The False Gospel of Dialogue Over Doctrine
Catholic News Agency reports on a keynote address by “professor” Arthur Brooks at the SEEK 2026 conference, organized by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), attended by 26,000 participants. Brooks, a secular academic and collaborator with Oprah Winfrey, urged attendees to avoid cultural confrontation, stating: “Your job isn’t to win arguments, it’s to win a soul.” He framed evangelization as avoiding “hatred” and instead using persuasion through emotional appeals, recounting a 2014 talk where he dismissed ideological divides by asserting that political opponents “are your neighbors” who merely “disagree with you.” Brooks concluded by invoking a retreat center’s sign: “You are now entering mission territory,” equating Christian mission with uncritical dialogue. Attendees praised his message of “kindness” over truth.