Some Questions

[DominicanPhilosophy]

[i][b]1.[/b][/i] What is the Church's view of University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)? I've been there for a week this summer and last summer, and the more I look into it from the point-of-view of a high school upperclassman searching for colleges, I really do like it. Initially, I was sure that I wanted a small, liberal arts, Catholic college, but UND does feel small, despite its large size; the different scholastic programs offered also interest me. The only thing is, of course, the theology department. I would definitely drop Notre Dame as one of the colleges on my list if the theology department is really messed up/unfaithful to Rome. In light of the recent "scandal," I'd like to hear what the Vatican says about the university. Also, while each male dorm building has a priest, female dorms don't because, well, priests are male. However, I noticed on the school's website that each female dorm has a "rector": a sister (not sure the congregation) with different types of pastoral/ministry degrees. Does this mean that these are "women priests"? That kind of...weirded me out.

[b][i]2.[/i][/b] Has anyone attended or had personal experience(s) with Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry's Bay, Ontario, Canada? This seems like a wonderful place and, other than the fact that it's not accredited and is in a location where it is pretty chilly year-round, I think it would be a great school. The transfer of credits to/from would be nasty, it seems, though. I'm planning on taking college classes during the summer by my high school, so I'd have to transfer into and then, of course, out of OLSWA. (There are one-, two-, and three-year certificate programs.)

[i][b]3.[/b][/i] If a person has a crush on someone or finds certain people very nice/attractive, does this mean that he or she has no religious vocation?

Sorry about these somewhat strange, random, unrelated questions.
Thank you, to anyone who responds.

+JMJD

[CatherineM]

Can't help you with either #1 or #2, but people who pursue vocations don't give up being real humans beings just because they take vows of celibacy. There are some who have been married, some who even have jaded pasts, but that doesn't mean that the Lord isn't calling them. Sometimes we don't want to hear it, or don't understand the call. Even after taking vows, they will face the temptations in life that we all do. That just makes them normal.

[StColette]

[quote name='DominicanPhilosophy' post='1896921' date='Jun 20 2009, 08:36 PM'][i][b]1.[/b][/i] What is the Church's view of University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)? I've been there for a week this summer and last summer, and the more I look into it from the point-of-view of a high school upperclassman searching for colleges, I really do like it. Initially, I was sure that I wanted a small, liberal arts, Catholic college, but UND does feel small, despite its large size; the different scholastic programs offered also interest me. The only thing is, of course, the theology department. I would definitely drop Notre Dame as one of the colleges on my list if the theology department is really messed up/unfaithful to Rome. In light of the recent "scandal," I'd like to hear what the Vatican says about the university. Also, while each male dorm building has a priest, female dorms don't because, well, priests are male. However, I noticed on the school's website that each female dorm has a "rector": a sister (not sure the congregation) with different types of pastoral/ministry degrees. Does this mean that these are "women priests"? That kind of...weirded me out.

[b][i]2.[/i][/b] Has anyone attended or had personal experience(s) with Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry's Bay, Ontario, Canada? This seems like a wonderful place and, other than the fact that it's not accredited and is in a location where it is pretty chilly year-round, I think it would be a great school. The transfer of credits to/from would be nasty, it seems, though. I'm planning on taking college classes during the summer by my high school, so I'd have to transfer into and then, of course, out of OLSWA. (There are one-, two-, and three-year certificate programs.)

[i][b]3.[/b][/i] If a person has a crush on someone or finds certain people very nice/attractive, does this mean that he or she has no religious vocation?

Sorry about these somewhat strange, random, unrelated questions.
Thank you, to anyone who responds.

+JMJD[/quote]

#1

I would be a little cautious about attendance at Notre Dame. If I'm correct, unless things have happened within the last couple of years, Notre Dame does not require it's Theology faculty to take an Oath of Fidelity:

Oath: Canon 833: Catholic theologians are personally bound to make a profession of faith, according to the formula approved by the Apostolic See, in the presence of the university president if he is a priest, or the diocesan bishop or a delegate, at the beginning of their term of office.

The Profession of Faith and the Oath of Fidelity, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1989: The obligation of a special oath of fidelity has been extended to Catholic theology professors.

I also believe that they do not have a Mandatum, though I could be wrong, but I could not find a source that said that they did.

The Mandatum: Canon 812: It is necessary that Catholic theologians have a mandatum from the diocesan bishop.

Pope John Paul II (to American bishops, 2004): “By their very nature, Catholic colleges and universities are called to offer an institutional witness of fidelity to Christ and to his word as it comes to us from the Church, a public witness expressed in the canonical requirement of the mandatum. “

U.S. Application: Both the university and the bishops, aware of the contributions made by theologians to Church and academy, have a right to expect them to present authentic Catholic teaching. Catholic professors of the theological disciplines have a corresponding duty to be faithful to the Church’s magisterium as the authoritative interpreter of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

U.S. Application: “Catholic students have a right to receive from a university instruction in authentic Catholic doctrine and practice, especially from theologians.”

Mandatum text: “I hereby declare my role and responsibility as a teacher of a theological discipline within the full communion of the Church. As a teacher of a theological discipline, therefore, I am committed to teach authentic Catholic doctrine and to refrain from putting forth as Catholic teaching anything contrary to the Church’s magisterium.”

U.S. Application: “If a particular professor lacks a mandatum and continues to teach a theological discipline, the university must determine what further action may be taken in accordance with its own mission and statutes.”


As for the second part of # 1, no just because the Sister's title is rector, that does not mean she is a female priest. It's a bad choice of vocabulary the University uses. Many Catholic schools and hospitals have Sisters in charge of their ministry to the students (ie in girls dorms) or patients. They are often referred to as chaplain rather than rector. But even chaplain can be a loaded vocabulary word. But no, just because they are called rector does not mean that they are a priest. It's just a bad choice of wording.

Question #2

I don't know much about Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, but I do know that they take the Oath of Fidelity and they are currently working with their local bishop to receive a Mandatum.

[url="http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16007"]http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16007[/url] will give you a survey of many different Catholic Colleges and Universities. If you click on each of the schools you will get detailed information about the survey. Information such as if there is Daily Mass, Oath of Fidelity taken, Mandatum, etc.

Another great source for a picking a Catholic College or University is the Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges.

Question # 3

No just because someone thinks another person is cute/nice/whatever it does not mean that they are not called to a religious vocation. Our "feelings" can often lead us to ignore the larger picture and what God truly wants for us.

Hope this helps,
Jennie