I had the chance a couple of days ago to Greg and Jennifer’s podcast where they interviewed Professor Scott Appleby from Notre Dame.  It was, to say the least, a very entertaining if slightly frustrating episode.  I’ll leave it to you to listen to the episode – I don’t think my comments require you going through it all but it certainly, at the least, would not hurt.

In the middle of the discussion between Greg and Prof. Appleby the professor admitted there were multiple possible interpretations of the intent of the university in extending the invitation to President Obama and giving him an honorary Law degree.  He asserted that the most charitable explanation was the only reasonable one and the only one people should accept.  In that right there he reminded me that academics and academia exist in a sphere all their own and forget that not everyone else see the world through their glasses.

This is more than just the ivory tower or liberal demagoguery that I’m talking about here.  Academia, particularly the university environment, exists outside of the influences that affect the lives most of us live.  Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, but we’re not here to pick that nit.  Prof. Appleby’s argument boils down to, if I can paraphrase, “if there’s a possible positive interpretation of Notre Dame’s actions that is the only plausible one and anyone who disagrees is doing so out of their own private motives.”  Tell me where else you get to do something and then demand everyone else agree with your selected interpretation.

That leads me to my second observation.  People have been railing about how the Vatican has done such a poor job of anticipating reactions to various statements in the recent past.  Yet somehow those same people aren’t making the same complaints about Notre Dame’s complete failure in anticipating the reaction to this action.  There’s a fundamental difference in reaction on the part of the university which I think is the genesis of this different reaction by the pundits.  When the Vatican makes a mistake (of late, at least) it has generally admitted in some form the shortcoming, apologized for it and tried to move the discussion back to what they’d intended.  Notre Dame instead has come out swinging, saying it has done nothing wrong and that everyone else is at fault for their malicious interpretations.  The former is red meat to those who have any reason to find fault; the latter puts them on their heels.

For reasons that still elude me universities have been given (or perhaps, have taken) the right to define the terms of discussion regarding anything they do and have, as can be seen in this case,  taken broad privilege with that right.  When you get to deal the cards and decide the rules of the game as it’s being played it’s no wonder things have slid just a little off the straight-and-narrow.  Somehow, in some way, the academic world needs to realize that it can’t dictate reality to those around it and come to see that things such as academic inquiry are not, in fact, carte blancher to ignore the desires of everyone else.  True freedom, and this includes academic freedom as well, is the freedom to do what is right, not just to do whatever one finds intriguing, exciting or glamorous at the time.  I don’t know about you though, but I’m not holding my breath on that one.  Sadly.

…when in the initial paperwork is included the reminder that “[w]e will be going to Mass every Wednesday this year.” That’s the kind of information you just can’t see enough. Sure, it’s not daily, but the beauty of it is that it means you no longer have kids who go to the school and go through Sacrament and/or religion classes and don’t go to Mass because their parents won’t bother to take them. Yet another step in recovering the damage associated with nearly losing an entire generation. Deo gratias!

First, Rich Leonardi tells us about both a beginner’s and an advanced course in Latin provided by the U.K.’s National Archives. I simply must find a way to improve my sketchy-at-best Latin skills. After all, it is little use telling people of the value of Latin if I haven’t remotely mastered it myself.

Second, Rorate Caeli lets us all know there is a course being offered on St. Thomas Aquinas. Ite ad Thomam has more details – it looks to be an interactive online course. I can manage to pull out both of these at nearly the same time, as well as another super-secret project I’m just getting started. Sure I can!

Father Jonathan Morris has a very interesting interview with Dr. Bernhard Beub, headmaster of the Salem boarding school in Germany and author of “Lob der Disziplin” (In Praise of Discipline). If there are more like him in Europe, its worst days may just be behind it. Without saying the word, his framework for the reform of the educational establishment in Germany is based on a very Christian principle – “to be strict, with love”. A couple choice quotes (myemphasis):

Father Jonathan: When you talk about “strict education” and “discipline” what are you referring to?

Dr. Bueb: The requisite of all culture growth is asceticism … learning to postpone or renounce wishes and desires. You have to learn to work. Kids need to live a rational life, meaning to submit themselves to reason. You shouldn’t barter with your child. To a three or four-year-old boy or girl, you just say, “You have to do this or that.” People say you need to discuss everything with a child as young as possible. I am proposing finding the middle ground, a third way, to be strict with love.
…
Father Jonathan: What about the moral decline in society as a whole? Isn’t the problem bigger than just discipline in schools? Do you have a sense of why we are going in this direction?

Dr. Bueb: When a nation gets too rich, people begin to lose morals. Riches are hard to cope with. My book is now in eight languages. Germany is not the only country with the problem. Taiwan, China, and Korea, for example, are now trying to cope. When you are rich, you are seduced to enjoy life and not to work on yourself as a person. On the other hand, the poorer you are, the harder you must work to get along. Also, I think that families no longer exist in the same way as you had 50 years ago. Divorce, single mothers, we see the very negative effects in education.

Tags: Catholic, Education, Discipline, Germany

Fr. Philip Powell, OP reminds us of the modus operandi of those in the dangerous academic circles and the necessity of truth (or, rather, Truth) above all. As one who worked in higher education for a few years, I will say his reflection on how issues are argued, or rather not argued, are spot on. It is amazing how much oxygen one can consume and still not say a useful thing. Do read the whole post – if nothing else it will tickle your funny bone if not, indeed, stir your mind.

Denise at Catholic Mom really pushed my buttons with this post. In particular, this part is something that really gets to me:

Right now we are stuck in a cycle of poorly catechized parents that don’t support faith formation at home. Their children are in the parish CCD system where we provide a band-aid fix with classroom style religious education. These children then do their time in CCD and are sent out into the world. However, an hour a week for eight months out of the year cannot make up for a lifetime lacking in family faith formation. These children are very likely to grow up to be poorly catechized parents and the cycle begins anew. I really think the only way to break this cycle is to address the parents directly. Their lack of involvement is more out of ignorance than out of indifference. When was the last time you heard a DRE or a priest tell parents that parents are the primary catechists of their children? It is the parents’ responsibility to form the faith of their children. The parish is here to help but children learn to live the faith when their family lives the faith.

I have been lamenting the complete lack of adult formation in the Church since before I even received a single sacrament. Many will, rightfully, lament how far we still have to go in catechizing our children. While I have no argument at all with the sentiment that we need to find ways other than rock concerts and rock climbing to reach our children, I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the general lack of even that level of effort to catechize our adults.

Certainly there are efforts beginning in some parishes and I absolute commend them for doing this mostly on their own. For the great work of a few, however, we cannot overlook the lack of effort of the many. My own parish has just announced a parish mission which, from what I’m told by parish “old-timers”, is the first in many, many years.

Why is it that we seem to have left adults by and large to fend for themselves? I don’t know. Certainly for many years there was an apathy towards any kind of substantive catechesis for anyone, an apathy whose effects we are still feeling in the uphill battle against felt banner teaching. Perhaps there was a certain cultural momentum that kept kids in CCD so they could “graduate” at Confirmation. One does have to wonder whether, for all the negatives about that phenomenon if it has not simultaneously been a primary force in keeping the catechetical system afloat. While momentum is never a good reason to move toward a sacrament, without it I have to think parishes would have had a very hard time finding teachers for CCD classes that were almost empty. Perhaps that’s an example of God pulling a greater good out of a bad situation.

That momentum, however, does not seem to have existed for adults. When faith is transmitted as “God loves you and that’s all there is to know” why ever would an already busy adult take time out to sit in a church basement to learn the finer nuances of the word “Abba“? With adults away from an active participation (hah! Who’d have thought I could use that term in such a way?) in their faith for so long their momentum is gone and now we have to overcome a significant inertia that has become as cultural as it is personal.

How do we overcome this inertia and generate the kind of momentum that will bring along with it those who may not have a great felt interest in their faith? I think there are two places it starts, and the first must be the pulpit. I’m not talking about flame throwing homilies or anything of the sort but rather a recognition of the fact that people respond better to invitations from clergy than those run out by a lector droning out a series of mostly-irrelevant-to-me announcements. When the priest or deacon takes time out of his homily to promote a lecture or presentation, not just to announce it but to explain why it is important to attend the result is almost invariably far greater attendance. I’m told there are even statistics for this, although I haven’t the first clue of where to look for them.

If I might be so bold as to offer a piece of advice to the clergy as well – if you are not the one making the presentation, be sure to attend it if possible or at the very least stop by for more than a wave. The presence of a priest or deacon at these events adds an immeasurable weight of felt importance to those in attendance. In management (and the military) this is called “showing the flag” although we know it should have a deeper weight than that in this case. And hey, while you’re there, offer a blessing, an introduction or a closing. Your personal involvement shows in another way your commitment not only to the session but to those in attendance; it shows you are actively interested in making sure they get the nourishment they need and not passively acquiescing to someone else’s idea.

The second place we must overcome this inertia is, naturally, in person-to-person contact. That means not only talking to your friends but often enough your spouse. It involves not just talking about a presentation or inviting someone to one but also showing the impact of it in your life. Our response to attending a lecture or presentation should be a radiance akin to that of Moses – we need not, indeed should not, come out as a charging lion but rather show forth the loving grace of the saving Lamb. A lamp set on a stand can light a great area; we should allow those lamps to spread that light and not burn those around them.

So…with all that I’ll make it simple. Do what Denise did and ask to help present on some topic that adults can relate to, something that can expand the spiritual horizons of those around you. Even if you’re turned down, offer again later. We can only offer our services, we cannot impose them. No matter what, above all else, encourage and support your priest when he offers or promotes any kind of learning opportunity. In these small ways we will get this large ball rolling.

Someone needs to give Dawn Eden a job. Oh, wait, they did. Even still, her words need to get out more.

What I discovered upon becoming chaste, it’s always wrong to treat people as though they are interchangeable. The thing is, any time you have sex with someone outside of marriage, you’re treating them as though they can be replaced. Because the only irreplaceable person is the person you marry.

This is the kind of message they need to be pushing in all these “health” classes, not how to put condoms on bananas. As my kids would put it, Dawn rocks. Which I think would suit her to a ‘t’.

…Cardinal Pell doing something intelligent. From CWN:

Sydney, Jun. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) – Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, is planning to ask Catholic-school principals to make a profession of faith, according to reports in the Australian secular media.

The call for a profession of faith is one aspect of a far-ranging pastoral plan for the Sydney archdiocese that Cardinal Pell has circulated for comments.

The principals of Catholic schools would be asked to accept a “religious submission of intellect and will” to the teachings of the Church. That phrase is taken from the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, and refers to the assent that is expected of all faithful Catholics.

The world needs more Bishops with backbone. I suppose the interesting question is precisely how he intends to enforce request – one hopes at the very least it has more success than Ex Corde Ecclesiae has in cleaning up Catholic colleges. I, for one, haven’t seen or heard of any problems with the school my kids are in, but I’m sure there are some out there that could use some, er, cleaning. Something to keep an eye on…

I mentioned one day in our RCIA class, on the topic of suffering, that our God is a God of seeming contradictions. The way to life is hard, the way to death easy. A seed cannot produce life but that it should die. The salvation of the world required the death of the Son. In a perfectly logical, “ones and zeros” kind of world those things don’t make sense. But while God is pure logic, He also transcends logic. or at least our feeble attempts at understanding it. Thus, we wind up with nuggets like this, from CNA:

Washington DC, May 4, 2007 / 01:18 pm (CNA).- Protestors gathered outside the US Supreme Court building this week to demand that the judicial body reinstate the right to pray in public places. Among those present was William “Bill” Murray, son of the late Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the militant atheist who won a 1963 court battle to prohibit prayer in public schools.

Several years ago, William Murray converted to Christianity and today he leads the Coalition for Religious Freedom. He grew up under the shadow of his mother, who won the famous court battle that removed expressions of faith from the public school system in the United States.

The Rev. Rob Schenck, who participated in the protest, said the presence of Murray was emblematic. “Nobody knows this issue like he does. He was used, abused and indoctrinated to think that prayer violated the Constitution. Now he uses the genius that God gave him to return prayer to the schools and to all public life in America,” he said.

Murray became one of the most outspoken critics of the work of his mother, who was accused of manipulating her followers, robbing funds from her organization and tax fraud. Madelyn Murray O’Hare was killed in 1995 together with her son Jon and her granddaughter Robin, William’s daughter.

The son of the woman who perpetrated a great crime is given the opportunity, and grasps hold thereof, to right the wrongs and stand up for the rights transgressed by his mother. This is a far cry from visiting the sins of a man upon his descendants for seven generations. Just when it seems most terrible, God has a twist just waiting for you.

My, but Satan is getting feisty. It’s unlike him to let his horns show so boldly. From CWN:

Apr. 5, 2007 (CWNews.com) – The leader of Scotland’s Green Party, Robin Harper, has called for the abolition of Catholic schools.

“State education should be secular,” Harper said, promising that the Green Party would work to end government support for the parochial schools.

The existence of separate religious schools “tends to divide communities,” Harper said. He argued that Catholics should receive their religious instruction through their parents and pastors, so that religious education in schools is unnecessary.

The existence of separate secular schools tends to divide communities as well, Mr. Harper. I live in a city with two major secular high schools and they get along, well, just like any group of high school kids who are routinely set up to compete against each other.

Now, I would love for it to be the case that his last assertion were true, but it simply is not and has not been for a long time. Quite frequently, frankly, parents simply do not have the education in their faith to be able to educate their children, and taking only an hour in CCD a week simply cannot delve into the depths of the Catholic faith. Then again, maybe that’s what Mr. Harper wants.

A commenter on the story makes a very eloquent and important point. Forcing all state schools to be purely secular would be to renege on the promises of the 1916 Education Act wherein the Bishops agreed to allow all the schools to be incorporated into the state system. But then, that is how Satan is working these days – no frontal assaults. First, create a crack in the surface that seems innocuous enough. Then, wait until that change has been forgotten. Then barge through that crack at top speed screeching about diversity, inclusivity or some such drivel. Then finally portray your position as one of “human rights” and the majority of people devoid of knowledge of history succumb to the “loudest voice wins” theorem and *poof* victory is yours. Without firing a single shot. As was once said, a dictator who rules “for the good of the people” is the most tyrannical of them all.