Evangelical Pruning in Action

 

Contributors and readers of the Mirror of Justice may recall that this site has often been the forum in which Catholic identity, especially in the academy, is robustly discussed. These discussions, moreover, have reflected different views on the matter. In the past in my contributions addressing this general topic, I have, on occasion, referred to a theme raised by Archbishop Michael Miller when he was Secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education. In addresses that he gave in the United States about six years ago, the archbishop raised questions about the Catholic identity of colleges and universities. He essentially indicated that the institution had a choice to make: did it wish to be Catholic or not. He emphasized, though, that whatever election the institution made, competent ecclesiastical authorities had the right and responsibility to make the final determination on whether the institution could use the name Catholic, which is not a mere label but a genuine expression of the institution’s soul and reason for existing. In this context, Archbishop Miller employed the term “evangelical pruning” by which competent authorities might conclude that the moniker “Catholic” would have to be removed from the institution’s name and/or identity if it were, in fact, no longer Catholic.

A few moments ago the Holy See announced that it has, in accordance with the law of the Church, stripped the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru of the right to use the words “Pontifical” and “Catholic” in its title. [HERE] One of the reasons given for doing this was the Holy See’s conclusion that the university, after periodic requests, has failed to adapt its statutes in such a way that they would comply with the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae. After extended dialogue on the matter, the university informed the Secretary of State that the university is unable to implement the requirements of the Apostolic Constitution.

While the Holy See has clearly indicated the Church’s hope that the university will reconsider its position and thus comply with the Apostolic Constitution, the ball is now in the court of the university, and the question remains: what does it want to be. When the gardener prunes, there is hope that the living organism will respond affirmatively and eventually become strong once again and bear much fruit. The anticipated fruit of this evangelical pruning involving the ____ ____ University of Peru is that the university may realize that it has a chance to carry the message of Christ to people, to society and culture according to the mission of the Church in the world. But if the institution concludes otherwise, what remains will be a withered branch.

A question emerges from this action taken today: will this decision have a broader impact going beyond the ___ ___ University of Peru? I think so, but time will tell. Nevertheless, the question for other academic institutions who rely on the name Catholic, Jesuit, Dominican, Franciscan, Benedictine, etc. will be the same: what do you want to be? Do you wish to be Catholic or not?

 

RJA sj