Be vocal on current issues, speaker tells Catholic college leaders

Published: 2004-02-06

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic universities have a responsibility to address issues that modern society is trying to tackle, said one of the speakers at an annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. "The insight of Catholic teaching should be a voice in current debates," said Helen Alvare, a law professor at The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law and the former spokeswoman for the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Alvare, who addressed more than 200 Catholic college leaders Feb. 1 during their three-day gathering in Washington, urged them to provide research and scholarship on current issues particularly where contemporary culture and the church disagree. But research alone is not enough, she stressed. "There needs to be a translation of findings into language that can be understood by all Catholics," she said, telling her listeners to "go out into the world with your findings." "If you don't, Oprah will," she added. "If Catholic institutions demur when the media is looking for an opinion, others will give it. You have to have some courage initially, but it's important that you do it."

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