Pope expected to shame Catholic Colleges into Rome's line

[CatholicEdHead]

In his upcoming visit, Benedict XVI/Joseph Ratinger is expected to push for the stance that if you are not an "orthodox" Catholic college/university, you are need to be or there is no point being called Catholic anymore. The line from Rome is the only thing that matters.

Notice also how it is abortion and gay-rights issues that get the focus for criticism. Not much is expected to change due to academic freedom and more diverse campuses, but the warning is going out to shame schools to turn the clock back. :(

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031304176.html?hpid=topnews

Friday, March 14, 2008; Page A01

After years of Vatican frustration over what it views as the failure of many U.S. Catholic colleges to adhere to church teachings, school leaders are intently watching for a rebuke from Pope Benedict XVI during his Washington visit next month.

The pope requested the meeting with more than 200 top Catholic school officials from across the country. The gathering will come amid debate over teachings and campus activities that bishops have slammed as violating Catholic doctrine: a rally by pro-abortion rights Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton at St. Mary's University in San Antonio; a Georgetown University theologian's questioning whether Jesus offers the only road to salvation; and a performance of "The Vagina Monologues" at the University of Notre Dame.

This will be the first papal address in the United States on Catholic education in more than 20 years, and some Vatican watchers predict that it will be the most enduring part of Benedict's visit. Before becoming pope, Benedict was known as "the enforcer" of church orthodoxy, and since taking office, he has said Catholic education must bow to Catholic "truth" and the "rule of life." Such comments have some educators keyed up.

"With people expecting his address on these issues, hopes and concerns are beginning to resurface," said Mathew Schmalz, a religious studies professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., who has researched and lectured about Catholic identity in higher education.

[Larkspur]

1. And then the Pope will wonder why American Catholics are leaving the Church

or just ignoring papal bullsh*t.

I grew up a practicing Catholic, but I supported the Vatican II reforms that should have opened up the church to change and dealing with the modern world in a positive way. This Pope and the last one are why I left the Catholic Church.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. Actually, many in this movement prefer a smaller, "more perfect" church

Than to let everyone in with diverse beliefs. Those of us which are "heterodox" are looked down upon at best. This neo-retro movement is pretty closed minded. In talking to a "orthodox" seminarian on another board, it went into something with the Church being a "perfect society", so hence cannot do any wrong yet anything related to the world can do wrong (still not sure if I have figured that leap of talking points out). It is how the Church hierarchy ignores their wrongs and can turn it on the people in the pews.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Oh my, I've run into someone like that on another board!

It's like talking to a pod person! It is simply not possible that the Church does or ever has done anything wrong. By definition, that's impossible. The Inquisition? Oh, that was purely the political forces of the day - the Church actually fought against that...

Ugh. Really, really sad to watch this move from intellect toward bots. And from the social gospel to the gospel of exclusion and pride and hatred.

[kedens]

12. The Church never does anything wrong...

People do. The Church has people in it. People are influenced by evil and hateful forces. These people then turn away from the message that Christ taught of love and exchange it for one of hate. The true Catholic (catholic means universal and not just Roman Catholic) church is comprised of all of Christ's true followers. The Lord loves all of us and tells us to love one another as ourself. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45

[CatholicEdHead]

13. That makes sense, but it is making the distinction with the people

As many think the fallible human part of the equation becomes infallible and that leads to a unrealistic idea of what the Church is. This theology is very hard to get across to people in its true form.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. That wasn't at all what this guy was saying

He doesn't recognize any church outside the RCC. And he doesn't believe that the RCC has ever done anything wrong - the leadership, the *people* have never done anything wrong - can't have done something wrong by definition. If they did it, it must be right.

He denied the RCC's responsibility for the Inquisition, for instance. Seemed to actually believe that the church hierarchy had nothing to do with it.

I understand what you're saying, and as someone now in the Episcopal church, that's pretty much our take on it, anyway.

But that's not at all how this guy saw it. He's scary, I tell you! Blind believer.

[JerseygirlCT]

3. I suspect he needs them, and their reputations as academically

unfettered, far more than they need him.

If the Catholic colleges in this country, some of them considered among the best, lose the sense of intellectual rigor and academic freedom that is absolutely essential to a quality education, then they are worthless.

People who are now comfortable with a Catholic college will think twice and thrice, and they will attract fewer and fewer students of high caliber.

What a sour, nasty, mean and hateful old man he is!

[pingzing58]

5. Best thing to do is not to attend the Pope's meeting. Academic freedom is a gift from God. Stand

for the right of academic freedom and free thought. If you give in its the "dark ages" again for the next thousand years.

[rexcat]

7. The last time the catholic church tried to interfere with...

academics in the catholic colleges and universities in the US the accreditation governing bodies threatened to revoke accreditation of those schools that went along with his popeness. I don't think any schools lost their accreditation because they skirted around his popeness. This happened 10 or more years ago. The church does this everytime there is a new pope.

[CatholicEdHead]

8. These are the only schools not going to be castised

With the list of the self appointed enforcers, a lay group, The Cardnial Newman Society.

http://www.catholichighered.org/TheNewmanGuide/tabid/356/ctl/Details/mid/1225/ItemID/47/Default.aspx

:puke:

http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/

I also believe that Ave Maria University, now in Florida does not have accreditation and they are going on Tom Monaghan's view of Catholicism. I have heard BXVI mention about his closed city, Ave Maria as something he likes.

[pingzing58]

9. BXVI is leading us into a return to the dark ages. But, we'll see.

[JerseygirlCT]

10. Unless I'm missing something, those don't read to me

as the more elite Catholic colleges in the country... I'm assuming the Jesuit places will be the biggest targets?

[CatholicEdHead]

11. You are not missing something and probably assume right

A "quality" Catholic College in the BXVI Conventional Wisdom is an "Orthodox" one. That means follow the rubrics (mass done to Rome's standards (bells, smells etc...), suppress GLBT student groups, active 24/7 Adoration, protection of "marriage", social justice = "pro-life" anti-abortion and no more, etc...).

The Jesuits, Christian Brothers, Benedictines, (probably a couple others) will all be targets as they provide the best education and overall experience that will help the students the most in the wide world.

[struggle4progress]

6. I miss John XXIII