NT), 1984, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA
- Master of Sciences in Education (Curriculum and Teaching), 1977, Fordham Graduate School of Education, Lincoln Center, NY
- Bachelor of Arts (History), 1972, Fordham College, Bronx, NY
- Doctor of Philosophy in Religion and Education, 1992, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
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- President, International Council of Christians and Jews (2014-2017)
- Secretary-Treasurer, Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (2000 - present)
- Director, Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations of Saint Joseph's University (2008-present)
- Executive Director, Center for Christian-Jewish Learning, Boston College (2000-2007)
- Director of the Ministry Institute, Notre Dame College (1991-2000)
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Books:
- Maxims for Mutuality: Principles for Catholic Theology, Education, and Preaching about Jews and Judaism (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press/Stimulus Book, 2022). [info]
- Seeking Shalom: The Journey to Right Relationship between Catholics and Jews (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015). [info]
Co-edited:
- Enabling Dialogue about the Land: A Resource Book for Jews and Christians (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books, 2020). [info]
- Christ Jesus and the Jewish People Today: New Explorations of Theological Interrelationships. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011)
- The Catholic Church and the Jewish People: Recent Reflections from Rome. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2007).
Book Chapters:
- “From Other to Brother: An Unprecedented Rapprochement in Our Time,” in Clifford Chalmers Cain, ed., Challenges for Christian Faith: Addresses in Honor of C.S. Lewis (Lanham/Boulder/New York/London: Lexington Books, 2021), 71-82.
- “The Import of To Do the Will — a Catholic and Jewish Perspective” [co-authored with Adam Gregerman] in Jehoschua Ahrens, Irving Greenberg, and Eugene Korn, eds., From Confrontation to Covenantal Partnership: Jews and Christians Reflect on the Orthodox Rabbinic Statement “To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven” (Jerusalem: Urim Publications, 2021), 127-141. [text]
- “Toward a Catholic Understanding of the Centrality of the Land of Israel for Jewish Covenantal Life,” in Philip A. Cunningham, Ruth Langer, and Jesper Svartvik, eds., Enabling Dialogue about the Land: A Resource Book for Jews and Christians (Mahwah/New York: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books, 2020), 303-334.
Articles:
- "Covenant" [co-authored with Adam Gregerman] in Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations (Berlin: DeGrutyer, 2021) [text].
- "Review essay of Gavin D'Costa, Catholic Doctrines on the Jewish People after Vatican II," Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations, 15/1 (2020): 1-14. [text]
- "A Response to Alon Goshen-Gottstein’s ‘The New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:30-33 (31:31-34) in Jewish Interpretation,’” Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 15/1 (2020): 1-2. [text]
- “‘Genuine Brotherhood without Remorse’: A Commentary on Joseph Ratzinger’s ‘Comments on De Iudaeis’” [co-authored with Adam Gregerman], Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations, 14/1 (2019): 1-29. [text]
- "Emerging Principles of a Theology of Shalom," Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society (Dec 2017) [introductory blog; full text]
- “Is the Pope ‘Anti-Jewish’? No, but Here’s Why his Critics Think So” Commonweal 144/8 (May 19, 2017): 19-21. [text]
- “Gifts and Calling: Coming to Terms with Jews as Covenantal Partners,” Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 12/1 (2017). [text]
- “The Sources behind ‘“The Gifts and the Calling of God Are Irrevocable” (Rom 11:29): A Reflection on Theological Questions Pertaining to Catholic-Jewish Relations on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate (No. 4),’” Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 12/1 (2017). [text]
- “Celebrating a 50 Year ‘Journey of Friendship’ between Catholics and Jews in Philadelphia” (with Adam Gregerman), Connections, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, January, 2015.
- “Giving Thanks for a New Jewish-Catholic Relationship in Our Time” (Op-ed, with Adam Gregerman), The Jewish Exponent, November 26, 2014.
- “Implications of Paul’s Hopes for the End of Days for Jews and Christians Today: A Critical Re-evaluation of the Evidence” (with Mark N. Nanos), Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 9/1 (2014). [text]
- “‘God Holds the Jews Most Dear’: Learning to Respect Jewish Self-Understanding,” in Gilbert Rosenthal, ed., A Jubilee for All Time: The Copernican Revolution in Jewish-Christian Relations (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2014), 44-58.
- "Celebrating Judaism as a 'Sacrament of Every Otherness,'" Kristen Colberg and Robert Krieg, eds., The Theology of Cardinal Walter Kasper: Speaking Truth in Love (St. John’s MN: Liturgical Press, 2014), 223-240.
- “Building a New Relationship: A Catholic Perspective,” Franklin Sherman, ed., Bridges: Documents of the Christian-Jewish Dialogue. Volume Two. Building a New Relationship (1986-2103) (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books, 2014), 15-38.
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- Co-organizer of international research project: "Christ Jesus the Jew: The Importance of His Jewish Identity for Christians and Jews" (2021 - present).
- Coordinator of international research project: "Promise, Land, and Hope: Jews and Christians Seeking Understanding to Enable Constructive Dialogue about Israeli-Palestinian Issues" (2011-2020).
- Project moderator for the International Council of Christians and Jews project: “Reassessing the Christian-Jewish Dialogue” (2007-2009).
- North American Coordinator of the Christ and the Jewish People project (2007-2011).
- Co-editor of peer-reviewed e-journal Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations (2005-2007).
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- Holocaust Educator of the Year 2022, The Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, Elkins Park, PA.
- Shevet Achim Award for Outstanding Contributions to Christian-Jewish Relations, Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations, October 31, 2021.
- Named Honorary President, International Council of Christians and Jews, June 27, 2021. (A lifetime appointment previously given to three others for exceptional service to the ICCJ and Christian-Jewish Relations.)
- Tengelmann Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, May 18, 2019.
- “Eternal Light Award,” Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, FL, October 25, 2018.
- Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA, May 21, 2017.
- “Peace and Dialogue Award” for Promoting Interfaith Understanding, The Dialogue Forum and the Peace Islands Institute, Philadelphia, PA, Apr 23, 2014.
- “Lester Gilson Memorial Community Service Award,” South Area Solomon Schechter Day School, Boston, MA, March 11, 2007.