Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SPRING 2010
of Catholic Higher Education
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1
Carolina threatens gov- “As a Roman Catholic institution, Belmont Abbey Col-
ernment encroachment lege is not able to and will not offer nor subsidize medical
on the religious liberty services that contradict the clear teaching of the Catholic
of Catholic colleges and Church,” said Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Bel-
universities nationwide. mont Abbey College.
The federal Equal Em- Contraceptive mandates have been a growing problem for
ployment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has ruled Catholic institutions. Most states have imposed contra-
that the small Catholic college discriminates against fe- ceptive mandates on employers, many like California re-
male employees by refusing to cover prescription contra- fusing to exempt independent Catholic institutions. Last
ceptives in its health insurance plan. An appeal is pend- year Wisconsin legislators passed a law requiring even
diocesan agencies to compromise the faith.
Upcoming Events......................................4 The EEOC ruling against Belmont Abbey College now
brings the issue to the federal level. According to the
Campus Life: Shaping Student commission’s published guidance on “pregnancy discrimi-
Culture, Households at Franciscan....5 nation,” the EEOC believes that contraceptive coverage is
mandated by the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act—a
Moral Theology on Campus: law which does not, by strict interpretation, consider dis-
An Interview with Dr. William May....7 crimination against all women of childbearing potential.
Bulletin@CatholicHigherEd.org.
2
Of Note
Call for Papers needs of students in the world today and inspiring gen-
erations yet to come.” SGU’s vice president for mission
The Society of Catholic Social Scientists has announced and identity said that as a Catholic university, SGU “has
a call for papers for the organization’s 2010 Annual Na- a relationship to the Church that is essential to its insti-
tional Meeting-Conference. The event will be held in tutional identity,” referencing Ex corde Ecclesiae. He said
October at Holy Cross College in South Bend, Ind. Pa- that FIDE will seek to enhance that relationship and
pers are being sought in numerous broad subject areas. “promote the witness of Christ, who is the Word made
Proposed paper topics and a written precis must be sent flesh, as it permeates all aspects of the university.” Uni-
no later than June 1, 2010, for consideration. More in- versity officials said that the new initiative “is in direct
formation is available on the Society’s website at Cath- response to the Holy See’s call for renewed fidelity to the
olicSocialScientists.org or by contacting Dr. Stephen Roman Catholic character of its more than 400 colleges
Krason at CatholicSocialScientists@gmail.com. and universities around the world.”
Thomas Aquinas College Inaugurates New President UST Launches Pope John Paul II Forum
On February 13, Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) inau- for the Church in the Modern World
gurated Dr. Michael F. McLean as its fourth president. The University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Tex.,
In the presence of His Emminence Roger Cardinal Ma- announced recently the launch of the Pope John Paul II
honey, Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Chairman of the Forum for the Church in the Modern World. The mis-
Board of Governors of TAC charged Dr. McLean with sion of the Forum is to promote a broader and deeper
his new duties and invested him as president, bestowing understanding of the thought of Pope John Paul II and
on him the president’s silver chain of office. Dr. McLean to facilitate its application to contemporary issues. The
made a profession of faith and took the Oath of Fidelity, activities and resources of the Forum will focus upon the
making public his intention that both he and the college great work and vision of Pope John Paul II and make it
would remain loyal to the Holy Father and faithful to accessible to the UST community and the nation, accord-
the teachings of the Catholic Church. Dr. McLean was ing to a university release. The Forum aims to provide
appointed to the faculty of TAC in 1978 and has served opportunities for students, faculty and the community
as a tutor, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Vice Pres- at large to avail themselves of John Paul II’s expansive
ident for Development, and Dean of the College. range of speeches and writings. The work of the Forum
includes public lectures, workshops for faculty develop-
St. Gregory’s Launches Office Dedicated ment, and conferences. Archbishop Charles Chaput of
to Enhancing Catholic Identity Denver spoke at a recent Forum event on the topic of
“The Vocation of Christians in American Public Life.”
St. Gregory’s University (SGU) announced in January
the formation of the Office of Faith, Integration, De-
velopment, and Evangelization (FIDE). The new office Providence College Re-Elects President
will focus on collaboration with campus offices, with ‘Passionate’ for Catholic Mission
particular emphasis on recruitment of new students Providence College (PC), in Rhode Island, announced
and connecting with Church offices and with various recently that Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., has been re-
external communities, with the goal of responding to elected as College president for a second, five-year term
the U.S. bishops’ call to “look at the signs of the times set to begin this July. Rev. D. Dominic Izzo, O.P., prior
and respond to the needs of the Church by meeting the
3
provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and diocese are key to Catholic evangelization efforts. The
chairman of the Providence College Corporation, said, letter identifies three elements essential to Catholic out-
“[Father Shanley] is passionate about the Catholic and reach at universities: to be a visible witness for Christ
Dominican mission and providing students with a qual- and the teachings of the Church, to preach and spread
ity liberal arts education. ” Fr. Shanley, who also teaches the Gospel, and to provide the sacraments and ongoing
philosophy at the College, has made strengthening the faith formation. “Serving Truth” also mandates chastity
College’s distinctive Catholic and Dominican character education and mentions the duty of the priest chaplain
a focus during his tenure as president. As his first presi- to guard the “dignity and beauty of the liturgy.”
dential action upon election in 2005, he established a
new cabinet-level division of Mission & Ministry. The Christendom President Participates in Pontifical
office guided a reorganization of the Campus Ministry Council Assembly on Rights of Childhood
and founded the Center for Catholic and Dominican
Studies. Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, president of Christendom Col-
lege in Front Royal, VA, participated in the 18th Plenary
Bishop Olmsted Issues Pastoral Letter: Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family as an
‘Serving Truth in the University’ official consultor. The theme of the assembly, “Rights of
Childhood,” was chosen because of the concurrent 20th
On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, anniversary of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Phoenix Diocese is- Child. O’Donnell joined cardinals, bishops and other
sued a pastoral letter titled “Serving Truth in the Uni- scholars to discuss important issues facing the Church
versity.” The letter outlines Bishop Olmsted’s vision such as the question of the adoption of children by ho-
for the role of the Catholic Church in university life, mosexual couples.
and specifically how the two Newman Centers in the
Upcoming Events
April 2010 6/14 - 6/19 Bishops’ Summer Meeting, St. Petersburg,
Fla. FMI: USCCB.org.
4/24 Society of Catholic Social Scientists mini-Con-
ference: “Our Society, Sexuality, Psychology, and Ca- 6/10-6/13 Portsmouth Institute Conference on “New-
tholicism: Defining the Problem and Seeking Solu- man and the Intellectual Tradition,” Portsmouth Ab-
tions,” Southern Catholic College, Dawsonville, Ga. bey, Portsmouth, R.I. FMI: contact Cindy Waterman at
FMI: contact Sandra McKay at smckay02@aol.com or cwaterman@PortsmouthAbbey.org or visit Portsmou-
visit CatholicSocialScientists.org. thInstitute.org.
4
CAMPUS LIFE: Shaping Student Culture on
Campus, the Franciscan Household Model
T ake a collegiate social fra-
ternity or sorority with
all its social activity, ritual, and
Wide-ranging reforms at all levels were needed.
5
women look to St. Therese of Lisieux (the “Little Flow- lead to a deeper relationship with the Lord. In an annual
er”) and her Little Way as an inspiration to love always. self-evaluation, members examine whether they are liv-
ing out their own covenant according to three goals: 1)
The students compose a “covenant,” which states and ex- “Evangelized individuals,” or how committed members
pounds upon their charism. To aid the members in living of the household are to deepening their love of the Lord;
out the covenant, they draw up a list of commitments— 2) “Evangelized group evangelizing others,” or how well
things such as common prayer, regular meetings, service the household, as a group, has followed Christ, empow-
projects, group activities, and attending Mass together ered by the Spirit, according to their covenant; and 3)
regularly. The ladies of Madonna of the Streets, for ex- “Group evangelizing world,” or how well the household,
ample, pray as a household outside an abortion mill once as a group, has been “salt and light” to transform the sur-
a month. rounding culture by Jesus’ saving love.
The household chooses one of its members to be the These goals capture the motivation behind the house-
leader, called the coordinator, who receives training and holds. Households exist to help students mature as
serves as the principal contact with the University. A Christians in body, mind, and spirit. They exist to form
non-student adult—faculty, staff, alum, or other appro- men and women who are able and eager to form rela-
priate individual—serves as household advisor, provid- tionships rooted in the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit.”
ing stability and mentoring. Households foster an atmosphere where no student is
A group officially becomes a household when the Uni- left alone. Students learn to be their brother or sister’s
versity approves its covenant. The new household gets a keeper, and take on the cares and worries, joys and suc-
room in a residence hall wing as its own common room, cesses of their fellows.
which they are free to paint and decorate as they de- At flourishing Franciscan University, the transforming
sire. The coordinator and as many members as possible love of Christ turned a cultural crisis into a cultural con-
live in the rooms near their common room. A Mass at version. Now, neighbors know each other’s name, and
the beginning of the school year and the “Household upperclassmen seek out troubled underclassmen with a
Olympics” celebrate household life. Households form caring concern rooted in the love of Christ.
intramural sports teams, evangelize on and off campus,
take part in campus committees and activities, and run Father David Morrier, TOR, is the Coordinator of House-
vending booths at campus events. hold Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville. For more
information on households, or a copy of the Household Co-
But households are not, and must not become, merely ordinator Handbook, please contact him at (740) 283-6335.
social clubs—those that do usually dwindle and become More information, including a short video, can also be found
extinct. All household activities must be rooted in and in the campus life section of www.franciscan.edu.
6
Teaching Moral Theology on a Catholic
Campus: An Interview with Dr. William May
Editor’s Note: Dr. William E. May faith and reason and team-taught by a philosopher and a
is emeritus Michael J. McGivney theologian. They could also cooperate in teaching cours-
Professor of Moral Theology es on the moral life and bioethics.
at the John Paul II Institute for
Studies on Marriage and the What place does bioethics have in a Catholic college
Family at The Catholic Univer- curriculum?
sity of America. He became
Senior Research Fellow of the It has a central place. It is in the area of bioethics that
Culture of Life Foundation in the contemporary dualistic anthropology that severs the
2008. This interview was con- “person” (i.e., the experiencing subject) from his or her
ducted by Evangeline Jones, body which is regarded as a privileged instrument of the
who previously served as the deputy director of The Center.
person and part of the sub-personal world over which
Dr. May, most Catholic colleges require between one the “person” has been given dominion is operative in
and three courses in theology or religious studies, such issues as contraception, abortion, euthanasia, in vi-
sometimes granting such a wide choice of courses tro fertilization, suicide and euthanasia, embryonic stem
that no Catholic theology is mandated. Should Catho- cell research, etc.
lic moral theology be a required area of study? How
Most of those in the bioethics industry distinguish be-
should it be approached?
tween living human beings (e.g., human embryos, the
A minimum of four three-hour courses in theology (not senile and “vegetative,” those severely mentally handi-
religion) should be required, and the professors should capped, etc.) and “persons.” They grant, for instance,
all be persons who accept gladly Magisterial teaching. that human embryos are human beings, but they are not
Since so many undergrads have had very poor cateche- “persons” with rights. Thus it’s okay to kill them. If they
sis, the first course should be a presentation of Catho- were chimpanzee or panda embryos they would not dare
lic faith as a whole. The Catechism of the Catholic Church kill them to get their stem cells, because those species
could be used or at least the Compendium. Or perhaps are endangered, and if they tried to kill them the PETA
an excellent “Introduction to the Catholic Faith,” mak- society would make it rough for them. On this see the
ing use of the CCC and Vatican II documents, could brilliant book castigating the bioethics establishment by
be offered. This course should cover the Nicene Creed, Leon Kass, Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity.
explaining clearly each of its articles, the Sacraments of
What is the significance and likely impact of Dignitas
the Church, and the nature of Christian moral life as a
Personae for teaching bioethics and moral theology?
living out of our baptismal commitment to be faithful
members of the divine family. Dignitas Personae is not, in my judgment, quite as sig-
nificant as its predecessor Donum Vitae. To a large extent
There also should be a good course in biblical theology,
the new document does not articulate the basic anthro-
another on the documents of Vatican Council II, and
pological, theological, and ethical considerations central
another on Catholic moral life offering in particular
to evaluating contemporary developments in bioethics
Catholic teaching on marriage and sexual morality and
but rather reaffirms quite strongly and appropriately the
giving good reasons to show that this teaching is true.
principles and values so magnificently set forth in Do-
There could, and I think should be, cooperation be- num Vitae.
tween the departments of theology and philosophy with
Among the principal values of this new document are
a course devoted perhaps to the relationship between
the following: its excellent treatment of some new forms
7
of artificially generating human life such as intracyto- theologians had indeed done this (see Veritatis Splendor,
plasmic sperm injection, its strong condemnation of no. 4, par. 3).
cloning and the terrible indignity on human life in-
flicted by the cryopreservation of human embryos. Of These theologians, among them Joseph Fuchs (who said
special significance are the sections of Dignitas Personae that the teaching of the Church on moral questions is
concerned with genetic therapy and its basic forms and to be taken “cum grano salis”), Louis Janssens, Richard
with the use of “human biological material” of illicit ori- McCormick, Bernard Haering and many others, were
gin. Some sections of the document allow for different very influential. Their students (e.g., Charles Curran)
interpretations; in my opinion the teaching in Donum soon were teaching in seminaries around the world so
Vitae was in no way ambiguous, whereas this does seem that by the 1970s when I was teaching at The Catholic
to be the case of a few places in Dignitas. Several serious University of America, the seminarians whom I taught
issues, such as gamete intrafallopian tube transfer and (only after they had received their course in fundamental
the proper way to cope with ectopic pregnancy, hotly moral theology from Father Curran) all manifested the
debated by theologians loyal to the Magisterium, are not “hermeneutic of suspicion,” i.e., they all seemed to think
considered. One hopes that these and similar issues will that if the Church (the Magisterium) taught something
be addressed in the near future. it was probably false! It was not until the mid-1980s or
so that this situation improved somewhat.
What are the benefits and limitations of courses in
professional ethics (“legal ethics,” “business ethics,” What do you foresee will be the future path for the
etc.)? How can Catholic moral teaching be incorpo- study of moral theology in Catholic colleges and uni-
rated in these areas that often rely upon codes of versities over the next couple of decades?
professional conduct developed from a relativistic Several recent graduates of good centers—e.g., the Pon-
perspective? tifical John Paul II Institute in the U.S. and other places,
I think it’s possible to find courses in law and business the Pontificia Università Santa Croce in Rome [Opus
compatible with and indeed contributing to Catholic Dei], the Pontificia Ateneo Regina Apostolorum in
moral thought. I think of the Ave Maria School of Law, Rome [Legionaries of Christ], and other centers of this
Notre Dame Law School with Gerard V. Bradley and kind—provide hope that the future will improve. More
the great John Finnis, and there are other places. Opus recently we can include the Academia Alphonsiana in
Dei has a great business school at the Universidad de Rome and the Catholic University of America under
Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and I think the Acton In- the leadership of David O’Connell, C.M., plus a new
stitute and some other organizations are working hard and terrific group of Jesuit theologians loyal to the Mag-
in this area. isterium (Kevin Flannery and Luis Ladaria at the Gre-
gorian in Rome, John McDermott and others at Sacred
You have written that Vatican II called for a renewal of Heart Seminary, and others), plus new congregations
theology as a whole, and of moral theology in particu- such as the Institute of the Incarnate Word (founded
lar, “in part because many had lost sight of the intimate in Buenos Aires and with a house of formation in the
bonds uniting the truths of salvation to the moral life, Archdiocese of Washington with some students at the
and the unity of the moral and spiritual life.” How was Pontifical John Paul II Institute), and the seminaries op-
this problem reflected within the discipline of theology? erated throughout the world by the Neocatecumate.
Dissenting theologians who justified contraception us- Moreover, there are solid Catholic colleges and univer-
ing an argument that later became known as “propor- sities—most identified clearly in The Newman Guide to
tionalism” and whose anthropology reduced the human Choosing a Catholic College on this matter with the addi-
body itself to part of the subhuman world over which tion of Providence College which now, under the presi-
the “person” has dominion, severed the bond between dency of Brian Shanley O.P., is a great place to add to
the truths of salvation and the moral life and the unity places like Franciscan University of Steubenville, Uni-
of the spiritual and moral life. In fact, Pope John Paul versity of St. Thomas in Houston, etc.
II called attention to the fact that some contemporary
8
How do you think the religious, moral and ethical cli- fering persecution will first be necessary. In the coming
mate on Catholic college campuses will look ten years years we may, as a result of various forces, lose our free-
from now? dom to act in accordance with our religious convictions
and as a result suffer financial disaster, perhaps impris-
I hope that we will witness a true re-evangelization of onment, and perhaps martyrdom. But God is with us
the now thoroughly secular west including Europe and and we should not fear.
the U.S. I pray we will. But much work and perhaps suf-
The aim of the Summer Catholic Social Thought (CST) Institute—co-sponsored by the Society of Catholic Social
Scientists and The Center for the Advancement of Catholic Higher Education—is to provide Catholic faculty and
graduate students in the social sciences and related disciplines a basic grounding and application of Catholic social
thought in order to help them to incorporate the academic social sciences into a Catholic worldview. To this end,
the Summer CST Institute provides an intensive, stimulating and practical weeklong introduction to Catholic Social
Thought, emphasizing both theory and application to specific academic disciplines in the arts and human sciences.
The week (Monday through Friday) is organized around four 90-minute sessions a day. Each session is about
half lecture and half discussion. In a typical week:
Monday’s four sessions are devoted to thematic and historical overviews of CST, including the Compendium
of the Social Doctrine of the Church and Ex corde Ecclesiae. Tuesday deals with the history, development and
exemplars of Catholic social science.
The remainder of the week is devoted to applications to specific social science content areas, each taught
by an expert in the respective discipline. Disciplines typically covered are Psychology, Political Science, Law,
History, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, and Business.
The Institute venue is a short walk from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the John Paul II
Cultural Center, and more than 50 Catholic religious houses, shrines, institutes, and apostolates. Numerous
apostolates and agencies related to Catholic social justice issues in Washington, D.C., are a short subway
trip away. Participants may also participate in daily Mass at the National Shrine or Lauds or Matins at one of
several nearby Franciscan or Dominican monasteries.
The Summer Institute is directed by the Rev. Dr. Paul Sullins, Professor of Sociology at The Catholic Univer-
sity of America, and editor of Catholic Social Thought: American Responses to the Compendium (Rowman
and Littlefield, 2008). The tuition fee for an individual participant in the weeklong Summer Institute is $600. An
institution may sponsor up to two individuals for $1,000. These fees are subsidized through generous dona-
tions to this project and do not represent the full cost of producing the week-long Summer Institute. A limited
number of scholarships are available for individual enrollees as needed.
For more information please contact Father Paul Sullins, St. Ignatius of Loyola Fellow in Catholic Identity at
The Center for the Advancement of Catholic Higher Education, for more information. 202/319-5445 or e-mail
psullins@cua.edu.
9
Catholic Identity in Action
College and Bishop Work a Cultural Center in Nicaragua, to work with Domini-
Together: In the Classroom cans in Kenya, to research at Blackfriars Hall at Oxford
University focused on “the new atheism.”
In June, for the second year in a row, students in the
Graduate and Professional program at Saint Joseph’s
College in Standish, Maine will find that their professor Notre Dame Considers Pro-Life Recommendations
is a shepherd—actually, their shepherd. Following the University of Notre Dame’s commence-
His Excellency Richard Malone, bishop of Portland ment honors to President Barack Obama last May, a fac-
Maine will teach a two-week intensive course on the ulty-staff task force was created to respond to concerns
teachings of the Second Vatican Council and their im- about Notre Dame’s commitment to Catholic teaching
plications for the life and mission of the Church. on the sanctity of human life. The task force issued pre-
liminary recommendations in January, including: adop-
The course will examine some of the major themes of tion of a university statement supporting Catholic pro-
the Council, consider theological developments leading life teaching and a pro-life policy on charitable gifts and
up to Vatican II, and explore how the Council’s teach- investments; ensuring that the university community is
ing has been received and is being implemented in the aware of current policies to support pregnant students;
United States. sending the university president or his delegate to each
annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and in sim-
In an introduction for students Bishop Malone writes: ilar forms of pro-life witness; supporting undergraduate
“During our time together, we will explore some of the research opportunities with pro-life topics and support-
central and abiding doctrines of the Council, guided pri- ing educative efforts on campus, such as conferences,
marily by the documents of the Council, and enriched consultations, and courses; and encouraging student and
by scholarly insights and our own reflections. We will alumni pro-life activities.
give special attention to the ongoing challenges facing
the Church in the implementation of the Council’s vi-
sion....” Simply Catholic: Benedictine Marries
Pro-Life, Social Justice Issues
Catholic Identity Fellowships Presentations on a conservative approach to social justice
Send Students on Missions and the Catholic Worker movement took center stage
at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., during the
In February, Providence College’s Office of Mission and first week of March. The school’s annual Social Justice
Ministry named five students as recipients of the Father Week, now in its 22nd year, was designed to give student
Philip A. Smith, O.P., Student Fellowships for Study groups related to social issues a chance to gain a focus on
and Service Abroad. campus. Participating groups included the Benedictine
The Father Smith fellowships encourage students to College Hunger Coalition and Ravens Respect Life.
deepen their understanding of the Catholic and Do- The week started with a presentation sponsored by Bene-
minican intellectual tradition and the philosophy of dictine’s Ravens Respect Life club. Later in the week,
Christian service. The students are enabled to partici- the college’s Hunger Coalition hosted a talk by Michael
pate in summer study or service at both Catholic and Baxter, Assistant Professor of Theology at the University
Dominican sites outside the United States. Planned of Notre Dame. Baxter is a noted expert on the Catholic
student mission trips for the summer vary from work at Worker Movement.
10
Threats to Catholic Identity, continued...
morally licit to compromise on insurance coverage for surance Coverage of Contraceptives for Catholic Col-
contraceptives? leges and Universities,” the attorneys of The Becket Fund
for Religious Liberty explain that Catholic institutions
Dr. Marie Hilliard of the National Catholic Bioethics can challenge government mandates based on state con-
Center doesn’t think so. In a paper republished by The stitutional language, the First Amendment, federal and
Center, titled “Contraceptive Mandates and Immoral state “Religious Freedom Restoration Acts” and various
Cooperation,” Hilliard argues that employer contribu- anti-discrimination statutes.
tions for contraceptive coverage “indicate immediate
material cooperation with an intrinsic evil.” She also But The Becket Fund also issues a clear warning: These
warns of growing government intrusion if Catholic em- protections are subject to the requirement that claims be
ployers consent to contraceptive mandates, including sincere, or “bona fide.” Courts are competent to judge
future mandates to cover assisted suicide and recognize whether a religious belief is “sincerely held,” and “in-
same-sex marriages—only recently a problem faced by sincere religious beliefs enjoy neither constitutional nor
the Archdiocese of Washington. statutory protection.”
The Center has also turned to an expert in Catholic “In the context of Catholic colleges and universities, first
insurance plans to recommend how colleges and other acting inconsistently with the school’s religious identity
Catholic employers might work around state mandates. and then later claiming a religious exemption (after a
In a Center paper titled “Crafting Employee Health lawsuit has been filed) is unlikely to succeed,” the at-
Plans for Catholic Institutions,” Dean Burri, owner and torneys caution.
CEO of Burri and Company, assures Catholic employ-
ers that they have options to help protect health plans.
The paper offers advice on self-funded, federally regu- Resources for Catholic Leaders
lated plans that avoid state mandates and comments on
tactics such as splitting off drug coverage from health To access the following papers in the Studies in
plans and pooling with other employers to reduce insur- Catholic Higher Education series, published by
ance costs. The Center for the Advancement of Catholic Higher
Education, see CatholicHigherEd.org.
“For many institutions, employee health insurance is the
second largest expense after payroll,” Burri notes. “Yet
most will spend less time on their health plan than mun- “Contraceptive Mandates and Immoral Coopera-
dane purchases such as computers or telephone plans. tion,” by Marie T. Hilliard, JCL, Ph.D., R.N., Nation-
Given the increasing dangers to Catholic institutions al Catholic Bioethics Center
because of federal and state regulation of employee ben-
efits, it is critical for Catholic institutions to take a fresh “Crafting Employee Health Plans for Catholic In-
look at their health insurance decisions.” stitutions,” by Dean Burri, CEO, Burri & Company
Ultimately, however, no plan is fully immune from
government intrusion—especially if the EEOC ruling “Implications of Mandatory Insurance Coverage of
against Belmont Abbey College stands—unless Catho- Contraceptives for Catholic Colleges and Universi-
lic leaders defend their rights. ties,” by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
11
Latest from The Center
Studies in Catholic Higher Education
Considering Catholic Honors and Platforms Enhancing a Catholic Intellectual Culture
by Patrick J. Reilly by Rev. Paul Sullins, Ph.D.
The selection of individuals and organizations for Catho- Rejecting secular and Protestant norms and ideals, Cath-
lic honors and platforms has been a matter of some con- olic universities today must assert a distinctive Catholic
troversy for many years. Bishops and Catholic entities intellectual culture featuring the unity of faith and rea-
have responded with concern and even formal policies to son, the acceptance of magisterial teaching and an active
help prevent confusion and scandal. Notre Dame’s 2009 critique of culture. Such a Catholic intellectual culture
commencement honors for President Obama generated will foster Catholic intellectuals and dispose students to
widespread interest in practical solutions to maintain the truth, and has the potential to preserve and restore
Catholic identity and respect for Catholic teaching at elements of reason and humanity that are being lost in
Catholic institutions. This paper is intended to assist Western civilization. Specific institutional strategies for
those who are developing diocesan or other policies on promoting a distinctive Catholic intellectual culture are
Catholic honors, by discussing key issues and the poli- discussed and institutional strategies for promoting a
cies and statements of bishops and the Vatican. Catholic intellectual culture are suggested.
How to
Keep Your
n is a division of
University
Catholic
udy Catholic colleges The Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education is a division of
de Ecclesiae and in a The Cardinal Newman Society. The Center’s mission is to study Catholic colleges
e Catholic Church. and universities in accordance with the guidelines of Ex corde Ecclesiae and in a
manner faithful to the Holy Father and Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
A collection of essays on the renewal of Catholic higher education by
Most Rev. David Ricken, Rev. Msgr. Stuart Swetland, Very Rev. J. Augustine DiNoia,
org Center publications are available online at CatholicHigherEd.org.
Rev. Joseph Koterski, Very Rev. David O’Connell, and Dr. John Hittinger
with a foreword by The Hon. Kenneth Whitehead
Revised Third Edition
by Rev. Leonard A. Kennedy, C.S.B.
CatholicHigherEd.org
New Preface
by Rev. Msgr. Stuart Swetland