DePaul University Tramples Our Catholic Identity!

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Well, perhaps someone could sue it for false advertising???
At which point the civil authorities would probably throw it back at the Church, saying it is an internal squabble over which they have no authority.

But, like I have noted, the institutions would simply change how they word things to make it true.
 
Well, perhaps someone could sue it for false advertising???
As one of the 10 people who do understand binary, maybe.

I would LOVE to have Cardinal George come rip the stuffings out of the whole bunch of 'em, and when he’s done, come down and help Bishop Satrain do the same at two other schools where this whole thing is spreading. I would like to see the name “Catholic” stopped being used for institutions that most certainly are not.

The chances of that happening are slim to none, unfortunately. While I personally feel he could have worded his statement a little more forcefully, that’s the first time in a large city that carries archdiocese status I have seen a cardinal speak up like that.

I would ask that we continue to pray, and let the Cardinal know he did well- for a start, a good start.

And please remember in your prayers two little schools in Illinois, one of which wil be having a Teach-In this week that claims to address the “invisibility” of LGBTQ in the curriculum of that university.
 
What you don’t seem to get is that he can make all the demands he wants to… but it’s going to happen, anyway.
You have no proof of this. It’s not like bad events have never been canceled. If he did it and the university went on with the event anyway then the Catholic name should be stripped from them to prevent any further scandal.
The only thing he is left with, therefore, is to appeal to the general populous (who ultimately are greater in number and influence than he alone) as to these concens, making us all aware of the scandal and outrage which is it, while instructing on what would be a positive alternative. Which is precisely what he does.
Obviously this is not his only recourse as shown by Bishop McManus.
Is it better, then, to stir the pot and thump yoru chest while things just get worse as a result or to try to take practical, positive steps to better things while retaining something of an upbuilding relationship to future progress?
Why, oh why wouldn’t it be more prudent to tell people why it’s wrong and make sure to the best of his ability it doesn’t happen. BTW, Alumni don’t get too happy when their Catholic Alma Matre is threatened to be stripped of it’s Catholic name.
It is a matter of building a relationship with people to get them to do the “right” thing, because they carefully consider it in conscience, rather than trying to make demands employing “authority” over them which they will then angrily rebel against, offending you, anyway, and growing further away from the rightful relationship that you are ultimately trying to draw them into.
For heaven’s sakes, it’s not the 10 Suggestions. It’s the 10 Commandments. It’s not Canon Suggestions. It’s Canon Law. Are either of these not loving? Do you have children? When they need to be corrected do you simply reason with them or do you take action and then explain it to them? The hierarchy of this university are allowing souls to be lead astray. You don’t say “It would be nice if you actually taught them Catholic teachings but, hey, if you don’t, oh well.”
Which is what he has presently done by his public questioning; reinforcing the potential good and offering clear direction as to what that is, while warning of the dangers and condemning them.
When you kid is doing something harmful to themselves you don’t tell them that they might want to reconsider. You tell them to stop and give them the reason for the command.
Such events are rarely, if ever, cancelled… even after a bishop appeals to them to do so. History suggests that attempting such a strong armed approach, therefore, will only backfire. It is reasonable to conclude that other approaches are better in the long run.
That’s not true. We’ve had many such events cancelled in our diocese.
And the name “Catholic” is not going to be easily revoked in formality from such an institution for this one infraction.
If the bishop says he’s going to do it and they go through with it anyway, you can bet they can revoke the “Catholic” name.
Even the bishop you cite doesn’t threaten that, ultimately, but only hints at the underlying realities (just as does Cardinal George.)
Uh, even the local media coverage has said he’s threatening their Catholic status. I’m not sure how you see it differently.
The real goal of a bishop is to draw them into a greater depth or the faith rather than to cut them off.
Sorry but Canon Law says differently and, again, you are saying that relations must be cut simply because he acts on Church teaching.
Such a thing occurring is, therefore, rare, and not likely without much more serious and extensive problems, including absolute impasses in dialogue concerning overall institutional direction. Even if it were publically threatened and decreed, the backlash (especially at such a major university in a major city) would create greater problems for all involved than the original problem.
I, of course, disagree. Showing the severity of parting from Catholic teaching is necessary…
And, certainly, the institution would find some way to maintain the identity which they desire and remain in business, even without the formal “Catholic” designation, if that did happen. Ultimately, the bishop can say all he wants about what they can and can not call themselves, but he can’t stop them from doing anything that they desire to do.
This is quite possible but at least there is no scandal.

Clearly, you desire unambiguous lines to be drawn. But the real question is whether this will serve the best purposes in the long run or just create fights which further separate us and cause many more to go astray.
 
Since I don’t believe it has ever been done, I am not sure how it could be done. If Catholic is part of the legal name, he has no jurisdiction over it in law; that is a civil law matter. If there is some Canon that governs this, then he might have somewhere to stand, but I am not familiar enough with Canon law to know where that comes in.

Actually, if you look at the canons, the bishop or cardinal in this case can remove the staff if need be.
Further, you and I may agree that this is deplorable; but I suspect that if there is a Canon law section that could control, it would probably take more than this to invoke it. Look at how long it took for the Mandatum rule to come out, and look at how it has been applied: many bishops will not release any information about whether or not a specific professor has the Mandatum or not.
 
Can. 810 §1. The authority competent according to the statutes has the duty to make provision so that teachers are appointed in Catholic universities who besides their scientific and pedagogical qualifications are outstanding in integrity of doctrine and probity of life and that they are removed from their function when they lack these requirements; the manner of proceeding defined in the statutes is to be observed.
§2. The conferences of bishops and diocesan bishops concerned have the duty and right of being watchful so that the principles of Catholic doctrine are observed faithfully in these same universities.
 
Why, oh why wouldn’t it be more prudent to tell people why it’s wrong and make sure to the best of his ability it doesn’t happen.
I would argue that he has done what he effectively can in this regard with his public statement (and likely some phone calls to the university authorities preceeding.)
BTW, Alumni don’t get too happy when their Catholic Alma Matre is threatened to be stripped of it’s Catholic name.
Remember that a lot of those alumni, especially the ones with big bucks, are the kind of CINOs who you would rail against and often are the cause for the kind of problems which you are now protesting, as they return to be honored.

Further, if the threat were made, who are they going to get angry at: the university or the bishop? If the bishop wants him to side with his concerns, then his approach better not be one of threats which they will take personally and rebel against him for even considering.
For heaven’s sakes, it’s not the 10 Suggestions. It’s the 10 Commandments. It’s not Canon Suggestions. It’s Canon Law. Are either of these not loving? Do you have children? When they need to be corrected do you simply reason with them or do you take action and then explain it to them? The hierarchy of this university are allowing souls to be lead astray. You don’t say “It would be nice if you actually taught them Catholic teachings but, hey, if you don’t, oh well.”
Firstly, the cardinal is saying something much stronger than, “Pretty please, but ok… oh well if you don’t.” He isn’t pulling a David Stern with basketball referrees kind of thing. He is clear and unambiguous in his stance.

Still, we are dealing with adults here - not little children - very intelligent, astute, and influencial ones at that. Simply using, “Because I said so,” won’t get very far with such an audience. And, like with that teenager, if they are ultimately going to do whatever they want, anyway, it is probably better in the long run to provide for them a loving example and reasoning of the good you see in them, the potential for something greater which you would like to see drawn from that, and the concerns you retain for their health and safety, Perhaps this will tinge their conscience and maybe even give them a good, old fashioned Catholic guilt trip. If not now, at least in the long term. Trying to merely be the authoritarian usually just gets you dismissed as an old fuddy duddy who only wants to spoil the fun, causes resentment, and spurs you on to “show them” by doing whatever you desire, afterall.
When you kid is doing something harmful to themselves you don’t tell them that they might want to reconsider. You tell them to stop and give them the reason for the command.
When your “kid” is a 45 year old university professor with prestige and making darn good money, it goes in one ear and out the other. Really, we are not dealing with children, here, but adult Catholics all around. If we don’t take an approach which respects this, nothing good will come of it.

That said, certainly, the cardinal has given fair warning along with the whys. Now it is the time for everyone to make up their own minds as to what they will do in response, taking his apologetic into account. There is no need to say, “STOP!” specifically when the greater context clearly suggests that merely following through with what is planned will be bad. If someone can’t come to that conclusion on your his, then perhaps he needs to take reading comprehension classes at the college.
That’s not true. We’ve had many such events cancelled in our diocese.
Well, provide us with examples aplenty, then. I think it is more often the case in these high profile situations that they typically continue despite all the noise and fury of protest. And such is certainly what could be expected in this instance. Perhaps a failure to recognize this along with your own positive experiences there is what clouds your perception of what is realistically expectable in a context like this. Again, one has to consider the context of the situation.
If the bishop says he’s going to do it and they go through with it anyway, you can bet they can revoke the “Catholic” name.]/quote]
So what happenned with that example of Bishop McMannus?
Remember, we are dealing with the largest Catholic University in the U.S. here, not some small Catholic college, either. They have resources aplenty to fight back if you go that route.
Uh, even the local media coverage has said he’s threatening their Catholic status. I’m not sure how you see it differently.
When he follows through, let me know. It seems more of a rhetorical comment to me.
 
Sorry but Canon Law says differently and, again, you are saying that relations must be cut simply because he acts on Church teaching.
I disagree. Canon Law gives him legal authority, but how he exercizes it is a matter of prudence in service of Christian unity and salvation, which is the proper role of the bishop.
I, of course, disagree. Showing the severity of parting from Catholic teaching is necessary…
Just as one is not excommunicated for every little infraction, the overall context of things must be considered in such cases. An individual act may be dead wrong and inappropriate, but that alone doesn’t necessarily negate the overall character of an institution.
This is quite possible but at least there is no scandal.
The scandal, certainly, remains nonetheless as it is objective. It is just reinforced as people are pushed even further away from the faith rather than gently appealed to for movement towards reunification and growth.
 
Afraid to get in trouble with the mods. I will PM them to you, though.
I can figure out who they are. I’d like everyone else to know. It does no good to mention them abstractly when no one can do anything about it, specificially.

If it is public knowledge, this ought not be a problem with sharing. We are, afterall, discussing DePaul on this very thread publically.
 
In general, if you really want the low down, both good and bad, as to what is happening at Catholic universities and colleges check out the Cardinal Newman Society:

www.cardinalnewmansociety.org

They provide news stories of events cancelled because of pressure from faithful Catholics, they coordinate campaigns to apply pressure, they monitor commencement speakers,and publish regular lists of universities and colleges in compliance with Catholic teaching.

They are doing a wonderful job of assisting our bishops in this important endeavor to make sure Catholic means Catholic.
 
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