New Study Confirms Crisis in Catholic Higher Education
'Catholics should be alarmed by the significant declines in Catholic practice and fidelity at many of America’s Catholic institutions.'
'Everyone expects a Catholic college to be markedly different from a secular one. Students should be inspired to embrace and deepen their Catholic faith, not negotiate around Catholic moral teaching.'
PrintMANNASSAS, VA (Cardinal Newman Society) - Attending a Catholic college has minimal impact on a Catholic student’s practice and embrace of the Catholic faith, according to a new study released Sunday at a gathering of Catholic college presidents in Washington, D.C.
The study was presented to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) by researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
“Catholics should be alarmed by the significant declines in Catholic practice and fidelity at many of America’s Catholic institutions,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “Everyone expects a Catholic college to be markedly different from a secular one. Students should be inspired to embrace and deepen their Catholic faith, not negotiate around Catholic moral teaching.”
The CARA study largely confirms a 2003 study released by The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), which found significant declines in students’ support for Catholic moral teaching on abortion, marriage and sexuality after four years at a Catholic college or university. The declines were generally greater at non-Catholic private and public institutions.
According to the CARA report, 16 percent of students at Catholic colleges and universities become more pro-life and more convinced of traditional marriage, whereas 31 percent become more supportive of legal abortion and 39 percent embrace same-sex “marriage.” Only seven percent increase attendance at religious services, while 32 percent reduce attendance. Eight percent of Catholic students leave the Catholic faith while attending a Catholic institution.
But CARA researchers went a step further, considering the potential impact of a variety of demographic factors on students’ support for Catholic teaching. They found that attendance at a Catholic college has no statistically significant effect on a variety of measures, including students’ support for abortion, the death penalty and same-sex marriage. Students report some improvement in attending religious services (not necessarily Catholic), reading about religion and spirituality (not necessarily Catholic) and deeming it “important to improve the human condition”—a concern that is presumably shared outside the Catholic faith.
Commenting on the study to InsideHigherEd.com, ACCU president Richard Yanikoski argued that the loss of faith at Catholic colleges and elsewhere reflects societal trends. Despite CARA’s analysis showing that the choice of a Catholic college has little significant impact on a student’s faith practice and beliefs, Yanikoski pointed to the raw data indicating that “a typical Catholic undergraduate student attending a Catholic college or university emerges more spiritually intact than if she or he had attended a public or secular private institution, but not nearly as spiritually active as would have been the case a few decades ago.”
“That’s hardly something to celebrate,” Reilly said. “If the ACCU thinks it a happy fact that Catholics lose their faith somewhat slower at Catholic colleges than elsewhere, then they fail to appreciate the concerns of faithful Catholic families.”
In the CARA report (found at http://cara.georgetown.edu), authors Mark Gray and Melissa Cidade state their agreement with The Cardinal Newman Society’s assertion in its 2003 report: “Regardless of where students begin their college journey, Catholic colleges should be helping students move closer to Christ, and certainly doing a better job of moving students toward the Catholic faith than secular colleges do.”
In October 2008, The Cardinal Newman Society published a comprehensive study of practices and beliefs of current and recent students at Catholic colleges and universities. The study, conducted by the reputable Washington, D.C., polling firm QEV Analytics, found that:
Nearly 1 in 5 respondents knew another student who had or paid for an abortion.
* 46% of current and recent students—and 50% of females—said they engaged in sex outside of marriage.
* 84% said they had friends who engaged in premarital sex.
* 60% agreed strongly or somewhat that abortion should be legal.
* 60% agreed strongly or somewhat that premarital sex is not a sin.
* 78% disagreed strongly or somewhat that using a condom to prevent pregnancy was a serious sin.
* 57% agreed strongly or somewhat that same-sex “marriage” should be legal.
* 57% said the experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their participation in Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation.
* 54% of respondents said that their experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their support for the teachings of the Catholic Church.
* 56% said their experience had no effect on their respect for the Pope and bishops.
Both the 2008 and the 2003 CNS reports can be found at www.CatholicHigherEd.org.
The study was presented to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) by researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
“Catholics should be alarmed by the significant declines in Catholic practice and fidelity at many of America’s Catholic institutions,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “Everyone expects a Catholic college to be markedly different from a secular one. Students should be inspired to embrace and deepen their Catholic faith, not negotiate around Catholic moral teaching.”
The CARA study largely confirms a 2003 study released by The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), which found significant declines in students’ support for Catholic moral teaching on abortion, marriage and sexuality after four years at a Catholic college or university. The declines were generally greater at non-Catholic private and public institutions.
According to the CARA report, 16 percent of students at Catholic colleges and universities become more pro-life and more convinced of traditional marriage, whereas 31 percent become more supportive of legal abortion and 39 percent embrace same-sex “marriage.” Only seven percent increase attendance at religious services, while 32 percent reduce attendance. Eight percent of Catholic students leave the Catholic faith while attending a Catholic institution.
But CARA researchers went a step further, considering the potential impact of a variety of demographic factors on students’ support for Catholic teaching. They found that attendance at a Catholic college has no statistically significant effect on a variety of measures, including students’ support for abortion, the death penalty and same-sex marriage. Students report some improvement in attending religious services (not necessarily Catholic), reading about religion and spirituality (not necessarily Catholic) and deeming it “important to improve the human condition”—a concern that is presumably shared outside the Catholic faith.
Commenting on the study to InsideHigherEd.com, ACCU president Richard Yanikoski argued that the loss of faith at Catholic colleges and elsewhere reflects societal trends. Despite CARA’s analysis showing that the choice of a Catholic college has little significant impact on a student’s faith practice and beliefs, Yanikoski pointed to the raw data indicating that “a typical Catholic undergraduate student attending a Catholic college or university emerges more spiritually intact than if she or he had attended a public or secular private institution, but not nearly as spiritually active as would have been the case a few decades ago.”
“That’s hardly something to celebrate,” Reilly said. “If the ACCU thinks it a happy fact that Catholics lose their faith somewhat slower at Catholic colleges than elsewhere, then they fail to appreciate the concerns of faithful Catholic families.”
In the CARA report (found at http://cara.georgetown.edu), authors Mark Gray and Melissa Cidade state their agreement with The Cardinal Newman Society’s assertion in its 2003 report: “Regardless of where students begin their college journey, Catholic colleges should be helping students move closer to Christ, and certainly doing a better job of moving students toward the Catholic faith than secular colleges do.”
In October 2008, The Cardinal Newman Society published a comprehensive study of practices and beliefs of current and recent students at Catholic colleges and universities. The study, conducted by the reputable Washington, D.C., polling firm QEV Analytics, found that:
Nearly 1 in 5 respondents knew another student who had or paid for an abortion.
* 46% of current and recent students—and 50% of females—said they engaged in sex outside of marriage.
* 84% said they had friends who engaged in premarital sex.
* 60% agreed strongly or somewhat that abortion should be legal.
* 60% agreed strongly or somewhat that premarital sex is not a sin.
* 78% disagreed strongly or somewhat that using a condom to prevent pregnancy was a serious sin.
* 57% agreed strongly or somewhat that same-sex “marriage” should be legal.
* 57% said the experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their participation in Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation.
* 54% of respondents said that their experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their support for the teachings of the Catholic Church.
* 56% said their experience had no effect on their respect for the Pope and bishops.
Both the 2008 and the 2003 CNS reports can be found at www.CatholicHigherEd.org.
- - -
The Cardinal Newman Society is dedicated to renewing and strengthening Catholic identity at America's 224 Catholic colleges and universities.This article is used with permission.
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Gee,news from Georgetown yet.isnt this the college that booed the one great Cardinal when he condemned abortion ..off the stage. all of my children are college grads and the one who had the most 'catholic' education...high school then college..fordham universtiy..is the most pagan...this expose is like the various polls we see paraded under the stories of the day...'latest study from princton U states that 38% of those who eat alot have a tendency to gain weight!!!! dur....
It can all be explained by the Rockefellers offering and the Catholic colleges(think Notre Dam,etrc.) accepting monies approximately back in the early sixties. Need more info? Become a member or check out the "New Oxford Review." If you're confused about moral issues, eg moral absolutes before Vatican II, and the popular "moral relativism" of today, NOR will enlighen you.
I'm wondering if anyone has checked out The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio on current Catholic attitudes and prevailing conduct of young people?! One would definitely be encouraged to see the faith lived out on this campus!!
To reply to paul and Tommy, it's not a good thing for the Catholic faith that more students attending Catholic schools are disagreeing with the church's teaching on homosexuality and abortion, but those two issues are not the center of Catholicism or Christianity in general (although abortion can be considered one of the most important in today's world). If more students are accepting the Catholic faith, then isn't that a good thing? I get your point about how being pro-choice and Catholic is pretty hard, if not impossible, but would you rather have more students turning away from the church because of those issues? Trying to enforce uniformity (rather than persuading it) never works in religion. I think the post-Vatican II style of teaching Catholicism to youths is very effective.
The article and ensuing dicussions illustrate the power of mass culture on all of us, especially youth. For example, film and music powerfully shape attitudes and assumptions of reality. The steady diet of liberal and unorthodox (i.e., non-Christian)views through various media are challenging to overcome apart from God's grace and the Church's best efforts. Some seminaries, both Catholic nad Protestant are guilty as well. Ground youth (and adults)in Biblical orthodox teaching so they can critically assess what they hear every day from the culture.
Cyril/Bulbajer,
Having read the article, cant agree with either of you!
I read the article "The Crisis that Isn't" on the Today NCR Blog, Feb. 4, 2010.
I have to say I disagree with this article. The fact remains that if you move away from the Catholic Church on something as important as abortion, I have a hard time comprehending how you can still be Catholic. First and foremost abortion is MURDER..the murder of your child. The difference is the child is a few months younger than when the mother gives birth. If you can kill an innocent child protected in its mothers womb you can do anything. I used to be pro choice when i was in college because thats what is pounded into your head by liberal media and colleges. I thought i was being progressive I mean "Choice" sounds like such a good thing. Then i woke up and realized that the choice to kill an innocent child is not mine to make and it's wrong!
So if you stand for that are you still Catholic?
Moving on to the second point. Students disagreed with the church's stance on same-sex marriage.
Ask yourself if homosexuality is so natural why can't 2 men or 2 women fit together naturally? I'll come back to that ...ask yourself why is there such a push to promote the homosexual agenda..it seems to be all over tv and the internet. The agenda is not simply homosexuality it is a perversion of sexuality in general...homosexuality is just the poster child of that perversion. Now a I saying that the people who do homosexual acts are evil ... absolutely NOT...you have to hate the sin but love the sinner. Just like stealing is wrong and immoral so is immoral sexual behavior..and "homosexuality"is immoral sexual behavior..but so is premarital sex...which i know many in college are guilty of...myself included...so think is it such a stretch for students living sexually immoral lives, and i lived in fraternity houses and dorms, to condone sexual immorality in others? I don't think so...SIN begets SIN
Cyril, I read that article and I agree.
The article I was referring to was "The Crisis that Isn't" on the Today NCR Blog, Feb. 4, 2010.
I think that this article is misleading. I read another article which comments on the same report but has a different conclusion. The report that I am referring to is at "National Catholic Reporter," I hope that some of the readers of "Catholic Online" article will take the time to look at an article which presented another conclusion about Catholic Higher Education.