Catholic universities (still) matter

Some thoughts on the continuing importance (and responsibility) of Catholic universities from a student in my "Catholic Social Thought and the Law" seminar:

As much as some seem to be put off by the constant back and forth on various controversial issues at Catholic universities, and particularly at Notre Dame, I find it very reassuring.

On the one hand, after spending the bulk of my post-secondary education years in a state school it is refreshing to see that there are people within the institution on both sides of controversial issues who feel both impelled and empowered to speak out.  It makes me realize that dialogue and the search for ultimate truth is still alive somewhere in academia.

On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, it demonstrates that people recognize that the Catholic university still has an important and influential teaching role well beyond its confines.  No one cares in particular who “Generic State University” invites to give an address, but the entire internet erupts in a frenzy when Obama or Ryan are invited to speak at a Catholic university.  If Ms. Fluke went to a state school—or anywhere but a school publicly recognized as Catholic—you can bet no one would have raised an eyebrow over her testimony regarding the HHS Mandate.  I wager she would not have even been invited to testify before Congress.

 The fact that many still rage over the state of the Catholic university’s soul makes me believe that there is a great opportunity to be had for the authentic Catholic university:  It must serve as a lamp of the truths of both faith and reason in stark contradiction to the darkness of the world about it.