Catholics largest religious group at Southern Methodist University

Published: 2004-10-27

DALLAS (CNS) -- Is it "Southern Methodist" or "Southern Catholic-Methodist" University that is the pride of Dallas? The number of Catholics at Southern Methodist University has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Catholics now comprise more than one-fifth of the institution's total population, making them the largest faith group at the university, according to SMU surveys. This is the first year that Catholics have taken the clear lead as the largest faith group, although the number worshipping at campus Masses indicated the trend. In the fall of 2004, according to the university's Office for Institutional Research, SMU's enrollment was 10,161 for undergraduate and graduate students and those in the university's law and theology schools. That would mean more than 2,000 Catholic students. "We certainly can say with some definitiveness that the Catholic population is the largest self-identified group on campus and is the largest worshipping student community on campus," said Judy Henneberger, assistant university chaplain.

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