Historian outlines steps to save Catholic identity of universities

Published: 2005-10-07

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) -- Church authorities are acting to keep Catholic universities from suffering the secularization that obliterated the religious identity of Protestant colleges a century ago, historian Philip Gleason told a University of Notre Dame audience Sept. 29. "Tensions are bound to arise. It will be a continuing challenge," said Gleason, who titled his talk "Through Dangers, Toils and Snares" to hint at the hope that "grace has brought us safe so far and grace will lead us home." Gleason, a professor emeritus of history at Notre Dame and author of "Contending With Modernity: Catholic Higher Education in the Twentieth Century," gave the keynote address at the Center for Ethics and Culture's conference, "Joy in the Truth: The Catholic University in the New Millennium."

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