Archbishop Michael Miller
Posted on 11/03/2005 6:41:09 AM PST by NYer
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, November 3, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Vatican's number two education official predicts that Pope Benedict XVI will follow a path of "evangelical pruning" of secularized Catholic colleges and universities, declaring them no longer Catholic.
Archbishop Michael Miller, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education and former president of the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, addressed officials and faculty at the University of Notre Dame on Monday.
Miller said that his prediction was based on an examination of the new Pope's writings and approach. The Pope has argued "that it might be better for the Church not to expend its resources trying to preserve institutions if their Catholic identity has been seriously compromised," Miller said.
In the Holy Father's view, "the measure of an institution can be judged by its Catholic integrity," Miller said. If the institution secularizes, "it might be a matter of truth and justice that such an institution is no longer upheld. . . . [I]f a Catholic institution is no longer motivated by a Catholic identity, it is better to let it go."
"The burden of proof falls on the university itself," Miller added. "Such a decision to retain one's Catholic identity is not about maintaining the status quo, but [rather] making positive changes."
Contrary to the pattern of many Church leaders, who have waited patiently for improvements in Catholic higher education, the Pope "appears to be more inclined to avoid scandal and lead a path of evangelical pruning, but we don't know. We await."
Patrick J. Reilly, President of the Cardinal Newman Society, a national organization to strengthen and renew Catholic identity at U.S. Catholic colleges and universities, commented: "The Cardinal Newman Society has long sought 'truth in advertising' from Catholic colleges and universities, and we have always allied ourselves with the Vatican and the U.S. bishops in this pursuit. The evidence of secularization that we have exposed for more than 12 years is overwhelming and clearly warrants a strong response from Church leaders.
"The 'wait and see' approach generously relied on the goodwill of Catholic educators, but it has only allowed disunity and dissent in the Church to go unchallenged, with disastrous consequences for Catholic students and their families."
Given the case of Katelin Sills, the Vatican may have to revisit the charters of some religious orders.
I like this Pope more and more
Never mind. I found out here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1514665/posts
The march to get back to the bedrock principles of the Church continues apace. Pope Benedict has indeed proven to be the blessing we had prayed for.
It will be interesting to see Jesuit institutions that are not Catholic.
It's about time!
Good! Time for truth in advertising; I'm hoping Georgetown U, across the Potomac from me, will be among the first to lose its "Catholic" status - that rad-lib sewer hasn't been Catholic for at least 40 years.
Yes, long overdue visits.
They can drag it out for decades.
That said, bring it on, B-16.
This is such good news!
Regarding Notre Dame.......well, at least the football team is having an apparent(sp) turn-around!!!
ND Philosophy: good
ND Theology: bad (hopefully getting better under the new prez)
later read/ping.
It's about time, too, and the Vatican could find themselves very, very busy with this...
"evangelical pruning"Good one : )
Methinks this was a not so subtle warning to Notre Dame (specifically Father Richard McBrien) to snap out of its secularist funk or lose its standing as a Catholic university.
Only the vines that bear good fruit shall remain...
They should lose Catholic status. Church teaching is clear. Personally, I'm sick and tired of the anti-Catholic persons pretending to be Catholic.
Here's another one!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1805484/posts
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