Pope Benedict XVI’s address to Catholic educators highlighted the special role of Catholic education in the United States and the importance of maintaining academic freedom. Loyola University President, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., attended the conference in Washington, D.C., and believes the pope’s message confirmed the present course taken at Loyola.
Maintaining a Catholic identity can be difficult to attain or even understand, as there are a number of interpretations. As the intellectual and technological environment continues to change, Catholicism – meaning “universal” – also changes. Wildes explained just what it is that makes a Catholic university, Catholic in today’s world.
“The challenge for us is how do we both innovate and, at the same time, keep our focus on our mission,” Wildes said.
But Loyola’s mission statement, approved by the Board of Trustees, says nothing about teaching Catholic doctrine of or instilling a sense of the Catholic faith. How is Loyola different from secular universities?
“Look at what we value,” said Wildes “Look at the structure of our curriculum – it’s grounded in the liberal arts. That is a clear component to me that we’re committed to what I call Catholic humanism.”
Since Vatican Council II, the Church has expanded in the areas of ecumenism (the strive for inter-religious unity) and dialogue between its branches. However, conservative critics feel the Church has gone too far and has lost touch with the central Catholic message.
For example, the Cardinal Newman Society monitors Catholic institutions for straying from Orthodoxy and advocating ideas in conflict with the faith. President of the society, Patrick Reilly viewed the Pope’s speech different from Wildes: “The renewal of Catholic higher education is well underway, and when its history is written, Pope Benedict’s speech today may well be remembered as the tipping point when Catholic colleges finally and irrevocably recommitted themselves to the critical task of authentic Catholic education,” Reilly said on the Newman Society Website.
Curriculum is a major concern for conservative groups. it is possible for a student at Loyola to fulfill all common curriculum requirements for religion without taking any Catholic courses. How does this reconcile with the Catholic mission?
“One of the things that is very clear from the second Vatican Council is the importance of inter-religious dialogue. If somebody comes here that is Buddhist and they can take some courses in Buddhism that help them understand their religious tradition better, then I think that’s great. And I think that’s very faithful to what the Church is asking,” Wildes said.
Wildes said the Catholic faith is reinforced through questioning even when if it sometimes involves objectionable dialogue. In his first year as president, Wildes allowed for the on-campus production of “The Vagina Monologues” after the previous president suspended it due to complaints from the diocese.
In a university wide e-mail Wildes said the play encouraged conversation over the dehumanization of women in society and deserved a place in the campus discussion.
“Loyola University, as a Jesuit university, is rooted in a tradition of Christian humanism that seeks to understand the human experience. To understand that experience – and to improve it in the long term – we must first listen to it,” said Wildes said in the e-mail.
In 1993 Pope John Paul II issued the letter “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” defining the role of the university and requirements of mission. The college of American bishops have debated over the interpretation of the document which calls for statistical majorities of Catholics on campus and official teaching mandates subject to the local bishop for teaching theology.
Wildes said Benedict XVI’s address avoided repeating such subtleties, but rather focused on the overall performance education within the Church.
Steve Heath can be reached at [email protected]
