<p>I was wondering if anybody here knew if catholic universities were very conservative? I was considering santa clara university, but I don't want to go a school where I would feel uncomfortable expressing my liberal political views and sexual orientation. Does anybody have any advice, particularly about santa clara?</p>
<p>Oh! I was interested in Santa Clara awhile ago...it's a Jesuit school, right? From what people told me it is extremely liberal, at least as far as religious schools go. I e-mailed the rep for GSA (or whatever it was...the college equivalent) and asked how gay students were received on campus, etc., and he said everyone fits in great (the fact that the university even /has/ a GSA suggests it's really quite progressive). He seemed a little defensive. But we must take his words at face value ;).</p>
<p>So, yeah, my impression is that although some religious schools can be scary conservative (Pepperdine, Notre Dame, etc.) Santa Clara appears to be a pretty chill place.</p>
<p>I think the Catholic schools are socially progressive, and morally strict about some things, but flexible on others (like drinking). Catholic schools are fairly diverse politically, and perhaps generally apolitical in the sense that they object to social and political conditions on a bipartisan basis. They seem pretty "normal", not fanatical fringe.</p>
<p>you might also find a priest living on your floor at the dorm...
you are required to take certain amount of religious classes usually it is quite variable so you can take almost any religion or ethics class.</p>
<p>what about Fordham, DePaul, and USF?
also do you think it will help that I go to a Catholic HS (admission/aid wise)?</p>
<p>going to a catholic HS may or may not help with admissions, but check the schools because some (like Loyola Marymount) have special scholarships for catholic HS grads</p>
<p>might want to ask the Catholic Church how "conservative" it is to molest little boys...</p>
<p>^Dumbest post I've ever seen.</p>
<p>Jesuit Universities are not Catholic Universities. Jesuit Universities were founded by Catholics but do not enforce religion in any way. Catholic Universities are EXTREMELY conservative (although not usually politically active in that sense).</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>jesuit universities are very much indeed catholic universities - being as the jesuits are catholic priests. I went to a jesuit high school - and therefore i went to a catholic high school. same thing applies to college. and catholic universities are not "EXTREMELY" conservative. a few catholic, yet not jesuit universities - notre dame, manhattan college, catholic university of america, st. boneventure, st. joe's, depaul, st. vincent's, st. john's, seton hall, villanova, etc.</p>
<p>and jesuit universities do enforce religion - just look at Georgetown, which won't give out any sort of birth control because its against the catholic church's teachings.</p>
<p>There are however extremely conservative CHRISTIAN universities (pensacola, bju, byu).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dumbest post I've ever seen.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>sorry, did i hit a nerve there?</p>
<p>the_prestige,</p>
<p>catholic priests are no more likely to molest a child than a jewish rabbi, or a buddhist monk, or a regular person. the fact that it is more talked about/made public by media will make it seem that it more so, however.</p>
<p>
[quote]
catholic priests are no more likely to molest a child than a jewish rabbi, or a buddhist monk, or a regular person.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>jags... among a group of catholic priests, jewish rabbis and buddhist monks? yeah, i agree that, on balance, the odds are pretty even ... but they are higher than your average joe IMO.</p>
<p>it's just a matter of what's "natural" - you bottle that shiat up and it's going to manifest itself in farked up manners - case in point: Catholic Church -> Celibacy -> Child Molestation... seems like a pretty simple equation to me... just let the guys marry and have SEX - what's the big freakin deal there? ... seems like a pretty simple solution to a needlessly complex situation.</p>
<p>the_prestige,</p>
<p>the problem is that your opinion doesn't change the facts. there have actually been studies which have proved that priests are no more likely to molest a child than a nonclergy man. </p>
<p>the fastest thing i can find is prof. jenkins of penn state who said,</p>
<p>"My research of cases over the past 20 years indicates no evidence whatever that Catholic or other celibate clergy are any more likely to be involved in misconduct or abuse than clergy of any other denomination -- or indeed, than nonclergy. However determined news media may be to see this affair as a crisis of celibacy, the charge is just unsupported."</p>
<p>
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Philip Jenkins is Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies at Penn State.
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</p>
<p>this guy hardly qualifies as a non-partisan author, in point of fact, is it a surprise that a person affiliated with religion (albeit in an academic setting - it is an affiliation nonetheless) comes out with a study which effectively defends the abuse?</p>
<p>look, i'm not on any "crusade" (pun intended) - i'm a "live and let live" kind of a guy...religious? great. not religious? good for you. agnostic? fine... its just that i totally cringe when i see such massive hypocrisy taking place such as it does in seemingly disproportionate amounts within the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>Trust me being from Cali, there aren't many "conservative" Catholic colleges, especially in Northern Cali. The Bay Area is probably about 70% Democrat, 10% Green, and 20% republican.</p>
<p>"Does anybody have any advice, particularly about santa clara?"</p>
<p>Santa Clara is not religious at all, but this varies school to school. If you are worried about it, i wouldn't look places like Notre Dame or Pepperdine</p>
<p>"I think the Catholic schools are socially progressive, and morally strict about some things, but flexible on others (like drinking)."</p>
<p>Catholics drink alcohol at mass</p>
<p>"what about Fordham, DePaul, and USF?"</p>
<p>DePaul is not religious whatsoever. It's in the middle of Chicago, there is really no opportunity for the school to assert religion when there are so many outside influences and detachment.</p>
<p>"also do you think it will help that I go to a Catholic HS (admission/aid wise)?"</p>
<p>Yes, especially at places like Notre Dame, they definitely consider it.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, DePaul is very liberal and has a large LGBT community</p>
<p>^^ yep (10 char)</p>
<p>What about Georgetown?</p>
<p>Does anybody here know more about how conservative Santa Clara is?</p>