commenter
A small number of colleges formerly listed as Catholic are now publicly identified as non Catholic.
Correct because those colleges became independent secular controlled colleges as the religious orders that ran them, sold them. They kept the Catholic indentity until the Bishop removed it.
Such is not the case for Notre Dame which is still controlled by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, which has Papal approval and comes under the authority of the Pope, not a Diocesan Bishop. Its why the local Bishop has a hard time dealing with them.
The Cardinal Newman Society, on a national level, and on a local level lay groups, have petitioned bishops to take that action. Taking the Catholic name off would help, but not enough, as the Holy Cross Fathers provide “cover” so parents and alumni still send money and students there.
The Cardinal Newman Society is not a religious order. Its was and named after Cardinal Newman, but is not under the direct authority of the Pope, but the local Bishops in the dioceses where they exist. A Bishop has the authority to shut them down.
The Holy Cross Fathers are very dependent on laity around the country to raise funds and support vocations. If laity and Catholic organizations were, on a national scale, stop supporting this religious order, and encourage potential seminarians to seek out a different religious order, then the various leaders in that community would demand this group at Notre Dame either bring about restoration of Catholicism, or if they can’t do that, to separate itself totally from the university.
Well support for the Holy Cross Fathers has not stopped and there are plenty of alumni members to Notre Dame to prevent a secular take over, or the renunciation of their Catholic Identity. It won’t happen in my lifetime and having Joe Biden receive the award isn’t going to make it happen either.
An explicitly secular university, where students and parents know exactly what they are getting, is much less dangerous than a university that is supposedly Catholic, and intermittently a little Catholic, in parts. Unfortunately, at this late date, ND is probably a lost cause. The orthodox clergy currently at ND will find important ministry at an authentic Catholic institution or parish.
Notre Dame is a University and prides itself on providing a top level liberal education,(liberal not in the political terms). The University has people of all denominations attending and even its board of directors has non-Catholics on it. However, its president is still a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
Anyway, CAF members have little to say about what Notre Dame decides and I see the similar situation at a local college in my area, Holy Cross. The Bishops have reacted to some of their guests and activities and thankfully the college has honored the Bishop’s requests.
Jim
