Academic Freedom and Catholic Character: a Response

I join Rick in recommending Paolo Carroza’s Op-Ed essay that appeared in the February 14^th issue of the Notre Dame “Observer.” Paolo has identified some important issues that are worth exploring and discussing with students, colleagues, administrators, alumni, and friends of Catholic colleges and universities. A substantial element of his essay examines academic freedom, and he uses Mary, the Mother of God, as an illustration and appropriate model of authentic academic freedom. Of course, Notre Dame is most fortunate to bear her name. I would like to call this example of freedom that Paolo develops as freedom for. Mary was free for truth beyond herself and the confines of her mind and experience. Initially she was perplexed by the announcement Gabriel made to her, but he insisted, “do not be afraid.” That is a phrase John Paul II used throughout his over twenty-six year papacy. She responded with “here I am” (the same words used by young Samuel) to embrace the unknown from God. For the rest of her life, she was devoted to this freedom for God’s truth that was beyond her, but she pondered about these matters as she did some twelve years later when she and Joseph found the young Jesus in the temple teaching the teachers of the law. Mary continually grew in wisdom because of her freedom for it.

Paolo speaks of another kind of freedom, which I shall call the freedom from. As he says, it is the “subjection of our reason to the whims of intellectual fashion.” And how might this fashion be characterized: it is the liberty of insulation and exaggerated autonomy and loneliness described by Justice Kennedy in Casey: “the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning of the universe, and the mystery of human life.” To borrow from Louis XIV, this deprivation of searching is based on a false claim: “le monde c’est moi.” In essence, there is adherence to a shield of which Paolo speaks whose effect is separation from rather than exposure to a truth beyond one’s self. And for the believer, this truth is God. This is the truth that Mary came to know and cherish.

A short word about the Enslerian Monologues to which Paolo and Father Jenkins have referred. Several years ago, I joined a faculty e-mail debate about the propriety of their being staged on campus. The university president stated that they would not be performed on campus. This generated an outcry amongst some vocal faculty members. I decided to wade into the debate to offer support to the president and his decision. When I identified certain problems with one particular monologue, i.e., the seduction and statutory rape by a lesbian of a thirteen year old girl in the first edition that was termed “a good rape,” I was told that I had fabricated this slanderous commentary. My defense: please read pages 72 to 75 of the Villard Books (Random House), New York 1998, ISBN 0-375-75052-5, first edition. That did not the stop harsh and uncharitable (and, dare I say, untrue) words against me for my “misogynist, fascist and callous” views that I had the temerity to announce. Apparently, I was not a member of a particular “intellectual fashion” that was characteristic of the academic freedom to which many subscribed.

I have said enough for the time being. I’ll conclude with this endorsement of academic freedom for truth, justice, and the beauty about which Paolo speaks. With this approach, we, too, can follow Mary, the seat of wisdom, and encounter God who is the ultimate truth. And then, when we reach this truth one day, surely we will be happy. This is the freedom that is the raison d’être of the Catholic college and university. Thank you, Paolo, and thank you, Rick.   RJA sj