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Responding to queries from Cardinal Newman Society, the Diocese of
Rochester, New York, has confirmed that Nazareth College and St. John
Fisher College are no longer recognized as Catholic institutions under
canon law. Cardinal Newman Society is unaware of any prior public notice
of this development.
The two Rochester colleges join Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York,
as the only known historically Catholic colleges in the U.S. to be
formally secularized since the Vatican issued its 1990 apostolic
constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which governs Catholic higher education.
Marist was identified as “no longer Catholic” by the Archdiocese of New
York in 2003.
Cardinal Newman Society’s protest of planned performances of the offensive
play, The Vagina Monologues, on Catholic campuses this year originally
included Nazareth and St. John Fisher. After Nazareth’s president’s
office insisted the college was no longer Catholic, Cardinal Newman
Society president Patrick J. Reilly contacted Bishop Matthew Clark of
Rochester for clarification of the College’s canonical status. Rev.
Joseph Hart, Vicar General and Moderator of the Rochester Diocese,
confirmed by letter dated February 10 that Bishop Clark had removed
Nazareth from the Official Catholic Directory three years ago and St. John
Fisher College last year.
According to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, no college can claim a Catholic identity
without recognition by the local bishop. Cardinal Newman Society’s policy
is to refrain from questioning an historically Catholic institution’s
religious identity without a bishop’s ruling on the matter. As in the
case of many historically Catholic colleges, gauging the commitment of
Nazareth and St. John Fisher to their founding convictions has been
difficult.
For instance, St. John Fisher College remains a member of the Association
of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and is identified as Catholic
by the affiliated National Catholic College Admission Association (NCCAA).
In a 1987 statement adopted by its board of trustees–and still posted on
its website–the College identifies itself as “an independent, liberal
arts institution in the Catholic tradition of American higher education.”
Committed to developing values through religious studies, philosophy,
campus ministry and “the presence of members of the Congregation of St.
Basil,” the trustees draw “historically from our religious heritage,”
according to the statement.
St. John Fisher College is identified by the V-Day organization as hosting
a performance this year of The Vagina Monologues, but college officials
have not respond to Cardinal Newman Society’s requests for confirmation.
Proceeds from the College’s presentation of the Monologues last year were
given to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U.S.,
for its rape crisis center.
Nazareth College is not an ACCU member, but the ACCU does identify the
college as Catholic. Nazareth’s mission statement notes that the College
is “historically rooted in the Catholic tradition of its founders, the
Sisters of St. Joseph.” But the College’s website explains that despite
its religious founding, “Nazareth has been independent of church
affiliation for more than 30 years.” Nevertheless, its canonical status
as a Catholic institution changed only three years ago.
Nazareth hosted The Vagina Monologues for the fourth year in a row on
February 9, 10 and 12. Last year’s performance was co-sponsored by the
College’s campus ministry.
Rochester, New York, has confirmed that Nazareth College and St. John
Fisher College are no longer recognized as Catholic institutions under
canon law. Cardinal Newman Society is unaware of any prior public notice
of this development.
The two Rochester colleges join Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York,
as the only known historically Catholic colleges in the U.S. to be
formally secularized since the Vatican issued its 1990 apostolic
constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which governs Catholic higher education.
Marist was identified as “no longer Catholic” by the Archdiocese of New
York in 2003.
Cardinal Newman Society’s protest of planned performances of the offensive
play, The Vagina Monologues, on Catholic campuses this year originally
included Nazareth and St. John Fisher. After Nazareth’s president’s
office insisted the college was no longer Catholic, Cardinal Newman
Society president Patrick J. Reilly contacted Bishop Matthew Clark of
Rochester for clarification of the College’s canonical status. Rev.
Joseph Hart, Vicar General and Moderator of the Rochester Diocese,
confirmed by letter dated February 10 that Bishop Clark had removed
Nazareth from the Official Catholic Directory three years ago and St. John
Fisher College last year.
According to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, no college can claim a Catholic identity
without recognition by the local bishop. Cardinal Newman Society’s policy
is to refrain from questioning an historically Catholic institution’s
religious identity without a bishop’s ruling on the matter. As in the
case of many historically Catholic colleges, gauging the commitment of
Nazareth and St. John Fisher to their founding convictions has been
difficult.
For instance, St. John Fisher College remains a member of the Association
of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and is identified as Catholic
by the affiliated National Catholic College Admission Association (NCCAA).
In a 1987 statement adopted by its board of trustees–and still posted on
its website–the College identifies itself as “an independent, liberal
arts institution in the Catholic tradition of American higher education.”
Committed to developing values through religious studies, philosophy,
campus ministry and “the presence of members of the Congregation of St.
Basil,” the trustees draw “historically from our religious heritage,”
according to the statement.
St. John Fisher College is identified by the V-Day organization as hosting
a performance this year of The Vagina Monologues, but college officials
have not respond to Cardinal Newman Society’s requests for confirmation.
Proceeds from the College’s presentation of the Monologues last year were
given to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U.S.,
for its rape crisis center.
Nazareth College is not an ACCU member, but the ACCU does identify the
college as Catholic. Nazareth’s mission statement notes that the College
is “historically rooted in the Catholic tradition of its founders, the
Sisters of St. Joseph.” But the College’s website explains that despite
its religious founding, “Nazareth has been independent of church
affiliation for more than 30 years.” Nevertheless, its canonical status
as a Catholic institution changed only three years ago.
Nazareth hosted The Vagina Monologues for the fourth year in a row on
February 9, 10 and 12. Last year’s performance was co-sponsored by the
College’s campus ministry.
