Th problem seems to be that nobody out of that (by the way self-selecting, self-perpetuating) group seems to have --- or admits having --- decisive executive power. Not the UND President, not the CSC Superior, neither here or in Rome.
The buck does't stop anywhere: it just goes around and around and around.
It seemed to me a slippery, evasive, and insular form of leadership, and I wish I had a better grasp on how it all works and where to put the leverage.
Even "Let's withhold donations" seems unlikely to work, since anyone of a conservative Catholic sympathy has long since stopped giving to Notre Dame. After so many donors ditched them during the shameful Obama episode, who's left to exert any pressure?
I'm baffled, frustrated. What's your advice?
The Fellows of the University are a "self perpetuating body," consisting of six members whom at all times must be "members of the Priests Society of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, and six of whom shall be lay persons." The Fellows are the "successors and associates in office" of the original founders of the University and perform the following duties of office: Determine powers to be delegated to the Board of Trustees;
Elect the Trustees of the University in accordance with the Bylaws;
Adopt and amend the Bylaws of the University;
Approve the sale or transfer of substantial parts of the University’s physical property;
Ensure that the University maintains its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning;
Ensure that the University’s operations make full use of the skills and dedication of the members of the Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, Inc.;
Ensure that the University "continues its long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin."
The membership is as follows: Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C. (Indiana Provincial), Rev. Peter A. Jarret, C.S.C., Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. (University President), The Most Rev. Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., D.D.
Diana Lewis (is a member of the Guild of Catholic Lawyers, member of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services and a member of Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities), Patrick F. McCartan (former Managing Partner of Jones Day, member of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States, has been awarded Notre Dame's Laetare Medal for 2007, the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics), Terrence J. McGlinn, Richard C. Notebaert (Current Board Chair, was the CEO of Qwest Communications International, Inc. from 2002 until August 9, 2007. He was CEO of Ameritech before it merged with SBC), William M. Goodyear (is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in May 2000 and is on the board of Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, the Museum of Science and Industry, and Big Shoulders and the Financial Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago), Enrique Hernandez, Jr., ( is chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Inter-Con Security Systems, a Pasadena, Calif., firm that provides high-end security and facility support services to government, utilities and industrial consumers, and is co-founder and principal partner of Interspan Communications, a broadcast company serving Spanish-speaking audiences. He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from Harvard University. He is chairman of the board of Nordstrom Inc. and serves on the boards of Wells Fargo & Co., McDonald’s Corp. and Chevron Corp. His civic service includes the boards of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles)
So here's the thing. While everyone here likes to rag on Notre Dame saying it's no longer Catholic and all that rot, they simply aren't right about many things the University does. On the other hand, they do some things that make you scratch your head like allowing the Vagina Monologues, giving Obama an honorary degree and catering to gays. Hate the sin, love the sinner is kind of what they do. But again, there are some really good and decent people at Notre Dame doing really good and decent things in South Bend, the country and the world.
As for not answering to Rome. They do and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This order has a long history of fighting Rome, but not theologically. Notre Dame was financially strapped in early years and asked for money from France where the order was founded and Rome where they hoped the Pope might intercede on their behalf and ask the French order to send them more money. But make no mistake, the order and ultimately, the University answers to the Pope. They do have some autonomy and independence to offer a wide range of religious studies. And now I suspect there will be those who wish to throw stones at me about my alma mater over what I've written. All I ask is to read carefully what I've written. Not all things they do are bad. I don't agree with all of them, but they do some very kind and decent Catholic things.