Question: Authentic Catholic Colleges

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I’m a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. I’m not super familiar with the criteria used to evaluate schools in the Newman Guide, but I would guess that ND doesn’t qualify because they don’t require all faculty to sign the mandatum and they have historically allowed some questionable activities on campus (the V-monologues come to mind, although I think they were eventually pushed off campus).

In practice, though, I’m hard pressed to think of a way that Notre Dame could have provided a more orthodox Catholic experience for its students. I had two nuns living in my dorm. My rectress would keep her door propped open and I’d drop in to discuss vocations or academics or just anything really. There is a chapel in every dorm. There is Mass on campus multiple times a day in multiple different locations including in dorm chapels and the beautiful Basilica. Confession is offered multiple times a day, as well as anytime you see a priest on campus and want to flag him down. It was not at all unusual for students to make a quick stop at the grotto to pray. And the student body is overwhelmingly Catholic. I have heard stories of people getting rogue theology teachers, but that was never my experience.
 
Perian said:
I think a relevant question is also what your child wants to study. I am a firm believer that college is an enriching experience as well as an educational one, so I stress that courses outside their chosen major are just as important as what builds the focus of their degree. That being said, if your child has a specific field in mind, it’s prudent to include that information in your search.

If your child wants to study theology or philosophy, carry on with your search as you have been! However, if your child wants to become an engineer or a doctor, you need to be investigating schools that have strong undergrad program in that field. You can’t make it into med school if the school you choose just doesn’t do a good job preparing students for entry. College is just too over-sold and expensive to sell yourself short by not attending the one best suited to prepare you for future work-related success.

With that in mind, I must say that I know of many public colleges and universities with strong, vibrant, orthodox Catholic student associations. I went to a poor excuse for a Catholic college-- I found myself longing for a CSA at my Jesuit school because the general campus ministry was so watered down and fearful of excluding non-Catholics that it lost all identity and purpose. When Catholics have to band together for faith support, beautiful things happen.

Just some thoughts to keep in mind, from someone who wishes very much that she had belonged to her husband’s CSA at a neighboring state school.
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^^This 👍
 
SuperLuigi said:
A lot of Catholic colleges seem more interested in what they can get away with as far as popular causes than being Catholic.

My priest told me there’s two real Catholic colleges left in America: Stuebenville and a small school in downtown LA. I’ve also heard good things about the University of Dallas.

But other than any of those, I cannot recommend any Catholic college. I regularly sign petitions to get them (particularly ones on the coasts) to stop activities that are against Catholic teaching.

You really just have to do your research on this. I don’t think there’s a fast and easy answer, but I am very concerned about what students are exposed to in most any American college.

I can say you’re already ahead of the curve just for asking this.
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It’s not that bad. Christendom College, Thomas Aquinas College, Ave Maria University. I could do a quick search and find several more.
 
I’ll add my voice to the chorus that the Newman Guide is very helpful in identifying Catholic colleges that take their Catholic identity seriously.

That said, I also think the question of where to go depends on a lot of variables, foremost of which is what the child wants to study and what is affordable. It depends upon the child, too. Some thrive in environments where their beliefs are challenged. Some don’t

I’ve attended both a secular state school and a vibrant Catholic school. But there were great Catholic communities in both places.

Through the Newman Center at the public school, my faith was awakened and I grew a ton—learning things I hadn’t learned in 12 years of Catholic elementary and high schools.

But there were also great blessings on the Catholic campus where virtually all the students and faculty support the Church’s mission and the majority went not only to Sunday Mass but to daily Mass.
 
tm21 said:
It depends if the young adult is paying for the college, or the parent. If the parent is paying, than I believe it is the parent’s right to have 51% of the vote. We are paying for our son’s college. We provided him a range of Catholic colleges/universities to chose from (essentially those in the Newman Guide). It is our right as parents to refuse to put dollars in the pockets of secular universities (and those Catholic in name only), who seek to attack the faith of our sons and daughters. Even if our son/daughter is “strong enough” to survive the onslaught of relativistic and “progressive” attacks against the faith, why put money in the pockets of such an academic institution, who if not successful stealing the faith of our son/daughter, is successful with other young adults?
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In an election, there is no difference between 51% and 100%.

I think perhaps you mean it is his choice, but you have a veto. If he wants to override your veto, he has to come up with the money himself. (I find your refusal to put so much as a dollar into the coffers of an institution that you believe cooperates in the ruin of souls when it has a duty to protect them to be beyond refute. Of course you shouldn’t have to do that.)
 
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