Catholic in Film School

Seriously.

I don’t care what the sex of my first born child is, “Joseph Benedict” is going to be his/her name. If it’s a girl I suppose I could name her “Maria Joseph Benedict” and just call her “Jo,” but even she’s going to get named after B16. But I digress.

Today Pope Benedict graduated from just being loved, to being beloved and adored in my heart. He met with Catholic educators today, as well as victims of the sexual abuse scandal—he’s fearless and I love it. (Remember this wee little incident when I called him the Iron First?)

Patrick Reilly, the president of the Cardinal Newman Society, wrote a great article on B16’s meeting with the presidents of Catholic colleges (including my own). Here’s a couple of snippets:

Catholic institutions are in the business of saving souls: “It is timely, then, to reflect on what is particular to our Catholic institutions. How do they contribute to the good of society through the Church’s primary mission of evangelization?”

Translation: Telling students that your college is “in the Catholic tradition” does not exempt you from the mandate to evangelize; colleges must live and actively witness the faith.

The truth is not relative: “The ‘crisis of truth’ that exists in society is rooted in a ‘crisis of faith’” and Catholic educators have a responsibility to “evoke among the young the desire for the act of faith, encouraging them to commit themselves to the ecclesial life that follows from this belief.”

Translation: The truth is not found in moral relativism, the undermining of Catholic teachings or in faddish academic disciplines; it is found through the marriage of faith and reason.

Catholic identity must be comprehensive: “Each and every aspect of college life must reverberate within the ecclesial life of faith.”

Translation: So, once and for all, a play like The Vagina Monologues serves no academic purpose and is inappropriate for a serious Catholic institution.

Catholic colleges must not waver in their convictions: “We observe today an aimless pursuit of novelty parading as the realization of freedom. We witness an assumption that every experience is of equal worth. …And particularly disturbing is the reduction of the precious and delicate area of education in sexuality to management of ‘risk’, bereft of any reference to the beauty of conjugal love.”

Translation: Catholic colleges must take seriously their responsibility to affirmatively foster and promote a campus environment that cherishes chastity.

Academic freedom must be tied to faith:”[A]ny appeal to the principle of academic freedom in order to justify positions that contradict the faith and the teaching of the Church would obstruct or even betray the university’s identity and mission….”

Translation: The “Queer Film Festival” and handing out condoms do not fall under academic freedom.

Students must receive authentic Catholic teachings: Colleges have the duty to “ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. This requires that public witness to the way of Christ, as found in the Gospel and upheld by the Church’s Magisterium, shapes all aspects of an institution’s life, both inside and outside the classroom. Divergence from this vision weakens Catholic identity….”

Translation: Three credits in Wiccan Studies is not a substitute for a required Catholic Theology course. Oh, and that Catholic Theology course must teach authentic Catholicism (for reference, please see the Catechism).

You can read the full article here.

I have no current plans to write a parody of my time in a “Catholic” college, but when I do and I’m sure that I will, Patrick Reilly may just have to cameo in it. Dude is funny.

Pax Christi, Rebecca.