Catholic associations and universities must be identifiably Catholic or face the possibility of "evangelical pruning" by means of the Vatican.

Catholic associations and universities must be identifiably Catholic or face the possibility of "evangelical pruning" by means of the Vatican, according to Archbishop Michael Miller, who delivered the Terrance Keeley Vatican discourse at the University of Notre Dame last October. Miller is the secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education. He analyzed the writings of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is now pontiff Benedict XVI, to advise institutions in the United States for what reason the new pope might approach Catholic higher education.

The watcher Notre Dame's student newspaper, reported that Miller told his audience that the pontiff has argued that "it might be better for the house of worship not to expend its resources trying to conserve institutions if their Catholic identity has been seriously compromised. His writings present to view that a time of purification lies ahead, and this undoubtedly will have near ramifications for Catholic institutions." Miller said the bishop of rome might choose to "prune" institutions whose Catholic identity has been diluted.

Pressure from the Vatican is nothing recently made known for U.S. colleges and universities. In 1990 bishop of rome John Paul II issued an "apostolic constitution" forward Catholic higher education titled Ex Corde Ecclesiae. Designed to strengthen ties between the Vatican and Catholic higher education, it requires Catholic professors of theology at Catholic institutions to obtain a "mandate," or ecclesiastical license, from the local bishop in order to teach. The requirement is meant to render certain that the professors teach "authentic Catholic doctrine" to their students

According to Miller's articulate utterance the new pope's agenda widens beyond that goal to larger issues of Catholic identity onward campus. Miller also noted that the pontiff would like to see stronger ties between U and European universities and institutions across the world, especially in impoverished regions of Africa.

In a separate increase the Vatican ordered an inspection of U seminaries and theological place of educations last 611 to look for evidence of homosexuality and for faculty who dissent from ecclesiastical body teachings. Teams of bishops and priests are visiting campuses to interview faculty, close examiners and graduates. This effort tread on the heels ofs a widely reported scandal in which Catholic ministers sexually abused children. Critics, pointing gone out that pedophilia is not associated with a particular sexual orientation, have argued that the Vatican is blaming gay ministers for the scandal instead of acting against body of christians leaders who failed to discipline priests they knew to be abusive. In late November, the Vatican announced a strange policy that bans from the priesthood candidates who "practice homosexuality," have "deep-seated homosexual tendencies," or support the "so-called gay culture"

"It's not certain that the church's 'evangelical pruning' would have long impact on Catholic higher education," says AAUP staff member Martin Snyder a former Catholic college edifice [i]or[/i] building president. "The institutional church contributes virtually nothing in either finances or personnel to the vast majority of Catholic guilds and universities. In addition, independent lay boards typically determine institutional policies. External interference from local bishops or urgency groups is likely to engagement board resistance and would certainly raise serious questions about academic freedom."

-WM

Nota Bene was written by the agency of Gwendolyn Bradley, Erika Gubrium, Wendi Maloney, and Ann Springer.

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