The following comes from a Feb. 6 posting on the site of the Cardinal Newman Society.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles recently held a campus-wide Mission Day in order to foster appreciation for the university’s Catholic identity, according to The Los Angeles Loyolan. However, Loyola professor Dr. James Hanink expressed concern to The Cardinal Newman Society that the university has merely taken a cosmetic approach to its Catholic identity and failed to address recent scandals that endanger the University’s mission.
“Mission Day is an opportunity each year for faculty, staff and students to deepen their understanding and appreciation of LMU’s Catholic Identity and Jesuit-Marymount heritage,” Father Robert Caro, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, told the Loyolan. The reported theme was “Jesuit, Catholic Higher Education: Why It Matters in a Pluralistic World”. According to the event description, the day featured an interfaith celebration of the school’s mission, discussion sessions, and a keynote address from Dr. Christine Firer Hinze, a professor of theology at Fordham University.
Loyola philosophy professor James Hanink however voiced his concern to the Newman Society that the University’s official approach to its Catholic identity is merely a cosmetic façade, stating that Hinze was “chosen to put a happy face on our institutional schizophrenia.”
Fr. Caro told the Loyolan that Hinze was “recommended as a warm, engaging and insightful speaker by people who had heard her present at meetings organized by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities or other professional conferences.”
Hinze once decried the Vatican’s efforts to reform the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and declared that the intervention “delegitimize[d] or obscure[d] the witness and voices of thousands of pioneering and faithful churchwomen, women who bravely followed the council’s call into risky modern frontiers.”
The Cardinal Newman Society reached out Fr. Caro for comment on the state of LMU’s Catholic identity, but no response was received by time of publication.
According to the University’s mission statement, LMU is “institutionally committed to Roman Catholicism.” Hanink noted though that “in recent years only about half the students have been Catholic and perhaps most of the faculty and administrators have not been Catholic.” Hanink also pointed out that LMU “refuses to collect the data from faculty and administration,” making it unclear how many Catholics the University employs in order to maintain its Catholic identity….
So, “in recent years only about half the students have been Catholic and perhaps most of the faculty and administrators have not been Catholic.” If they have any Jesuits on staff, they can’t really include them as Catholics, so you’re left with an “institution” with Catholic students in the minority, taught by non-Catholics and taught nothing (realistically) about Catholicism!
Any University or College that advertises itself as “Catholic”
and does not use a Catholic Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition – as REQUIRED TEXTS – for all freshmen and sophomores is a FRAUD.
Even non-Catholics who choose to attend a Catholic institution must learn the Catholic Faith – as do all the other students.
These are the two most important books in the Catholic Faith.
The Board of Trustees is ultimately in charge, and they are required to work with the Diocese Bishop to insure the Catholicity of the School, or the Bishop can revoke the use of the name “Catholic”.
Sally, in which course would you insist that the Bible and the Catechism be the two main textbooks? Why don’t we want all courses in a degree program to include the teachings of the Church on whatever subject is taught. By the way, the Catechism is the deposit of faith, but is meant to be a reference book for those who are developing national Catechisms and religious teaching materials. It is a challenge to get the teachings of the Church to be a part of the instructional program at a major university.
Bob One, you have been told this before.
Why do you keep insisting on calling our Popes LIARS regarding the CCC ?
Local or National catechisms are only for those who because of age, culture, or lack of social and ecclesial condition are unable to understand the CCC as written. CCC #24.
This is certainly not the condition for Literate persons over age 15 in the USA.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine,
attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.
I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg 5)
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
“….. let us ask ourselves if we have actually taken a few steps to get to know Christ and the truths of faith more, by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, studying the Catechism, steadily approaching the Sacraments.” – Pope Francis , May 15, 2013.
For MORE quotes from our Popes about the CCC:
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
Bob One, go back and read what Sally wrote.
She did not use the word “main”.
Nor did she state they should be required for ALL subjects.
Are you so blinded that you can not tell the truth at all anymore?
She stated that a Catholic BIBLE and the CCC must be REQUIRED texts for all freshman and sophomores at Universities and Colleges that call themselves “Catholic”.
And she is 100% correct.
It is a NOT challenge to get the teachings of the Church to be a part of the instructional program at a major university that advertises itself as “Catholic”.
They come under the Diocese Bishop. He has the authority to forbid them from using the name “Catholic” for cause.
Code of Canon Law – “Can. 808 Even if it is in fact Catholic, no university is to bear the title or name of Catholic university without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority.”
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2O.HTM
Why don’t you want those who attend Catholic Universities to know the Doctrine of the Faith ?
It is not merely a reference book – per our Popes and the teachings in the CCC itself.
Bob One,
Per the Magisterium,
Sacred Scripture (a Catholic Bible), and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997 are
the two MOST important books in the Catholic Faith.
Any Bishop, Priest, Nun, or Lay person who tries to hide or withhold these two books from literate laity is committing a serious sin of disobedience, and encourages heresy and disunity within the Church.
All of Sacred Scripture is the speech of God via the breath of Holy Spirit. (CCC 81)
CCC: ” 133 The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful. . . to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.
Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. ”
“Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of ALL the ranks of the people of God,
may THIS CATECHISM be known and shared by EVERYONE,
so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth.” – Pope John Paul II, Aug 15, 1997. – CCC page xv.
“Apostolic Letter Laetamur Magnopere in which the Latin Typical Edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is approved and promulgated”.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm
It is obvious that I didn’t explain myself well, or ask my question correctly. I did not, in my opinion, misread what Sally said. So, here goes another try at it. Yes, I agree that the Bible and the CCC should be required reading for all Freshman and Sophomores an Juniors and Seniors. My question was about how to do that. Do we have a separate class call Catechism for Freshmen, or do we ask them to carry their Catechisms with them to all classes for four years and use it as a main reference book? Do we study the Bible as literature, cultural or religious writing? Do we have required Bible study, or a class on each book? I was interested in the HOW, not the if. I suspect that today, the Catechism is not used, that the kids don’t know there is one and the teachers don’t know about it, but they try to run a school in the “Catholic Tradition” and call that sufficient unto the day.. I, too, doubt that it is.
As a side bar, asking questions should not be taken as an indicator that someone opposes what someone else has said. Sometimes we just need clarification?
Bob One, your question does not make sense to anyone who has attended a Catholic High School, or Catholic College.
As one would carry a chemistry book to chem class only, one would carry an approved Catholic Bible and/ or the CCC to Theology class.
(Perhaps two semesters would be devoted to the Bible, and two semesters devoted to the CCC.)
All schools that call themselves Catholic already have a required class called Theology,
or at the high school level – Religion Class.
The REQUIRED TEXTS must be changed to be a “Catholic Bible” and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” only
for the first two years,
so students will get the truth directly from the Magisterium.
This will also stop wayward theologians from teaching error – accidentally or purposely.
What Catholic identity?
Good question, John. I suspect that everyone who posts on this site has a different definition of what constitutes “Catholic Identity.” for a college or university.
CATHOLIC IDENTITY of a College or University that calls itself “Catholic” – is defined in “EX CORDE ECCLESIAE”
APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION of the SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II on CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES” of 1990.
Especially paragraph # 27 which includes:
” One consequence of its essential relationship to the Church is that the institutional fidelity of the University to the Christian message includes a recognition of and adherence to the teaching authority of the Church in matters of faith and morals.
Catholic members of the university community are also called to a personal fidelity to the Church with all that this implies.
Non-Catholic members are required to respect the Catholic character of the University, while the University in turn respects their religious liberty.”
Article 1 § 1. ” These General Norms are based on, and are a further development of, the Code of Canon Law(42) and the complementary Church legislation, without prejudice to the right of the Holy See to intervene should this become necessary.
They are valid for all Catholic Universities and other Catholic Institutes of Higher Studies throughout the world. ”
And Article 5 # § 2. ” Each Bishop has a responsibility to promote the welfare of the Catholic Universities in his diocese and has the right and duty to watch over the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic character.
If problems should arise concerning this Catholic character, the local Bishop is to take the initiatives necessary to resolve the matter.
Why an “interfaith celebration of the school’s mission”? The point of being Catholic is, well, being Catholic. The notion of “interfaith” is, by definition, a watering-down, a retreat, from a “Catholic” identity.
The answer, of course, is triumphalism, or, better put, anti-triumphalism. The Church, particularly under the Francis Revolution, simply will not say that it is THE way, and THE Faith, and THE Church — all of that. Nope, we are only one of many, blah, blah, blah.
Too bad that Benedict is gone (or overthrown, as very recent writings point to, but at least he was not taken out into the square and shot), but he, too, was equivocal on this point (but far, far, better than Francis). The Catholic Church simply needs to take its Vatican II implementation stuff and burn it. The Catholic Church needs to be re-introduced to the world as the point on the Earth where Jesus said, “here I am; come and be a part of my Faith”.
But the Devil fights against this, and there are few, very few, that take up this true evangelization to the world. One tends to lose hope, but then, here and there, you find a Fr. Illo (and Abp. Cordileone), and Bishop Morlino, and Cardinal Burke) that gives you hope. A reminder: time for everyone to join Star of the Sea Parish as an Affiliate or Adjunct Member!
And Francis was the leader of the Jesuits…! Ah, that explains it. That’s why since Francis was elected I have felt more Catholic than the pope. It’s because obviously, I am. It also explains why Francis doesn’t know ‘who’ he is to judge (incredible!). Now, I just apply that statement (“Who am I to judge?”) to whatever he says and ‘Wha-La!’ – whatever he said is instantly irrelevant.
These stories are not “news” in that we already know that there is little of Catholicism left in higher education.
What would be newsworthy? that Archbishop gomez would assert Catholic leadership and give Loyola a choice—–stop all of these dissident programs or an outright condemnation by the Archbishop.
God bless Fr. Caro, I’m afraid he’s like a “voice crying out in the wilderness” of the secularized LMU landscape.
Schools like LMU can hold so-called Catholic identity conferences until the cows come home, but so long as they persist in re-defining Catholicism to fit their distorted institutional preferences, it will all be for naught.