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Catholic Universities Stifle the Faith
SeaMax News ^ | 12/13/2005 | Fr. Michael Reilly

Posted on 12/13/2005 6:36:00 AM PST by Milltownmalbay

Life Site News is reporting on new Australian research which indicates that students are more likely to lose their faith then strengthen it if they attend Catholic Universities.

Pope Benedict XVI, while addressing the students at Rome’s Sacred Heart Catholic University, asked of students at Catholic Universities, “How do they leave? What culture did they find, assimilate, develop?” He may not like the answer.

Dr. Luke Saker, who conducted the research, told the Western Australian Catholic newspaper the Record that “almost all students who graduate from Catholic education regard the Church as irrelevant.” Only 12.8% of 133 Edith Cowan University students polled attended Sunday Mass and 82% rarely or never went to confession. 59% believed that sex outside of marriage was acceptable and 66% agreed with homosexual sex.

This comes on the heels of a larger study in the United States in 2003 which recorded similar results. The American study was conducted by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) and encompassed students at 38 Catholic colleges.

They found that:

•55% of students entering college opposed legal abortions while 57% of graduates favor legal abortion.

•Support for gay marriage increased from 55% among students who entered Catholic schools to 71% by senior year.

•Only 30% of students entering Catholic colleges thought that sex with someone known “for only a very short time” was acceptable while 49% of graduates agreed.

•While 15% of graduating seniors indicated that their faith grew stronger during their college years, 12% of senior who attended non-sectarian colleges reported the same result. Meanwhile, 24% of students at other religious schools (mostly Protestant) say that they grew in their faith.

•Among Catholic students, 9% lost their faith by graduation. While 11% of non-Catholic students converted, because there are less non-Catholics, the universities still had a net loss of 4% in the Catholic population.

Last year, the Cardinal Newman Society issued a 56-page report called The Culture of Death on Catholic Campuses: a Five-Year Review which offers insight into these troubling trends.

The report cited nearly 200 instances of campus speakers who have publicly advocated abortion or other elements of the Culture of Death since 1999. In 2003 alone, 42 Catholic Colleges in the United States were scheduled to present the Vagina Monologues play, a production that features the lesbian seduction of a 16-year-old girl.

The Holy See is not amused and may act soon. Archbishop Michael Miller, second in command at the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, predicted that Pope Benedict will engage in “evangelical pruning” of secularized Catholic universities, declaring that they are no longer Catholic.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholiccolleges; catholics; faith; pope; universities

1 posted on 12/13/2005 6:36:01 AM PST by Milltownmalbay
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To: Milltownmalbay

This isn't earth-shattering news to anyone who cares about Catholic education. I am very heartened, though, to see how seriously the Vatican may take this. Could I hope they might also declare certain "catholic" politicians as apostate...?


2 posted on 12/13/2005 6:44:49 AM PST by pgyanke (I shudder for my country when I reflect that God is just. - (paraphrased) T. Jefferson)
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To: Milltownmalbay

This sort of thing has spread to the mainline denominational seminaries and now even through the fundamentalist evangelical seminaries.

It's the old pattern somebody pointed out that's been going on in cycle after cycle since the first century:
First comes:
1. Revival then
2. Education then
3. Apostacy


3 posted on 12/13/2005 6:44:55 AM PST by RoadTest (Religion never saved a soul - that's Jesus' job.)
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To: Milltownmalbay

The Catholic Education system at all levels is facing a total crisis in Australia.

Why have Catholic schools, universities, etc if they produce fervently anti-Catholic activists?


4 posted on 12/13/2005 6:46:41 AM PST by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: Milltownmalbay

Hardly a surprise when you look at the faculty in many Catholic Universities. Marxists, feminists and uber liberals of every description dominate the faculty of these institutions and are tolerated by their administrations eventhough their lectures and actions are contrary to Catholic teaching.


5 posted on 12/13/2005 6:59:13 AM PST by The Great RJ ("Mir wölle bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
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To: Milltownmalbay

After gay priests, the Catholic education system needs to be next on the Pope's agenda.


6 posted on 12/13/2005 7:02:25 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: Milltownmalbay; NYer; Desdemona; annalex; BlackElk; TXBSAFH
Catholic Ping, Y'all!

Looks like B16 is about to undertake some much needed housecleaning...

7 posted on 12/13/2005 7:04:11 AM PST by TonyRo76 (American by birth. Patriot by choice. Christian by grace.)
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To: TonyRo76
There is a reason he was called God's Rottwieller (SP?).
8 posted on 12/13/2005 7:05:30 AM PST by TXBSAFH ("I would rather be a free man in my grave then living as a puppet or a slave." - Jimmy Cliff)
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To: Milltownmalbay

My undergrad university was catholic and the religion professors were by far the stupidest, most worthless people on campus.


9 posted on 12/13/2005 7:08:15 AM PST by Flightdeck (Longhorns+January=Rose Bowl Repeat)
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To: Milltownmalbay

bump


10 posted on 12/13/2005 7:08:30 AM PST by VOA
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To: Milltownmalbay
Nothing shocking here.

And I doubt Monika Hellwig is dismayed by it.

11 posted on 12/13/2005 7:12:35 AM PST by The Iguana
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To: RoadTest
I don't think "education" is responsible or causal per se.

The danger is you slip into the kind of anti-intellectualism that's long been dominant in many evangelical communities.

I think it's possible to have a first-class higher education institution and still be serious about the faith. Baylor (Southern Baptist in provenance) is doing just that right now. Taking the Catholics for another example, they had a number of such institutions all around the country up until the 1960's.

Then they decided they wanted "respectability" by liberal Protestant peers in the chattering classes...and thought that the Council gave them free reign to privilege "academic freedom" over faith at every turn...

12 posted on 12/13/2005 7:16:39 AM PST by The Iguana
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To: The Iguana

"The danger is you slip into the kind of anti-intellectualism"

But intellectualism is the very problem. Pretty soon man gets so educated he thinks he knows better than God and he re-interprets The Word in his own image. Apostacy


13 posted on 12/13/2005 7:19:15 AM PST by RoadTest (Religion never saved a soul - that's Jesus' job.)
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To: Milltownmalbay
" . . . predicted that Pope Benedict will engage in “evangelical pruning” of secularized Catholic universities, declaring that they are no longer Catholic."

I predicted something like this when Benedict became pope. I think he will issue an ultimatum that the Catholic colleges become truly Catholic or cease to declare themselves Catholic, and that some of the schools - perhaps some very prominent ones - will refuse and will be officially secularized.
14 posted on 12/13/2005 7:38:49 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Milltownmalbay
No surprises here, sadly. Most "Catholic Colleges" are simply CINO.

Thanks be to God, there are a few orthodox Catholic colleges remaining, and they're the only ones that I'll paying for.

15 posted on 12/13/2005 7:49:10 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: RoadTest
But intellectualism is the very problem.

It's a very serious error, but education is a good per se. We all have the responsibility of separating truth from error.

16 posted on 12/13/2005 7:52:30 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Kermit the Frog Does theWatusi
Whatever happened to faculty members at Catholic universities actually being
"Catholic"? That might be something good to...uh...ahem...try again. They also
might want to look into the anti-Catholic secret societies which have infiltrated
Catholic university faculties. That would be a real good idea.
17 posted on 12/13/2005 8:23:36 AM PST by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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"I tell my relatives and best friends, ‘If you want your children to fight for their faith, send them to public school. If you want them to lose their faith, send them to Catholic school.’" Archbishop Fulton Sheen


18 posted on 12/13/2005 9:57:12 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: RoadTest
Jacques Barzun made a point of distinguishing "intellectuals" from "thinkers." Most intellectuals are intellectual parrots.
19 posted on 12/13/2005 10:04:37 AM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
Glad you mentioned the "secret societies". I am convinced that an official cutting off of many of these secular catholic universities would also sever the flow of money that they receive from those very persons who seek to destroy the Catholic Faith.

The money flows to many of the schools as well as dioceses that call themselves Catholic but flout the Truth. They (universities and dioceses)lie,disobey and confuse while claiming it a necessary component of "academic freedom" or "love",whatever works,to enable their primary goal to destroy the Church and Christianity and Western Civilization. Meanwhile many parents still assume that Catholic teaching will continue to teach their children to "Know,love and serve God to be with Him forever in Heaven". Unfortunately good Catholics have been asleep in the pews for a while and/or exposed to such poor catechesis themselves they hardly know what it's all about. But let the learning begin again.

In any case,once the Catholic identity is lost by official pronouncement most of their ill gotten financial support will go also since it was not intended to support true Catholicism,the money is given to assure that good Catholics are transformed into young secular humanists. Without the draw of the Catholic name,they will lose the Catholics they wish to subvert and the game will be over in those arenas.

The "evil one" and his minions on earth don't spend their time and money once they realize there is no payback. This should be very interesting and quite shocking to many queens and weak sisters who have used good Catholics to pay for their excesses and so much more.

When this is over,we will be smaller and stronger,poorer and purer and much more in conformance with the Church that Christ established on earth to bring us back home to the Father.

20 posted on 12/13/2005 10:55:31 AM PST by saradippity
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To: Milltownmalbay

If my homeschooler weren't so intent on a career in the USN, I'd be aiming for a Catholic university education for her. Now Plan B is starting to look a little shaky. Let's hope B16 has the time and the will to fix what's broken. He's got the bully pulpit. :)


21 posted on 12/13/2005 10:57:13 AM PST by Graymatter (Now it's time to say goodbye...to all our company...)
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To: saradippity

The money, the pressure groups, and the smarmy liberal dorks from Ivy League colleges on the faculty flashing hand signs are all part of the "Trojan Horse" which destroyed Catholic colleges. The lavender mafia has just been feeding off the carcass.


22 posted on 12/13/2005 11:35:42 AM PST by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: Milltownmalbay

I went to Loyola, a fine Catholic school....and yet I can see how this could happen. In this PC day and age, most that was Catholic about Loyola was watered down or "balanced" by other views. It was easier to take a class on Buddism than Catholicism....Catholic views were whispered almost with embarrassment and, on the very rare occasion when a firm Catholic belief was presented (ie pro-life) the many non-Catholics at the school would be up in arms...as if they were unaware they were at a Catholic school.

Two speakers I remember being embraced and adored on campus were Jerry Brown and Rob Lowe campaigning for Clinton....enough said...


23 posted on 12/13/2005 12:01:57 PM PST by hilaryrhymeswithrich (It's all about the swagger......)
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To: HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
I always wondered if a lot of those secret handshakes,grips and fingering of palms didn't mean "Hi,hi,I am 'bi';How 'bout you,are you 'bi' too?"

I think much of this goes hand in hand.Disobedience,deception,darkness,secret societies,secret lives.In other words,"The Culture of Death".

24 posted on 12/13/2005 1:34:40 PM PST by saradippity
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To: TonyRo76

Part of that is also early formation.

It's incredibly painful to read these statistics. It hurts right in the heart to see the assult on something you love.


25 posted on 12/14/2005 5:11:39 AM PST by Desdemona (Music Librarian and provider of cucumber sandwiches, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary. Hats required.)
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To: RoadTest
» But intellectualism is the very problem. Pretty soon man gets so educated he thinks he knows better than God...

Indeed! Babel is a classic example, and that experience has been repeated by arrogant mankind ever since.

26 posted on 12/14/2005 6:00:55 AM PST by TonyRo76 (American by birth. Patriot by choice. Christian by grace.)
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To: Desdemona
» It hurts right in the heart to see the assault on something you love.

You're right Des, it hurts all around. It's really appalling how many ways the devil has found to attack God's Church, from within and without.

But it's even more inspiring IMO to see the Church rise up in faith and renewal, under the protection of our Lord, to withstand Satan's assaults and emerge even stronger than before!

What Diocletian, the Umayyads, Voltaire, Nietzsche and the Nazis couldn't do, these nitwit academic hacks at bogus "Catholic/Christian" colleges certainly won't succeed at either!

27 posted on 12/14/2005 6:38:07 AM PST by TonyRo76 (American by birth. Patriot by choice. Christian by grace.)
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To: TonyRo76
What Diocletian, the Umayyads, Voltaire, Nietzsche and the Nazis couldn't do, these nitwit academic hacks at bogus "Catholic/Christian" colleges certainly won't succeed at either!

If the universities were the whole story it wouldn't be so bad. Just conversations with friends can be painful.

28 posted on 12/14/2005 3:30:50 PM PST by Desdemona (Music Librarian and provider of cucumber sandwiches, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary. Hats required.)
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