ACTA SANCTORUM
INSTITUTE
Serving the church and society since 2009
WHAT OTHERS SAY
ECCLESIAL AND THEOLOGICAL VOICES
When Martin asked me to be his confirmation sponsor upon his reception into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2023, I accepted with joy and gratitude. Having first encountered him as a young scholar, and later as a public theologian bridging the academy, the church, and society, I now witnessed him take a more ecclesial turn. I am deeply gratified that he has found his spiritual home and is now focusing his attention more fully on the church. For if public theology is to remain faithful to its vocation, it must not only speak about the church, but also from within it and to it. And perhaps it is the church—this sometimes overlooked “public”—that most needs voices like his: rooted in faith, theologically formed, pastorally engaged, and attuned to the challenges of our age.
—Msgr. Prof. Tomáš Halík, Ph.D., D.D.
2014 Templeton Prize Laureate; Professor of Sociology, Charles University; President, Czech Christian Academy; Pastor of the Academic Parish of St. Salvator, Prague (2025)
Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek dedicates his book Called to Bear Fruit to Fr. Félix Záhorec, S.J., the Jesuit who baptized him. This is entirely fitting, for the Lord Jesus himself declares: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). And what, after all, could be more important for a person than eternal life? After decades of personal searching, the author “happened” to discover that, during the harsh years of normalization, when the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia consolidated its power with the presence of Soviet troops, his grandmother had him secretly baptized. (...) All of us are called to bear fruit. This calling flows from our baptism—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My wish for every reader is that, through the life experience and insights of the author, we may enrich our own lives, joyfully lived in God, who desires that we be happy already here on earth.
—Bishop Milan Lach, S.J.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of Bratislava for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite; Former Eparch of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio; Apostolic Visitator for Slovak Greek Catholic Faithful in Western Europe (2025)
Martin, both before and since I have known you, your passion for the things of God has never faded. You have spoken with such zeal about the transformation of the human heart and society—because you have lived it. You know firsthand what it means to truly convert. From someone once overlooked and written off—an underperforming student with no apparent future—you became a Christian and an intellectual whose public voice now reaches thousands. The most suitable name for what you do is “public theology.” You did not merely introduce this term into the Slovak and Czech contexts—you became its pioneer, helping both the Church and the wider public understand its meaning and significance.
—Fr. Ivan Moďoroši, Ph.D.
Priest of the Diocese of Žilina, Slovakia; Spiritual Director of the Center for University Pastoral Ministry at the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University (2025)
Writing and teaching are obvious strengths of Lubomir Martin Ondrasek, but the wealth of knowledge he shares is not rooted only in what he learned in school or read in books. It ultimately comes from his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and the relationship he has with Him. Martin is a man of God with a strong desire to be perfectly united to God’s will and to bear lasting fruit. (...) I truly look forward to seeing all the good that Martin will do at St. Mary’s in the coming years. I firmly believe his ministry will extend far beyond the parish and will reach to the ends of the earth. I remember how much consolation it gave Martin when, in one of our meetings, I said to him, “Martin, I trust you.” Martin, it is not only I who trust you—the Lord Himself trusts you. Do great things, and set the world on fire!
—Fr. Samuel I. Plummer
Pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Piscataway; Adjunct Spiritual Director at Saint John Paul II Seminary (2025)
I have known Lubomir for over 20 years as his former professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, but also as his colleague in ministry and personal friend. With great joy, I have witnessed Lubomir’s maturity and development as a faithful Christian, husband, father, teacher, scholar, and public theologian and ethicist. Let me note in passing that in a course Lubomir took with me, “Reading in Social Ethics,” in which he focused on Václav Havel, I graded Lubomir an A+. It was the first and only A+ I have given in my 40-plus years of teaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. This was not just because of his intelligence—he is truly a bright and gifted scholar—but also due to his work ethic. Lubomir approaches the subject matter at hand with deep passion and commitment, whether it is a course of study or teaching, a research project, or as can be attested by the writings in the book The Tunnel at the End of the Light.
—Rev. Eldin Villafañe, Ph.D.
Distinguished Senior Professor of Christian Social Ethics, Emeritus, and Founding Director of the Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Ordained Minister, Assemblies of God (2021)
Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek and I first crossed paths in 2008. Considering that the waters of the Atlantic separated us, we were since unable to spend much time together or engage in intensive long-term cooperation. However, I can say with certainty that as our life paths have meandered over the last decade, whenever I saw Martin’s name in the newspapers Denník N and Postoj or it peeking at me from the cover of a new book awaiting me with a kind dedication in the mail, I always felt delighted. It took me several years to understand what drew me to his writings. Probably the most significant contribution of his work for me was the introduction, clarification, and development of the concept of “public theology.”
—Rev. Benjamin Uhrin, Th.D.
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Slovakia (2021)
ACADEMIC AND SCHOLARLY VOICES
Acta Sanctorum labors to keep alive a rich civil society, one in which an ethic of responsibility pertains. From the beginning, Christians were called upon to reflect on “life in common together,” as St. Augustine put it. Christians were to be salt and light to the world, enlivening all they touched and directing it toward peace and justice. Acta Sanctorum operates on this premise: what is the task of Christianity in a free society? How can Christians contribute to a good we can know in common that we cannot know alone? This ethics of responsibility is not aimed exclusively at Christians but, rather, is enacted in behalf of the polity as a whole. I commend the organization; honor its founders; and wish it Godspeed in the years ahead.
—Jean Bethke Elshtain, Ph.D.
Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics, The University of Chicago (2010)
What you will find in The Tunnel at the End of the Light is the work of a public intellectual. If that’s too imprecise, let us say that “public intellectual” is the genus and that what you are holding in your hands is the work of that particular species known as the “public theologian.” Looking over these fine essays, I am immensely proud to know Lubomir Martin Ondrasek. While he has clearly been shaped by much of the best of the Slovak and American worlds, he is without doubt Slovakia’s son. His fidelity to his homeland is estimable.
—Marc LiVecche, Ph.D.
McDonald Distinguished Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life at Providence; Research Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the United States Naval Academy (2021)
This ministry is well-founded in Christian social ethics. It not only is an appropriate application of this foundation. It also concentrates on an area, the Eastern Bloc countries, where there are few other avenues for applying there our passion for love and justice.
—Rev. Stephen Charles Mott, Ph.D.
Professor of Christian Social Ethics, Emeritus, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Ordained Minister in the United Methodist Church; Author of Biblical Ethics and Social Change and A Christian Perspective on Political Thought (2009)
The current Agora comprises a very wide range of beliefs and opinions. In a democratic environment, no one is excluded from public debate, and it is all the more difficult not only to proclaim but also to connect. To speak of human things is as difficult as to speak of divine things. Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek once again faced the challenge to speak sine ira et studio. Reading his works enables us to cross the threshold of hope, and it is our responsibility to accept this challenge: read, meditate, and subsequently act to transform the world.
—Michaela Moravčíková, Th.D.
Director, Institute for Legal Aspects of Religious Freedom, Faculty of Law, Trnava University, Slovakia (2017)
From the ivory tower to the real world—is a challenge from public theologian, good friend, and intriguing person, Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek. His essays are an excellent example and at the same time an invitation to open dialogue with partners who may not agree on the proposed solutions for the renewal of our society but are united by a mutual regard for responsible public discourse. His thought is characterized by thorough research, a sincere effort to understand those with other perspectives, and perhaps even a hint of provocation that has the potential to move readers to reconsider their positions.
—Rev. PhDr. Michal Valčo, Ph.D.
Professor, Lutheran Theological Faculty, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (2019)
Acta Sanctorum enters this environment with a clear vision, rich with ideas of human dignity and solidifying the spirit of unity based on Christian spirituality of love. In post-communist countries that have experienced a systematic oppression of human dignity, Acta Sanctorum can assist in the advancement of solidarity and also actively contribute toward a greater understanding of issues related to religion and society. The founders of this unique project, which can become an instrument of hope for those who have been denied their religious or civil rights, are united by personal experiences, educational background, and especially by the attitude of genuine resolve.
—PhDr. Jozef Matula, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic (2009)
CIVIC AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP VOICES
The book Christianity, Ethics, and Public Life will be welcomed by anyone concerned about the quality of public debate. It is written in an attractive style, using the cultivated language of a scholar, and deals with a number of serious and sensitive contemporary topics, from ethics and politics to Christianity and responsibility. It is not only about Slovakia, as the author’s knowledge enables him to communicate how these and other questions are also being discussed in America. Reading the book takes a few hours, but you will be thinking about it for much longer.
—Dr. Martin Bútora
Former Ambassador of Slovakia to the United States; Honorary President of the Institute for Public Affairs; Professor of Sociology (2017)
Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek connects Christianity, ethics, and politics in the way I expect from a public theologian. He does not avoid sensitive topics. On the contrary, he addresses them in depth, distinguishing between causes and consequences, trying to understand connections, and engaging numerous books and authorities to support his positions. He makes no compromises with morality. Martin shares his wisdom simply, comprehensibly, and engagingly; he does not claim to own the truth but earnestly seeks it. He does not attack or insult but insightfully engages in civil dialogue, which our country needs like salt. For that, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
—Prof. Ján Košturiak
Founder of IPA Slovakia and Entrepreneurial University in Žilina (2017)
Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek entered the wider Slovak public consciousness as an erudite author of brilliant articles, commentaries, and reflections in the mainstream Slovak media. He is also known in academic and ecclesiastical circles as a pioneer of public theology, unifying issues in religion, ethics, and public life. The Department of Religious Affairs has always valued his independent attitude and opinions, which were not always in line with the Ministry of Culture but always represented a valuable contribution to the work of the state administration and enriched the public debate. His engaged approach has become a practical example of meaningful cooperation between the government and academic institutions.
—Dr. Ján Juran
Director, Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (2021)
In Slovakia there is now a court-appointed expert in the field of religious extremism. However, when we were handling the most recent registration case, no such expert had yet been appointed, so as the registering authority we had to designate one ourselves. The key assessments were provided by Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek, who works at prestigious American universities and is, in my view, the leading expert on charismatic Christianity.
—PhDr. Radovan Čikeš, Ph.D.
Director, Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic; Author of Relations between the State and Churches in Slovakia (2024)
He preaches without moralizing and teaches without condescending, gradually moving towards his desired goal—the positive transformation of society. Martin aims and contributes to this goal through his life mission: constructing and developing public theology. After all, the book Verejná teológia na Slovensku is dedicated to elucidating this—for many—unfamiliar concept. What encourages me whenever I read Martin’s work and fascinates me every time I meet him is that he not only theorizes about public theology but also lives it on an everyday basis. Martin is not only a theorizing academic or a brilliant journalist, although he is firmly and successfully anchored in both environments; he is above all a witness drawing on the richness of the Christian message.
—Imrich Gazda, Ph.D.
Church Analyst; Head of the World of Christianity section, Konzervatívny denník Postoj (2019)
Do you not believe in God and feel that it is impossible to talk reasonably with the other side? Ľubomír Martin Ondrášek refutes this prejudice in his works. His well-informed temperance and effort to seek common ground serve as a guide for overcoming seemingly irreconcilable differences.
—Mgr. Roman Pataj
Head of the Commentary and Opinion section, Denník N (2017)