National Catholic Register and Catholic Higher Ed
Those who read this blog regularly know my interest in and commitment to Catholic higher education. I even have a whole section of my right-hand sidebar devoted to Catholic institutions of higher learning.
The September 23-29, 2007 issue of the National Catholic Register is the publication's annual edition dedicated to the topic of Catholic higher education. Here are the links to some of the Register's offerings:
Rise of the New Catholic CollegesI am certainly no fan of some of the shenanigans that have gone on at the more "prominent" institutions of Catholic higher education such as Notre Dame, Georgetown, DePaul, Villanova, Dayton, etc. But, at the same time, I do wish the mainstream "orthodox" Catholic media, such as the Register, were a little more critical (or at least even-handed) in covering some of the less than savory actions taken in the name of "orthodoxy" at the hands of those associated with the institutions under the thumb of Tom Monaghan (i.e. the Ave Maria Foundation).
Help Our Schools
Educated Flock
Catholic Colleges Identity Guide 2007-08
The treatment of faithful devout Catholics like Professors Charles Rice and Steve Safranek (as well as many others) could hardly be described as in line with Catholic teaching. There is more to Catholic "orthodoxy" in higher education than the Mandatum and toeing the Monaghan company line.
Labels: Catholic Education, Catholic Identity, Higher Education
posted by Pro Ecclesia 3:16 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Jay;
Please include in your shenanigans list “The University of Dayton,” which last week opened their Muslim Prayer Center. No other group, other than homosexuals, has received their own center; not Protestant or Jews. Being a recent graduate and parent of UD student, I would tell any potential student never, ever attend UD. Your faith would be better served attending a land grant state university that had strong fellowship from the Newman Center.
In terms of Ave Maria, it appears to be a very isolated and unique situation. This may be why it receives less attention; but this is just my opinion.
Alas, w/re sundry debacles at Ave Maria, I have seen this phenomenon more than once -- groups very Catholic in doctrine and focus, yet completely out to lunch as to how to treat people, especially their own. Fear causes this. We don't believe how much God loves us. We lack faith that God is actually willing and capable of enabling us to accomplish anything. So we respond as unbelievers respond, in self-protective and unloving manner, though well versed in doctrine. We forget the goal and the method is nothing but to love one another, as He has loved us.
I was struck by that line about "groups very Catholic in doctrine and focus, yet completely out to lunch as to how to treat people." My daughter attends a Catholic elementary school that fits that description perfectly.
The school prides itself on its orthodox Catholic identity, which has served as a convenient cover for an administrative style that is paranoid and vindictive. Our parents are largely conservative ex-military people, but they actually staged a demonstration when the archbishop came to visit recently. Some of us are concluding that the only way we can give our kids a Catholic education is to homeschool them.
Every institution has its flaws as we are only works in progress. Maybe we can teach our children within such situations about the right and wrong ways of going about things. Or maybe the mistreatment of people within such institutions is so egregious we must in conscience gently withdraw to forestall our own participation or seeming approval. Homeschooling, done well and with humility and continued measured integration into the larger society, is the window God has opened for many when other doors were shut.
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