New guidelines for Catholic universities
By JENNIFER KANNE
American bishops approved a new set of guidelines for Catholic universities last week. The guidelines, or norms, represent the implementation strategy for a 1990 document named Ex corde Ecclesiae.
The norms recommend that as many university faculty members and trustees as possible should be Catholic. The guidelines also urge professors of Catholic theology to seek mandatums from their local bishop.
These norms are strong suggestions but leave room for discretion, as most include the "to the extent possible."
Translated from Latin as "from the heart of the church," Ex corde Ecclesiae explores the nature and role of the modern Catholic university. Santa Clara University President Paul Locatelli, SJ, sent an e-mail to faculty and staff to reassure them that the norms do not alter the mission of Santa Clara, nor do they threaten the position of any faculty members.
"For all colleagues of other faiths, I want to assure you that you are equal partners in the life of the university and in advancing our mission," Locatelli said.
Since many universities, such as Harvard, Yale and the University of Southern California were founded by religious groups but eventually became secular, many Catholics worry that Catholic universities will also lose their religious identity with time.
Pope John Paul II wrote Ex corde in 1990 to cultivate a sharp focus and a common vision among Catholic educational institutions. The document realizes this goal through its creation of concrete practices. Ex corde articulates the idea that faith and reason complement each other and individual universities may retain both academic freedom and a commitment to Catholicism.Despite this fact, a debate is occurring over the best means by which to maintain the Catholic character of the university. Some see the norms as narrow and threatening, created to squash views which may not line up with official church doctrine. This negative perception is what university presidents are worried about.
Some perceive the document as an unwelcome interference in academic life, arguing that universities must keep only loose ties with Rome.
In a Chronicle for Higher Education article, Beth McMurtrie wrote that many college presidents object to the legal nature of the document and say the guidelines impede academic freedom. McMurtrie's article quotes Thomas Rausch, SJ, chair of Loyola Marymount's theology department as saying "I think Rome is very nervous about what it calls dissent in the church, and the requirement that theologians have to seek a mandatum is a way of trying to curb dissent."Santa Clara Religious Studies Department Chair Denise Carmody does not anticipate that the recently approved norms will impact course offerings or curriculum.
"Our Catholic theologians on the faculty are published scholars who are quite prominent in their various fields, so I cannot imagine that any problem could arise with the bishop or academic freedom," Carmody said.
Religious studies Professor Paul Fitzgerald, SJ, said that the norms respect academic freedom and the autonomy of the university.
Fitzgerald emphasized that the guidelines only directly impact faculty teaching Catholic theology and that the mandatum is largely ceremonial. As the bishop is the primary teacher in each diocese, he will officially recognize all those who are teaching Catholic theology. Professors teaching any other courses will not be affected.
The norms have drawn criticism because they may potentially vary in their implementation from diocese to diocese, depending on the views of each bishop.
Locatelli said that since Santa Clara University enjoys a good relationship with local bishops Pierre DuMaine and P.J. McGrath, he foresees no drastic changes or any threat to the university's academic freedom.
Vatican officials must still review the document before it receives final approval. Officials may propose revisions before the new guidelines go into effect.