Catholic Education in America historically has been rooted in the
study of the Catholic faith and that faith was an integral part of one’s
experience at the University level. However, recently there has been a
trend to expeditiously remove any signs of Catholicism from many of
these campuses.
For example, how can a Catholic University remain loyal to the
Magisterium of the Catholic Church and allow openly homosexual persons
to remain on their staff? How can a Catholic University allow the
teaching of abortion? How can a truly Catholic University allow its
professors to continually date students, some half their age? How can a
Catholic University allow a staff member to serve openly as a surrogate
Mother?
To answer these questions, one must look at what Catholic Education
has become. In most Catholic Universities, the primary goals are:
making money, creating new programs, and increasing enrollment. All
fine and this needs to be done, but the primary focus should be on
Catholicism; its tenets, its beliefs, its practices, and the opportunity
for the students to receive the Sacraments. Catholicism itself has
taken a back seat to the secularization of the once Catholic University.
Moreover, let’s consider a Franciscan University. One, I will not
mention by name but I believe has become a CINO University (Catholic In
Name Only), which describes itself in its Mission and Ministry statement
as having
“Franciscan Values as a Community of Learning, a Community of Reverence, a Community of Service”
It has to be noted that there is nothing uniquely Catholic about this
statement. Many secular Universities offer the same values, although
they would certainly not call themselves Franciscan. Furthermore, a
Catholic University that offers outreach programs to the poor and
homeless is very noble, but Secular Universities also do this.
So What does make a University Catholic more than one in name only?
Here are a few points to consider: Does the College offer daily Mass? Is
the “Mandatum” adhered to by the Theology Professors? Any Catholic
institution that minimizes or subverts Ex corde Ecclesiae, written by Pope John Paul II and has the force of Canon Law, has serious problems with its Catholic identity.
Click this link for more information from The Cardinal Newman Society on this topic:
http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/TheNewmanGuide/About/FAQsAboutThisGuide.aspx
Lastly, there are about 28 distinctly Catholic Colleges and
Universities in America. The Newman Guide is a free publication and
lists them all. They all have great programs, extracurricular
activities, and segregated housing. Mainly they offer what Catholic
young people need; growth in their faith!
God Bless You!