Symposium examines identity, role of Catholic higher education

Published: 2007-04-27

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (CNS) -- Archbishop J. Michael Miller, secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, told a symposium on Catholic higher education that he objected to the "bleaching" of Catholic identity and said some Catholic institutions have "ignored, hidden or lost their ecclesial identity." To change this course, he said schools should adopt ways to measure their Catholicity that include making sure a majority of faculty members are Catholic and that scholarship and research are in accord with Catholic teaching. He made the comments at an April 19-22 symposium at the Franciscan University of Steubenville that drew representatives from Catholic colleges and universities in the United States and other countries to discuss the purpose and identity of Catholic higher education. In delivering the opening address April 19, he also said schools' theologians should obtain a "mandatum," or authorization to teach, from their bishop to guarantee they are teaching in conformity with church doctrine.

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