Is Georgetown University Still Catholic? Will ask on Thursday president of Cardinal Newman Society

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Washington D.C., Feb 1, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- This Thursday, the Lecture Fund at Georgetown University will welcome Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, to campus to ask an important question that is bound to open a broader debate within the university community: Is Georgetown still Catholic?

The Cardinal Newman Society is a national organization dedicated to the renewal of Catholic identity at Catholic colleges and universities in the United States. It is are an intercollegiate organization of more than 16,000 college leaders, educators, students, alumni, and others.

The School argues that over the past few decades Georgetown has redefined its identity as a Catholic and Jesuit university (it severed its legal ties to the Church in 1969). Over that time, it has evolved from a strong regional university to an internationally recognized research institution attracting students from all over the world. As a result, the university has embodied a strong international character along with a commitment to diversity and openness to students of all faiths.

Georgetown has shown that outside values and beliefs can co-exist with the Jesuit identity that continues to make our university distinct from other top schools.

“A middle ground compatible with other belief systems,” would allow The university to attract a variety of students because of its non-imposing Catholic teachings.

The university values the On-campus Catholic organizations like the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters of America which continue to enjoy thriving memberships, and there is still a sizeable Catholic presence among students — approximately half of the student body is Catholic.

Patrick Reilly and the Cardinal Newman Society is continuing its action to remind Catholic universities of their fundamental identity and how to be both Catholic and places of debate. This follows a remark made by Patrick Reilly on the newly taken position by Notre Dame president on whether Catholic Universities should allow events contrary to the Catholic Faith on their campuses.

Comments: 4

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Charles Wadlow
Kirkland, WA 09/15/2006 01:00 PM EST

Jesus gave us a great example of righteous ANGER when he threw the merchants out of the synagogue.

We must have righteous Anger when morality is thrown assunder in Catholic Schools, and where Catholics leave less Catholic when they attend these universities.

I believe that all Catholic Universities need to come under the control of the diocese, which is the protector of faith and the soldier against heresy.

Cardinal Newman Society is orthodox, which means right teaching. Don't we want the most orthodox Catholic experience on our Catholic Campuses?

The Jesuits are the main culprits and they have lost their way, while only a few of them are still faithful to the warrior spirit of St. Ignatius remain. So many Jesuits are gay, so many Jesuits barely think like an orthodox Catholic. They don't spread the Gospel, in fact they avoid it. They may preach at Mass, but you will never see them try to teach truth to a non-catholic.

They don't want to seem like they want to convert them. These Jesuits are so politically correct that they have truly lost their way. These Liberal non-orthodox Jesuits are repaid though, they have the most declining amount of ordinations out of all the priestly orders for the last 16 years. While Dominicans, some groups of Franciscan Friars and Opus Dei priests are thriving. God is blessing the orthodox orders, while he is letting these other orders die on the vine.

Repent and be saved!

Published by: Rose Marie Isaac
Mississauga, Ontario 02/02/2006 10:14 AM EST

"Moving on to the thousands of young people who pass through the university, the Pope asked: "How do they leave? What culture did they find, assimilate, develop? This is the great challenge: ... to give life to a true Catholic university, one that excels for the quality of its research and teaching and, at the same time, for its faithfulness to the Gospel and to the Church's Magisterium." quoted from an article on CWN in November, 05.

Published by: Michael D. McCaffrey
Yarmouthport, MA 02675 02/01/2006 01:09 PM EST

My understanding of the Cardinal Newman society is that it favors orthodox Catholicism even at the expense of academic freedom and open debate. While statements can be made which favor debate, the proof of the pudding is how great universities treat dissent and even aspects of heretical ideas. Count me as one who is made very nervous by the Cardinal Newman Society and its desire to define some dissenters as “over the line” and not welcome at a great Catholic university. Hot button issues such as homosexuality and abortion belong in this debate. I know where the church stands and agree with her teachings. What I disagree with is establishing an academic “Index of Forbidden Books” so that my education or the education of others can be “pure.” There is too much anger associated with this movement for it to be good.

Published by: jim menagh
El Nido, ca 02/01/2006 12:42 PM EST

farmer you are either pregnant or your not, you either have a molecule or you don't,you are in the world but not of the world, your on one side of the fence or the other or your being vomited. i know what georgetown is and it isn't catholic. to humor them by even asking is to ignore their actions and this truly ignorant.

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