<p>You are most welcome. Its a tough topic to discern and discuss because everyone is different and has different views of what college is about. Some catholic schools are “more catholic” than others, but that mostly means more catholic students admitted, not necessarily more faith followers. You will find all sorts of people with all sorts of personal issues and values in even the most religious schools. In the end its up to each student.</p>
<p>My daughter was sheltered and was in culture shock in New York for a year. Some students were less than “religious” shall we say in their personal choices and values. She learned to ignore them and find spirituality among her friends and notably her boyfriend (who is now her fiance.) She learned not to judge as well. </p>
<p>They went to weekly mass and enjoyed it immensely because the Jesuits give such thought provoking sermons. Campus ministry was fabulous. She wasnt a holy roller or bible thumper or self righteous person. Many of her friends were of different faiths, and some were openly agnostic. But they all learned to be respectful of views. Her classes were very thought provoking and she wrote many papers often that were not necessarily consistent with professors views, but thankfully (with one exception and he is gone) they were all fabulous and NEVER downgraded her papers on the basis of content. She was judged and graded on the basis of her argument and scholarly research. </p>
<p>I can recommend the Curran Center strongly. One of my daughter’s friends in Curran went to Harvard Divinity School for grad school and he was jewish. A very nice person. </p>
<p>Jesuits are all about Faith and Reason, challenging faith precepts in an honest scholarly manner and then trying to employ ones faith in community, not through proselytizing but through love and giving back to community. </p>
<p>Some jesuit colleges are more religious than others and Fordham is near the top in “available” religious experience and overall environment. </p>
<p>If one desires a distinctly more religious environment then Franciscan College in Ohio is there, or perhaps a smaller school run by an order of nuns and priests where the student body is predominantly Catholic. Fordham is about 60% Roman Catholic. </p>
<p>Some Fordham faculty are rather well known in theology circles around the country and the Vatican and more than one has been challenged in the previous pontificate. But I can attest that these professors are outstanding scholars, inspiring teachers and open minded. She is better off for the experience. The same, some of her more rigid friends who came from rigid catholic high schools and families learned to open their minds and perspectives on the meaning of faith and were greatly helped by the Jesuit ethos.<br>
University Church is a beautiful place and one of the most precious examples of gothic architecture in the country, including both an altar and stained glass windows as gifts (Dagger John, the archbishop of New York obtained them and his stories are infamous and sometimes humorous). The new pipe organ is fabulous. </p>
<p>Choirs are available to join at Fordham as well and student involvement by reading at Mass is also encouraged. But nobody is forced to attend any services. </p>