USF cancels master's program in theology

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lepanto
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Here’s the quote that sticks out for me. “But, he said, the university needs to adapt to all of its students - 71 percent of whom are not Catholic.”
 
You two hit the nail on the head. There is an online petition to hopefully stop Fr. Privett aka “Mr. 71%” from his ridiculous plan.

Here it is:
ipetitions.com/petition/USFMAProgram

The SF Chronicle totally slanted the story when they wrote it. Thankfully, Fr. Privett cannot fool honest solid Catholics who realize what he is supposed to be doing.

Catholic Online originally ran with the story first at:
catholic.org/collegiate/story.php?id=33482

And they did a much better job with it. Catholic online at least isn’t anti-Catholic. I cannot say the same for the San Francisco Chronicle.

~RSF
 
RedSoxFan said:
Catholic Online originally ran with the story first at:
catholic.org/collegiate/story.php?id=33482

And they did a much better job with it. Catholic online at least isn’t anti-Catholic. I cannot say the same for the San Francisco Chronicle.

~RSF
Click to expand...
Wow, what a difference in the reporting. Unfortunately he will most likely only see the protests as a vocal 29 % of people, not faithful Catholics. What happened to the Jesuit order…?
 
Michael_C said:
Here’s the quote that sticks out for me. “But, he said, the university needs to adapt to all of its students - 71 percent of whom are not Catholic.”
Click to expand...
That’s exactly the quote that struck me also.

JPII issued the following regarding Catholic universities.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html

From the encyclical
  1. Theology plays a particularly important role in the search for a synthesis of knowledge as well as in the dialogue between faith and reason. It serves all other disciplines in their search for meaning, not only by helping them to investigate how their discoveries will affect individuals and society but also by bringing a perspective and an orientation not contained within their own methodologies. In turn, interaction with these other disciplines and their discoveries enriches theology, offering it a better understanding of the world today, and making theological research more relevant to current needs. Because of its specific importance among the academic disciplines, every Catholic University should have a faculty, or at least a chair, of theology(22).
  2. Given the close connection between research and teaching, the research qualities indicated above will have their influence on all teaching. While each discipline is taught systematically and according to its own methods, *interdisciplinary studies, *assisted by a careful and thorough study of philosophy and theology, enable students to acquire an organic vision of reality and to develop a continuing desire for intellectual progress. In the communication of knowledge, emphasis is then placed on how *human reason in its reflection *opens to increasingly broader questions, and how the complete answer to them can only come from above through faith. Furthermore, the *moral implications *that are present in each discipline are examined as an integral part of the teaching of that discipline so that the entire educative process be directed towards the whole development of the person. Finally, Catholic theology, taught in a manner faithful to Scripture, Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium, provides an awareness of the Gospel principles which will enrich the meaning of human life and give it a new dignity.
USCCB views on Ex Corde Ecclesiae

usccb.org/education/excorde.htm

Colleges faithful to the Church and JPII’s encyclical
catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=4779
 
Now maybe they can offer a gay & lesbian studies degree?
 
steve_b said:
That’s exactly the quote that struck me also.

JPII issued the following regarding Catholic universities.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html

From the encyclical, where a Catholic university would fail at being Catholic

§ 3. In ways appropriate to the different academic disciplines, all Catholic teachers are to be faithful to, and all other teachers are to respect, Catholic doctrine and morals in their research and teaching. In particular, Catholic theologians, aware that they fulfil a mandate received from the Church, are to be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church as the authentic interpreter of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition(50).
§ 4. Those university teachers and administrators who belong to other Churches, ecclesial communities, or religions, as well as those who profess no religious belief, and also all students, are to recognize and respect the distinctive Catholic identity of the University. In order not to endanger the Catholic identity of the University or Institute of Higher Studies, the number of non-Catholic teachers should not be allowed to constitute a majority within the Institution, which is and must remain Catholic.
§ 5. The education of students is to combine academic and professional development with formation in moral and religious principles and the social teachings of the Church**;** the programme of studies for each of the various professions is to include an appropriate ethical formation in that profession.Courses in Catholic doctrine are to be made available to all students(51).
Article 5. The Catholic University within the Church
§ 1. Every Catholic University is to maintain communion with the universal Church and the Holy See; it is to be in close communion with the local Church and in particular with the diocesan Bishops of the region or nation in which it is located. In ways consistent with its nature as a University, a Catholic University will contribute to the Church’s work of evangelization.
§ 2. Each Bishop has a responsibility to promote the welfare of the Catholic Universities in his diocese and has the right and duty to watch over the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic character. If problems should arise conceming this Catholic character, the local Bishop is to take the initiatives necessary to resolve the matter, working with the competent university authorities in accordance with established procedures(52) and, if necessary, with the help of the Holy See.
§ 3. Periodically, each Catholic University, to which Artide 3, 1 and 2 refers, is to communicate relevant information about the University and its activities to the competent ecclesiastical Authority. Other Catholic Universities are to communicate this information to the Bishop of the diocese in which the principal seat of the Institution is located.
Click to expand...
 
steve_b said:
JPII issued the following regarding Catholic universities.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html
Click to expand...
where a Catholic university would fail at being a Catholic university by ignoring the following

§ 3. In ways appropriate to the different academic disciplines, all Catholic teachers are to be faithful to, and all other teachers are to respect, Catholic doctrine and morals in their research and teaching. In particular, Catholic theologians, aware that they fulfil a mandate received from the Church, are to be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church as the authentic interpreter of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition(50).
§ 4. Those university teachers and administrators who belong to other Churches, ecclesial communities, or religions, as well as those who profess no religious belief, and also all students, are to recognize and respect the distinctive Catholic identity of the University. In order not to endanger the Catholic identity of the University or Institute of Higher Studies, the number of non-Catholic teachers should not be allowed to constitute a majority within the Institution, which is and must remain Catholic.
§ 5. The education of students is to combine academic and professional development with formation in moral and religious principles and the social teachings of the Church**;** the programme of studies for each of the various professions is to include an appropriate ethical formation in that profession.Courses in Catholic doctrine are to be made available to all students(51).
Article 5. The Catholic University within the Church
§ 1. Every Catholic University is to maintain communion with the universal Church and the Holy See; it is to be in close communion with the local Church and in particular with the diocesan Bishops of the region or nation in which it is located. In ways consistent with its nature as a University, a Catholic University will contribute to the Church’s work of evangelization.
§ 2. Each Bishop has a responsibility to promote the welfare of the Catholic Universities in his diocese and has the right and duty to watch over the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic character. If problems should arise conceming this Catholic character, the local Bishop is to take the initiatives necessary to resolve the matter, working with the competent university authorities in accordance with established procedures(52) and, if necessary, with the help of the Holy See.
§ 3. Periodically, each Catholic University, to which Artide 3, 1 and 2 refers, is to communicate relevant information about the University and its activities to the competent ecclesiastical Authority. Other Catholic Universities are to communicate this information to the Bishop of the diocese in which the principal seat of the Institution is located.

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html
 
I went to a Theology on Tap not long ago where the speaker was a USF ethics professor. She lectured the crowd about how the Vatican was wrong for excommunicating the Danube Seven, and other things she perceived as mistreatment of women Catholics. Sadly, most of the “Catholic” audience, who seemed mainly to be female Catholic schoolteachers, agreed with her. I think I was the only male, and only orthodox in the room of thirty plus people. :rolleyes:
 
USF canceling it’s “master’s theology program”?

I’m thinking that maybe this is for the best.
 
The Cardinal Newman Society also published a story about this at:

cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/488/ItemID/553/Default.aspx

As a student at USF I think I’m getting a great deal out of my time there. I see students coming to Christ. As a self described archconservative I can tell you with the utmost confidence that both the liberal and conservative are discussed in class. This has lead to tension, but in my cohort everyone gets along ver weel and is respected for what they say. Emotions run high at times, and there are a ton of presumptions but once the air has cleared a bit and people continue to explain what they are thinking acceptence usually comes in.

I feel that I am getting a good education. Not every teacher is extroidinary liberal. Some might be. Others clearly are not. I want everyone to know out there that everything stupid that USF does is NOT the fault of the theology department. Had the University contacted the theology department more often there would most likely be a more Catholic feel to the University. I also doubt that the commencement speakers would be the same.

While I admit that I would like USF as a whole to rediscover it’s great Catholic Hertiage, I cannot blame the loss of it on a department that is underfunded and has been broken apart in the past few years. This program is a good thing and the first step to bringing USF back to it’s Catholic roots is by maintaining this program against the president’s wishes.

~RSF
 
RedSoxFan said:
both the liberal and conservative are discussed in class.
Click to expand...
This also happens at public universities, but Catholic universities are supposed to teach Catholic principles (regardless of whether such principles have a “liberal” or a “conservative” label stuck to them).
RedSoxFan said:
I feel that I am getting a good education.
Click to expand...
My guess is that the vast majority of public university students would say the same thing about their educations.

So what makes USF any different than a public university? :confused:
 
Lepanto said:
This also happens at public universities, but Catholic universities are supposed to teach Catholic principles (regardless of whether such principles have a “liberal” or a “conservative” label stuck to them).

My guess is that the vast majority of public university students would say the same thing about their educations.

So what makes USF any different than a public university? :confused:
Click to expand...
Hey Lepanto,

In speaking of the MA Program I can say whole heartedly that they do teach Catholic principles. They also teach about other Christian theology, but that is in the context of the ongoing converstation that theology is having with philosophy and itself. Barth (protestant) and Rahner (Catholic), from Rahner, Lonergan (Catholic) etc. They teach, at least so far, about all of the theology of Christianity and mostly Catholic at that. Those who are mentioned outside the realm of Catholicism are mentioned because of their influence upon it. IE historical notes about Avicenna becuase of his reintroduction to Europe of Aristotlean thought which St. Thomas later incorporated and still influences Catholicism today with the Trancendental Thomists etc.

As for politics there is a wide away withing the umbrella of Catholicism itself that needs to be dealt with. I wish I Catholicism had only one way of thinking and uniformity to be outside the use of petty labels such as liberal or conservative, but it’s not.

As for the rest of the school, I really can’t answer.

The difference between USF and a public university is about to be only $20,000 a year if Fr. Privett gets his way…

Ok seriously the public universities do not have a theology program and never will. The only thing that is keeping USF Catholic is the program and the giant beautiful Church on USF grounds. Occasional statues and crosses are seen through out campus. Some Jesuits are there and from experience they are good teachers. At least the one that I had was.

~RSF
 
Havard said:
I went to a Theology on Tap not long ago where the speaker was a USF ethics professor. She lectured the crowd about how the Vatican was wrong for excommunicating the Danube Seven, and other things she perceived as mistreatment of women Catholics. Sadly, most of the “Catholic” audience, who seemed mainly to be female Catholic schoolteachers, agreed with her. I think I was the only male, and only orthodox in the room of thirty plus people. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
It sounds like it is a good idea to cancel the ethics program at USF. If the feminist women in the theology department are spouting nonsense about how the Catholic Church has been mistreating women, perhaps these women should be advised that they are free to join the Muslim community.
 
Hey Bob,

Harvard was talking about an Ethics teacher. Not a member of the Theology department.

Harvard if I am wrong let me know who it was. As far as I know we don’t even have what I would call a feminist theologian professor in the program.

Once again. The theology department is not compromised of what others in the Univeristy do or say.

~RSF
 
I think canceling any part of the theology program would be a move in the wrong direction for the school.

Despite everything that’s going on at Universities across the county, these are Catholic schools and they are going to continue claiming that they are Catholic. As long as they continue to claim to be Catholic they need to be held to a higher standard by the people that make up the Church. That would be you and me.

We could just say, “great, they won’t be teaching theology anymore,” but they will still be claiming to represent the Catholic faith. Giving up doesn’t seem to be the answer. I think a much better move would be demanding that the Catholic Universities, from Notre Dame and Georgetown to USF act like they are Catholic. Write letters, call, demand that they act like the Catholic University that they claim to be. That includes teaching theology. And despite the fact that Fr. Privvett seems offended by the idea, that includes Catholic theology.

When students sign up for a theology program at a Catholic school they should expect the take Catholic classes and receive a Catholic education.

What USF needs isn’t a smaller theology department. It needs a new President.
 
RedSoxWife said:
I think canceling any part of the theology program would be a move in the wrong direction for the school.

Despite everything that’s going on at Universities across the county, these are Catholic schools and they are going to continue claiming that they are Catholic. As long as they continue to claim to be Catholic they need to be held to a higher standard by the people that make up the Church. That would be you and me.

We could just say, “great, they won’t be teaching theology anymore,” but they will still be claiming to represent the Catholic faith. Giving up doesn’t seem to be the answer. I think a much better move would be demanding that the Catholic Universities, from Notre Dame and Georgetown to USF act like they are Catholic. Write letters, call, demand that they act like the Catholic University that they claim to be. That includes teaching theology. And despite the fact that Fr. Privvett seems offended by the idea, that includes Catholic theology.

When students sign up for a theology program at a Catholic school they should expect the take Catholic classes and receive a Catholic education.

What USF needs isn’t a smaller theology department. It needs a new President.
Click to expand...
People have been writing letters for years and still we see them showing a play which advocates that a young girl attain her personal salvation by engaging in lesbian relations with an older woman.
 
Thanks for taking the time to write these helpfully detailed posts, RedSoxFan…it is good to get an “inside perspective” on this.

Peace,
A Fellow Red Sox Fan 👍
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top