The Imperfect Forecast

I begin this posting by asking the indulgence of MOJ contributors and readers for talking about Catholic identity at colleges and universities once again; however, over the past day, Greg, Mark, and Rick have made some important observations about recent developments at several universities and the recent publication of Cathleen Kaveny’s essay “The Perfect Storm” in America magazine. All three MOJ contributors and Cathleend have made important and insightful observations. Frankly, there is not much to argue against and much to agree with in their respective treatments. Their commentaries have helped me understand better why we are discussing the issue of Catholic identity again and why it is an issue that cannot be dismissed from our consciousness. Cathleen’s essay emerges from the recent controversy at Notre Dame over the Eve Ensler’s Monologues. Also at play in this discussion is the situation at Boston College regarding the letter issued by Fathers Himes and Hollenbach critiquing their university’s decision to award Secretary Rice an honorary degree and to give her the commencement speaker’s podium.

I should like to make three points today.

The first is to offer a preliminary reaction to Cathleen’s comment that Ms. Ensler’s work “gives raw, eloquent voice to the experiences of actual women.” In the introduction to the 1998 (first) edition, Ensler states that the Monologues are “based on interviews with a diverse group of over two hundred women…” It is not clear from what the author says in her introduction whether any of the monologues reflects the experiences of one of the women interviewed, or are the monologues composites of interviews with different women, or are Ensler’s presentations syntheses of the interviews and the creativity of the playwright? These few questions have relevance to any discussion about the propriety of the Monologues on a Catholic campus. Based on my reading of the 1998 and 2001 editions of the Monologues, I must agree in part and disagree in part with Cathleen’s characterization of the work. It is raw, but it is not eloquent.

The second point regarding Catholic identity emerges from an important topic of concern to many Catholics and others affiliated with Catholic education that is not discussed on Catholic campuses as frequently as it should: that is the subject of sin. While keeping in mind the clever characterizations and commentaries of others about sin that many of us have heard when someone attempts to dismiss its relevance to the world of today, there is the need to acknowledge that sin exists and to discuss how it affects human existence. This discussion belongs on a Catholic campus. Strangely, discussion of this important matter today on Catholic campuses seems sparse and, sometimes, absent. Sin and the temptation to sin are parts of human existence that arise through the exercise of free will. Ultimately we, as individual human beings, make the final decision to sin or not. But is the word “sin” a part of our contemporary vocabulary; is it something that gets regularly discussed and examined on the Catholic campus; is it the sort of matter we reflect upon when we address a major issue of God and the incarnation? Do we in the Catholic intellectual world consider in our discussions, teaching, research, etc. the question: why did God become incarnate? Well, the basic response to this question, I believe, is this: to save us from our sin. I remember having a conversation with a brother Jesuit a few years ago. He had served for many years as a distinguished superior and administrator in Catholic higher education. When he and I had this conversation, he was teaching a required theology course to freshman students. It was clear what the subject was that his students had difficulty grasping. After listening to him, I said, “Oh, you were discussing ‘sin’ with them”? He said, “Oh, we can’t use that word… the students wouldn’t understand!” My final comment (question) was: “Why not?” Why is not only the discussion but its examination in an academic context off limits? Ms. Ensler would like us to add one of her favorite words to our daily vocabulary, but why do we shy away from using another word, “sin,” that should come natural to our Catholic discourse?

My third and final point for this posting relates to one other observation made by Cathleen. She mentioned that “membership in the church cannot be equated with virtue.” Perhaps there is something to her claim, but is it not also important to learn why virtue and striving to live the virtuous life is the antidote to sin—something which Cathleen does raise in her discussion of sin? When sin beckons us, is not the virtue of forbearance relevant to how we respond? When others tempt us into sinful action, is not the virtue of courage helpful to resist their Siren call? When we do not understand whether something is sinful or not, does not the virtue of wisdom provide the sagacity to make appropriate distinctions? When the cardinal sin of pride lures us deeper into temptation, is it not the virtue of humility that puts us back on the course of righteousness? In taking action or not that may have sinful consequences, does not the virtue of prudence help guide our way along a perilous path?

When the perfect storms of life threaten our progress as thinking disciples of the one who came to save us all, is it not the ability to know sin and its remedy in the form of the virtuous life the task of the Catholic university? Cathleen is correct in my opinion when she warns about the dangers of assimilation and isolation. However, the meaning of “engagement” as she posits needs to be explored more fully. If sin and the temptation to commit sin can form some of life’s perfect storms, is not a thorough knowledge of the virtues and the virtuous life the manner in which God assists us so we may deal with the tempests of the world—including its sinful temptations—that can consume us? While the Catholic educational institution may not be faultless, if it is true to its vocation, might it just be an important tool God provides us, imperfect as we might make it, that can help us forecast and weather the storm of which Cathleen speaks?    RJA sj