<p>I have a junior interested in philosophy/psychology/sociology...and Villanova, BC, U of Notre Dame etc. are on the list but we are concerned that attending a catholic university might be ideologically conservative for my liberal-minded son - he believes in reincarnation for example. Should we just forget about these RC schools or keep an open mind? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Your son should feel comfortable applying to any of those schools. He can add Georgetown and Fordham. They all have very strong philosophy departments. Catholic Universities are filled with liberals, don’t sweat it.</p>
<p>While most of the studnets are Catholic, there is no atmosphere of pushing catholicism on non-catholics. Whatever tension there is, it is usually a minority of Catholic students (and some alumni) pushing Catholicism on very, very “tolerant” administrations.</p>
<p>Have your son visit the campus for an overnight stay and talk to non-Catholics that attend these great schools. I am sure he could find some non-Catholic alumni with whom he could correspond as well.</p>
<p>Not a problem at all. Notre Dame is the most conservative and most Catholic of the schools you suggested. But there are MANY non catholics at Notre Dame. </p>
<p>The Jesuit colleges (28 of them) are all very good, very open minded and typically have about 40% non catholics in their student bodies. </p>
<p>Some Catholic colleges suggestions: Fordham, BC, Holy Cross, Georgetown, Xavier, Saint Louis University, Marquette, Villanova, Providence College, Creighton, Gonzaga, Siena, etc.</p>
<p>[Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>
<p>Most Catholic colleges wouldn’t care what you believe in. They don’t even expect you to believe in God. Seriously. There are probably a few exceptions, like Franciscan U, but most don’t care what you believe in. And, if there is a “theology course” requirement, it can be in anything - Jewish studies, etc.</p>
<p>As for politics. Most Catholic U’s are filled with left-leaning, right-leaning, and everything in between. Catholic colleges tend to only be “conservative” about one issue - abortion (Catholic U’s are not supposed to advocate for abortion). Almost anything else they are pretty left-leaning.</p>
<p>I applied and got into Notre Dame but I am choosing Emory (partly because the latter is more liberal)… i’m liberal and agnostic… so I guess I personally may feel a bit unconfortable if everyone around me were hardcore believers… but from what I hear about Notre Dame, it is not as conservative as people tend to think.</p>
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<p>I’d add gay marriage in addition to abortion. There is still some animosity between LGBT groups and the administration on those campuses. For example, Catholic U of America refuses to recognize the school’s GLBTQ club as an official student group. </p>
<p>[How</a> Catholic University’s Gay Student Group Survives Without Talking Marriage, Sex, or Politics - The Sexist - Washington City Paper](<a href=“http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/12/14/how-catholic-university-gay-student-group-survives-without-talking-marriage-sex-or-politics/]How”>http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/12/14/how-catholic-university-gay-student-group-survives-without-talking-marriage-sex-or-politics/)</p>
<p>On the other hand Georgetown is at least making some progress by recently starting a resource center for gay students.</p>
<p>[Georgetown</a> U. tries to be Catholic and gay-friendly - washingtonpost.com](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/11/AR2009121104654.html]Georgetown”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/11/AR2009121104654.html)</p>
<p>related article: [Keeping</a> the Faith :: GLBT students face adversity at Catholic colleges :: EDGE Boston](<a href=“http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=52747]Keeping”>http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=52747)</p>
<p>One cannot project their own personal value system and beliefs upon a Roman Catholic College. For one, its absurd to do that at any college. While you are entitled to your own views, expecting others to join you is a bit delusional and unrealistic. What you can expect from them is mutual respect and tolerance…to a point. Tolerance does not mean acquiescence in your views. Tolerance means you can voice your opinions and not be harmed, though they have every right to criticize your opinion in a scholarly manner, not an ad hominem manner. Expecting the Roman Catholic Church to acquiesce to your demands to approve of gay marriage or gay adoption is absurd. The Church teaches that homosexuality is not sinful per se, vis a vis one’s sexual preferences, but is only sinful in the acts of homosexual behavior. The Church teaches that marriage is ordained by Almighty God and Blessed by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Mother the Church. It is a sacred union between a man and a woman, designed by God to please Him and to procreate the human race. Thus, other “forms of marriage” designed by man on earth are not recognized as valid by the Church and never will be. They will be regarded as living in sin, just as a man and woman living together outside of a valid marriage would be regarded as living in sin. Take that up with your local Bishop if you disagree.</p>
<p>However, there are gay and lesbian groups at many Catholic colleges, and those groups may well support and work for dignity, which may include their views on what constitutes a valid marriage. They have a right to expect mutual respect and dignity in their dealings on campus. </p>
<p>But Catholic colleges are private colleges and have every right to ban whatever groups they want to ban, so long as they do not overtly violate federal laws against discrimination. IF there comes a time when gay marriage is federally approved and it becomes a violation of federal law to discriminate against gay marriage, then we will have a serious Constitutional showdown between Church and State on the issue.</p>
<p>Some people can be very liberal in a very conservative setting and be perfectly comfortable in their own skin, pardon the pun, and indeed excel and thrive. Others need to be among people of their own way of thinking. Ditto for conservatives in an overtly liberal majority. In fact, I would suggest it is far more likely that a conservative will feel oppressed at a liberal college than vice versa. </p>
<p>College should be about the professional and proper exchange of ideas, where engaged learning is the objective and ideal of the university. We can and should be able to discuss many topics, including controversial topics, with a decorum of professionalism and mutual respect, even if we vehemently disagree on the outcome.</p>
<p>I think you will find Roman Catholic universities to be among the most tolerant, respectful and intellectually challenging in the country. You should not shy away from a Catholic college because you may have views and beliefs that are different than Church doctrine. Moreover, you should also enter the university with an open mind, open to an epiphany of your own.</p>
<p>But you cannot expect to chase windmills and force YOUR views upon the Church. At most you can expect to reach a modicum of respect for the differences of opinion, and you should offer as much respect for Church doctrine as it offers you in return.</p>
<p>Very true. Many noncatholics happily attended my kids’ catholic schools. The ones who tried to waste class time arguing constantly were not as happy. Discussion is one thing. Expecting a 2000 year old church to change based on the shifting sands of public opinion is just silly.</p>
<p>the top Jesuit colleges like Georgetown, Holy Cross, BC, Fordham seem like the ideal targets</p>
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<p>I’ve never been religious, so I’m not definitive on the subject, but I find that public opinion often eventually trumps age-old beliefs. Heliocentrism was once opposed by the Church and no one denies the Earth revolves around the sun now. The Church has long had a neutral stance on the theory of evolution but now it is almost implicitly accepted. Things are reinterpreted all the time because public opinion shifts.</p>
<p>Schirtzo, we are not saying, nor would I deign to suggest, that the Church has never changed in 2,000 years and its doctrine is carved in stone like the Old Law of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai: the Ten Commandments. Nor would I suggest we are capable of changing Church doctrine. Whether they will ever change their stance on homosexuality and marriage is not for me to decide or be concerned with now. Its for another time and age. The issues that are hot topics within the Church and may well see “change” in our lifetime are mostly around the role of women inside the Church, females being admitted to the priesthood and whether priests may be allowed to marry. There is a serial shortage of priests as the existing priesthood ages and retires. Celibacy, despite Church denials, is the main impediment to many holy and devout men becoming priests. I know of many young men who feel equally called by God to the priesthood and to marriage and family. They are not mutually exclusive in my personal view and I would support a change in allowing for married priests. I think its going to happen a lot sooner than people realize. Within 20 years in my view. </p>
<p>Don’t be so critical of the Church on Heliocentrism. They did the best they could with human faults and frailty as humans developed and learned more…as Science became part of God’s Revelation to us. The Church changes slowly…for good reason. </p>
<p>The point here is that Catholic Universities and in particular the leading Jesuit colleges, plus Notre Dame, Villanova, Providence College, Siena etc are institutions of higher learning that are tolerant and respectful, encouraging debate and discussion. But they will also let you know where the Church stands on issues Ex Cathedra on Faith and Morals. </p>
<p>Whether you are agnostic, atheistic, or simply benign in your own faith, attending a Catholic university is a wonderful way to learn and explore if you come with an open mind. Nobody is going to proselytze you and make you do something against your will. Even if you are a theology major from another faith experience, its not seriously going to impact your success in college. Many Catholic colleges employ Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran and Baptist professors. </p>
<p>It is true that not all Catholic colleges are alike and some are more Catholic than others.</p>
<p>I would include Duquesne in Pittsburgh</p>
<p>Public opinion didn’t change the Church’s view on Heliocentrism, science did. That wasn’t a doctrine, either.</p>
<p>*that the Church has never changed in 2,000 years and its doctrine is carved in stone like the Old Law of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai: the Ten Commandments. Nor would I suggest we are capable of changing Church doctrine. *</p>
<p>The Church doesn’t change Doctrine or create new Doctrines. It can change non-doctrine customs (such a priest celibacy) or further understand existing doctrines thru study and science. But, the Church’s Doctrines have stayed the same since the death of the last apostle.</p>
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<p>Science influences public opinion. In order for a discovery or idea in science to take hold, people have to accept it.</p>
<p>For example, the basic concept of evolution stayed the same after Darwin published the idea, the science was there but it had to convince people to accept it. Then public opinion shifted when they were exposed to his ideas, and actions stemmed from that. Science holds little power if it doesn’t convince people.</p>