Posted on 01/29/2018 5:08:26 PM PST by ebb tide
Pope Francis has called for a "radical paradigm shift" and a "bold cultural revolution" at ecclesiastical universities, in a new apostolic constitution issued on January 29.
The new 87-page document, entitled Veritatis Gaudium ("The Joy of Truth") replaces the apostolic constitution Sapientia Christiana, issued by St. John Paul II in 1979. Pope Francis writes that the older document "urgently needs to be brought up to date" in light of changes in society and in academic life.
(The new papal document applies specifically to universities and other academic institutions that offer degrees and courses of study approved by the Holy See. It does not apply directly to most Catholic colleges and universities, which remain governed by the norms of the 1990 apostolic constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae.)
In Veritatis Gaudium the Pontiff stresses that ecclesiastical faculties serve the primary need of the Church today, which is "for the People of God to be ready to embark upon a new stage of 'Spirit-filled' evangelization." He writes that this challenge requires "a resolute process of discernment, purification, and reform."
The need for a new approach is clear, the Pope writes, in light of "a true epochal shift" in society, made evident in "a wide-ranging anthropological and environmental crisis." He continues:
Indeed, we daily see signs that things are now reaching a breaking point, due to the rapid pace of change and degradation; these are evident in large-scale natural disasters as well as social and even financial crises. In a word, this calls for changing the models of global development"and redefining our notion of progress. Yet the problem is that we still lack the culture necessary to confront this crisis. We lack leadership capable of striking out on new paths.
To guide the new approach to learning at ecclesiastical institutions, Pope Francis offers four criteria:
Veritatis Gaudium includes new norms for the direction of ecclesiastical faculties, which are to be implemented by national bishops' conferences under the guidance of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education. The norms call for a concentration on magisterial texts, with a special emphasis on the documents of Vatican II. Teachers, the Pope says, must be "conscious of their duty to carry out their work in full communion with the authentic Magisterium of the Church, above all, with that of the Roman Pontiff."
The new norms will take effect with the opening of the academic year 2018-2019. Each pontifical faculty is required to bring its own statutes and curriculum into conformity with the new apostolic constitution, and submit the revised plans to the Congregation for Catholic Education before December 8, 2019.
Further information:
So Francis canonizes Pope John Paul II, but then proceeds to dismiss and/or overrule all of his predecessor's works and institutes that he had authored or established, respectively.
Thank God my daughter graduates this year (before this mess comes into force).
"Above all."
Francis says he's not changing any doctrines, and then he says there's a mandatory "radical paradigm shift" that changes everything. This violates basic laws of logic: in particular, the law of non-contradiction.
Which is to say, it's not enough to lose our faith, it's also necessary to lose our minds.
What would this feeble-minded degenerate who can't go a week straight without contradicting himself know about truth?
I apologize I missed the catholic caucus heading Please remove my post
I’d be highly surprised if your daughter is enrolled someplace that will be affected.
The following have programs that will potentially be affected in the U.S.—but only those programs at the institutes that are pontifical. I’m sure that most of CUAs undergraduate programs aren’t pontifical.
United States
Boston College School of Theology, Boston, MA
The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, Berkeley, CA
John Paul II Institute, Washington, DC
Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, OH
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR
Pontifical Faculty at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary), Mundelein, IL
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (PFIC), Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC
St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD
While I’m highly suspicious of anything coming out of Rome now days, it may have some good sides.
Do realize that institutes offering pontifical degrees were hyper-focussed at the undergraduate level long before the Germans made this a specialty. So long as the secondary school system was strong enough to support it, the system worked ok. That is gone.
Many of these degrees are at the graduate level, especially outside of Rome.
Your honesty is admirable. And some Jesuits would be able to participate in caucus threads, but your general sense that be associated with the Jesuits is probably a disqualification does show good instincts. :)
My daughter will be receiving her Sacrae Theologiae Magister from a Pontifical University this June.
She most certainly would have been affected.
Congratulations—that is something to be proud of. I can see it being a real problem for that degree. At the same time, it won’t affect 99% of those studying at Catholic Institutes in the U.S.
Even in those places that will be affected, it will take a couple years before changes are actually put into place unless the institution was already leaning in that direction.
I’m guessing that, being from the States, she would have picked up a B.A. followed by an S.T.B. before the S.T.M. If you come from Europe and skip the B.A. stage, there is a gap in education. If she is going on for an S.T.D., it could be a problem.
What is her field?
Speaking of large scale natural disasters, just how is the Pope?
“.. above all, with that of the Roman Pontiff.”
If that last does not concern Catholics they are not paying attention. Some may view that as an innocent remark but I believe it is paving the way for demanding loyalty to the person of the Pope not just the Office.
How does he decide which side of his mouth to speak out of first? I agree 100 percent with your observation. Me thinks this Pope would gladly wrap the cloak of tyranny around his shoulders and hold it tight.
She's actually taken a couple of summer classes at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (a/k/a the Dominican House of Studies) and it wasn't considered a problem at all.
I'm done paying for it (Woo-Hoo!!!!)
But if she, at some point, wanted to go back to get her STL or STD, it wouldn't be a problem at any pontifical faculty. And if she chose to pursue a non-canonical degree, it also wouldn't be a problem, as her degree is recognized as a Master's Degree by the Government of Austria, so it's transferable as well. (Having said that: her money, her business...going forward)
By problem, I meant that the new legislation would be a problem—though my writing is profoundly unclear on the point—I should have put in a new paragraph.
The gap in education can also be a problem—but that is a different problem.
I imagine that ITI will find Rome to be a real pain on this one. They and the JP II institutes, especially in Rome, will undoubtedly have the pleasure of being able to offer up heavy doses of Franciscan “Mercy.”
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