Note that the islamopalian priestess teaches at Seattle U., a Jesuit university (and probably fits in just fine).

Rev. Privet...let’s see is the the priest who flew all the way cross country to swear Nancy Pelosi in as Speaker?
Nancy Pelosi, we know her, she supports the legality of abortion. She voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 and earlier attempts at similar bans. She voted in favor of the 1998 Abortion Funding Amendment, which allowed the use of district funds to promote abortion-related activities.[40] She has also voted in favor of using federal funds to perform abortions in overseas military facilities, against parental notification when a minor is transported across state lines for an abortion, and in favor of providing funding for organizations working overseas that promote or perform abortions and abortion-related activities.

Yeah Reverend...why would anyone criticize the Jesuits about following Catholic Doctrine?
Meanies....

Please be aware that even Catholic colleges that require faculty to sign that they will “not teach anything contrary to the teachings of the Church” do not silence philosophers, historians, sociologists, political scientists and even faculty in religion departments from teaching about people, writers and social and religious movements that are hold positions and beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of the church.  These same colleges are very careful about what goes on in Theology classes.

While all three schools in this area have agreements that they can swap facility, I’m at the Scared Heart of Mary, which has professors coming over more from CUA (founded by U.S. RC bishops) so no direct exposure to the Jesuits. However considering the last new report I read of discipline involved that very school and a few other reports from those who have been employed there, I think Weigel has cause for concern. Good for the RCC for watching minding those who teach.

And there is increasing chatter from the masses and the leaders about enforcing church doctrine. Wish that certain others [ahem] would do the same!

If you can’t enforce church doctrine, then (selectively) enforce church canons!

(Congrats to Greg on the new look:  The side-by-side presentation of News and Features on the front page is a major improvement.)

(Point of view: Convert to the Roman Catholic Church)
It can come as no surprise to Rev. Privett that there is huge concern about the state of the Jesuit order: it is a very “hot” topic.  Small orthodox Catholic colleges have been established as alternatives to well-established universities that are at least nominally (Jesuit) Catholic.  Believe me, he knows that.

In 1990, John Paul II issued “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” to (in part) address the problem of Jesuit-run universities.  Recently, the “Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College” was published to provide assistance for parents who do not want to see the faith of their children actively undermined at college.

Yes, the Roman Church seems to be moving to more orthodox practices (the theology has not changed), but the outcome is far from certain.  Some of the posters on this site appear to see the RCC as monolithic with a strong governing hierarchy ... even a kind of dictatorship.  But that is not how it functions.  The Holy Father’s powers are much more limited than those outside of the RCC understand.

I read Stand Firm because the issues that the Anglican/Episcopalian orthodox face are the same or similar to those faced by orthodox in the RCC.  In a sense, I feel like this site provides information and training for the spiritual hand-to-hand combat with our society.

#4 facility = faculty

You know things are bad when one of the Roman Catholic Church’s official criteria for whether or not a college can legitimately claim to be Catholic is that at least 51% of the faculty must be Catholic.  Or when more and more schools distance themselves from their origins by a sleight-of-hand trick like calling themselves not a Catholic college, but one standing “in the Catholic tradition.” Likewise, Boston College, among other leading Jesuit colleges, now describes itself as being “in the Jesuit tradition.”

Hmmm.  Maybe that’s sort of as if nearby Harvard were to claim to be “in the Puritan tradition.” Of course, Harvard wouldn’t even want to do that, but it makes about as much sense.

As usual, George Weigel is right.

David Handy+

at least 51% of the faculty must be Catholic.

Well, it’s not like we have a trademark on the word.  A lot of posters here would be in deep goo if we did. 

"You know things are bad when one of the Roman Catholic Church’s official criteria for whether or not a college can legitimately claim to be Catholic is that at least 51% of the faculty must be Catholic”

Perhaps. But the 51% RC criterion is the sort of superficiality one might get from traditionalist Curiacs. Notre Dame is no less Roman Catholic for having George Marsden and Mark Noll on its faculty. And some of the more secularized RC institutions would be no more RC for having more nominal RCs on their faculties.

Irenaeus (#10),

I agree with you.  That was my point in #8.  When superficial criteria like the 51% rule are used, that isn’t enough to guarantee that a Catholic school stays authentically Catholic. 

One of the problems the more elite RC schools face is the need for renewing the institution’s formal accreditation at least once a decade or so.  The accrediting bodies are highly secularized and prone to be politically correct.  Another problem is that colleges and universities now face incresing competition for attracting students.  As a result, RC schools often seek to broaden their appeal beyond their core constituency of the Catholic young people in the country.  But inevitably, in trying to draw more Protestant students, the Catholic identity of the schools tends to be compromised.

And that is why some Catholic colleges are taking a very different approach and proudly boasting of being very traditionally Catholic in their teaching and standards of community life.  Successful examples would be Ave Maria in Florida and Christendom College in Virginia.  They are as proudly and staunchly Roman Catholic as my alma mater Wheaton is proudly Evangelical.  May their tribe increase!

David Handy+

Don’t forget Thomas Aquinas.