Catholic Law Schools: Models and Essence

Amy and Richard have been most helpful in developing issues about Catholic law schools. Surely we must look at Ex Corde Ecclesiae, but I also think Fides et Ratio is an important text to consider. I also believe that the CDF’s document on Catholics in Political Life is relevant to our discussion on defining what is essential to Catholic legal education. A number of Conciliar texts including Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes also play an important role in the investigation and discussion. This list is not intended to be exclusive one, simply an identification of some relevant Church documents that have a bearing on the matter. Amy raises the interesting and important point about whether we should consider identifying a variety of models rather than determining the “best” model of Catholic legal education. I am not sure that identifying and discussing models, however, is the right question. I assume that there are different models for Catholic law schools. To aid the discussion, MOJ readers may wish to look at John J. Fitzgerald’s helpful article in the October 2002 issue of Crisis magazine on this point. He examines several schools: Ave Maria, Saint Thomas (Minnesota), Catholic University of America, Notre Dame, Boston College, and Georgetown. [Here]  Do these models really help us understand what makes a law school a Catholic law school? There may well be a variety of models to consider, but is there something at the essence of the institution which says: here is a Catholic law school. Surely curriculum, perspectives, the identity of teachers and students, speakers, publications, sponsored or recognized student organizations, and other issues are at play. It could also be that different models contain this essence. But, when all is said, are there essential characteristics at the heart—perhaps the soul—of the institution which determines whether it is a Catholic law school or not? If that is the right question, I look forward to participating in developing a response with MOJ friends.  RJA sj