11 - 20 of 33 Comments

1. Pat

   4 years ago

   What is Catholic identity anymore? Does anyone know? What happened to an identity based off of Jesus Christ, the son of God who said to "love God with all of your heart, and to love your neighbor as your love yourself." Jesus Christ challenges us to respect all human life --in all walks of life. That is our Catholic Identity. When we get back on track, I would imagine the "lukewarm Catholics" will soon follow.

2. Paul

   4 years ago

   Ed,
   
   The government has nothing to do with this mess. Catholic schools are losing thier identity not due to the govenment, but due to their lukewarmness of faith. True leadership placed in faith in Christ will yeild tremendous results at any Christian university. Deacon Keith's article and example of Franciscan University is a glowing example of that.
   
   Let's place the blame where it lies. With the failure of those leading the universities to be firm in thier Catholic Identity.

3. Joseph

   4 years ago

   We have to be honest. Over recent decades cafeteria catholics and outright apostates to the Faith have been allowed by the Hierarchy, openly or tacitly, through indifference or complacency, to infiltrate many of our Catholic educational institutes. The kind of outrageous denial of the Faith we are now seeing by many of those institutes is the result and whether we like it or not we are finally going to have to deal with this issue head on. The Hierarchy and all true Catholics are going to have to get tough, get rigorous, get disciplined. If we are to prevent our Catholic institutes from losing their Catholic identity and mission then robust, firm action has to be taken at the highest levels; the stables have to be cleaned out. Question is - Have we the guts and the strength of Faith to do it?

4. Ed

   4 years ago

   Welcome to the problem of government funding, including student loans, grants, and including school vouchers. Once a school accepts the funding, they can be forced to act against their catholic beliefs.
   
   The carrot might taste good, but beware of the inevitable stick.

5. Mary Warren

   4 years ago

   To Andy: In love we stand up for what is right. There is no judging of the administrators of these schools but a call to brothers and sisters to get back on track as a Catholic school with authentic values and faith.
   
   We need more Father Scanlans to be the presidents of these schools and have the courage to return to original values. This would be far better than severing ties to these Catholic schools. We all need these schools and they need us. So pray, write, pray, and speak out and peacefully demonstrate, pray and withhold monies til we get their attention and PRAY.
   
   

6. Paul

   4 years ago

   This is very disturbing that this is even an issue. I want Catholic universities that are in love with Catholicism, the Gospel, and Jesus. Not schools that seem to only be thinking about lining thier pockets.
   
   Jay the only two colleges in the Bay Area that are Jesuit besides USF are Santa Clara and the Jesuit Theological School at Berkley.

7. rockets1redglare

   4 years ago

   Re: other two Catholic Universities in the Bay Area - St Mary in Moraga and Santa Clara University

8. Cammie

   4 years ago

   "One cannot forget that there will be no Catholic Schools, at any level, without money to run them. After spending fifty some years in these institutions I know the gut wrenching decisions that need to be made. Were the program contributing it share to the University, it would not be cut. "
   
   In response to this comment, I wasn't aware that the sole purpose of teaching theology in our Catholic Schools was to make money. Perhaps what the program contributes to society and to catholicism is theological training... And the fact that the school is starting three new masters programs, as stated in the article, shows that they aren't hurting so badly that they need to step away from their mission statement.

9. Lisa

   4 years ago

   What's with the Jesuits???!!! I am so disgusted with their liberal theology that has confused more Catholics about the stand of the Church and have led them astray from the Faith. I pray for their conversion, lest that millstone be wound around their necks! Fr. Mitch Pacwa, what's happening to your order????

10. Bob C

    4 years ago

    Sadly, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI saw this secularization movement of the US Catholic Church formenting and growing for decades. Practicing Catholics will be socially shunned,...soon.

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