AmericanPapist Comments
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I saw her speak at my university a few years ago, and she was very interesting and very entertaining. I also found her to be friendly to the Catholic Church. I remember her talking about how she would attend Catholic Sunday school as well as her Jewish school because she was so interested in the faith. Levine actually argues that Jews need to aquaint themselves with Jesus and the New Testament because he is part of Jewish history. I'm a very conservative and orthodox Catholic, and I didn't hear her say anything outlandish whatsoever.
UofD has been spending large money on scholarships and grants over the last few years.
It is often the case that, lacking tax-revenue support, private colleges have to choose between faculty emoluments and student number growth.
By the way, a LOT of Catholic parents shop for children's clothing at secondhand stores such as Goodwill. It's only 'humiliating' if you think it is. For us, it's common sense.
This is the School of Ministry. This most likely, in no way has the support of the Theology Department in the University proper. The SOM has been the liberal wing theologically ever since they let Doug Bushman go. They have several faculty that like to push the envelope and one that was under investigation by the bishop some years ago. I don't think anything came of it but there were/are some issues with authority in the SOM. I went to UD for some time and even taught there so I know the Theology department is still rock solid. The SOM I have serious doubts about.
Thomas wrote: "UD also apparently wasted a bundle of money in an ill-conceived plan to compete with SMU for the George W. Bush Library (why would a Catholic school want that?)"
Of course, you're being sarcastic.
I am a senior partner in a major national law firm, and do my "thrifting" on eBay. I wish I had time for visiting thrift stores. The notion that thrifting is humiliating is laughable.
I know many academics- at public universities- who live this way. Most chalk it up to the price necessary to do what they love.
Schools pay professors by what they study. At the school where I was an undergrad, business school professors made wayyyy more than our lowly sociology profs.
The School of Ministry / IRPS isn't the same since the upheaval that took place in 2000-01. Take it from me - I was in the midst of it.
But, the dep't of theology is rock-solid, with Dr. Mark Lowery heading it up. The man is one of the best moral theologians out there.
UD isn't one of the schools I worry about much though. They are better than 98% of Catholic Universities in the country. Take a look at the JPII lecture series that has had Hittinger, Cardinal Arinze, and others speak.
This particular series is run by the SOM and isn't nearly as good.
I actually attend the University of Dallas, and as a senior, would like to make a few comments on this post.
For one, this is the School of Ministry, which the majority of students in the undergraduate program know little to nothing about. The only reason I know much about this at all is because I have friends who are in the program, as well as our campus ministers. The School of Ministry has its own funds and, as allowed by the University, is allowed to allot them to bring in speakers. I know little to nothing about the event, nor does the majority of the student body.
The Bush Library attempt was actually supported by students, and though we did not get it, we were in the top three considerations. If you saw the library here on campus, you'd understand why we tried to get it.
As for Cindy Sheehan, there were many students who protested against her visit, including the College Republicans who held a rally in the same area, bringing in a conservative who was so right wing that it was ridiculous, and there was no representation of balance what so ever. Dr. Bostaph, the head of the Economics department, was the one who invited her and is her friend. However, two of the economics professors were not in support of it. Quite frankly, everyone just debated why their side was right, rather than giving valid reasons, nor was either side respectful to each other. What small good that did come from it was that some people saw that there are different view points in the world, and that we do have to deal with them, even whilst in the UD Bubble. What I was disappointed in was that it was not dealt with in an adult nor a respectful manner, and instead ended up becoming petty arguing. Last time I checked, the Catholic Church does not encourage petty arguing, rather, it encourages staunch defenses of Catholic teaching with reason, while still respecting the right for the other side to disagree.
Now, I am also on Student Government this year, and we've been working to get more information on faculty compensation, and expressed our concerns to Dr. Lazarus. We as the representatives of the student body have been concerned, and there has been much bandied about in the school newspaper and amongst the Executive Council about what we can do about this. It's a big button issue, and the students here are making their voices heard, and not just about that, but the Pharmacy School that UD is creating as well. The University has never been a particularly rich one, and we the students are trying to emphasize the need to increase the endowment. Now, whether or not much of this is implemented is another matter entirely. We as students are making our concerns loud and clear, as are the faculty (quite loudly in fact) but as for progress on the manner, its going to take a while. UD is its own special form of government and has its own politics, and it's pretty messy.
Also... just as a personal note... if you're doing teaching as your avocation
It cut off the rest of my comment, so I'm going to repost it.
Also... just as a personal note... if you're doing teaching as your avocation, you're not doing it for the money. One should teach because they love to do it, have a passion to do it, and want to teach young minds, help forming them. Most all of the professors here would agree with that. They also agree with the fact that money is tighter, it's part of what's happening with the economy and how UD hasn't been particular stable on its finances for several years now. There have been steps to make things better, but they are coming slowly, and they are often baby steps. Though I can say this idealistically and perhaps a bit naively, I have no problem thrift shopping, because I look for quality items and don't buy what I don't need. I also shop at real stores some of which are "nicer" and thus more expensive, but I am buying quality items to last me a while, and again only what I need, such as nice dress pants that are well made, for working in the real world as a teacher. It's all about how one manages their own finances and figures out what they need and how to achieve it.
The University of Dallas, as a whole, is still very much a Catholic institution. To say, oh, one speaker being brought in who isn't Catholic is a horrible thing is, yes, concerning, but also makes us as Catholics look at the world with a broader view point. We also brought in Gorbachev last year through the Eugene Constantine Grant. That was quite frankly, a good thing to do, because it gives us a different world view. It's not saying we're throwing away our Catholic stances; it's standing firm on the Catholic stances and hearing things from a different voice, and recognizing why we still stand on our Catholic stances, and countering the different voice on a strong basis of faith and reason.
Perhaps this response can be seen as naive, idealistic, or perhaps being on a soap box. Perhaps it's all three. But I firmly believe that speech and debate should be heard. Voltaire said, "I might not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.” I agree with him, and I think the Catholic Church would as well.
The danger is when you have uninformed Catholics who are easily swayed by these speakers. The goal then should be better education, and that begins with the family, and the priests and bishops who lead them. That is why the defense of the faith and the building up of Catholic education is so important, from the formation of faith to truly understanding our task as Catholics. I don't think it's an easy task, nor should we. It's going to be a long and tough road, especially in light of the secularism that has seeped into so much of life to where things no longer offend, when they should offend our sense of the Sacred. But, if we, young and old, religious and laity, truly commit to rely on the Rock on which Christ built His Church, and work
Again to finish up my rather long post and comment.. sigh.
Perhaps this response can be seen as naive, idealistic, or perhaps being on a soap box. Perhaps it's all three. But I firmly believe that speech and debate should be heard. Voltaire said, "I might not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.” I agree with him, and I think the Catholic Church would as well.
The danger is when you have uninformed Catholics who are easily swayed by these speakers. The goal then should be better education, and that begins with the family, and the priests and bishops who lead them. That is why the defense of the faith and the building up of Catholic education is so important, from the formation of faith to truly understanding our task as Catholics. I don't think it's an easy task, nor should we. It's going to be a long and tough road, especially in light of the secularism that has seeped into so much of life to where things no longer offend, when they should offend our sense of the Sacred. But, if we, young and old, religious and laity, truly commit to rely on the Rock on which Christ built His Church, and work together, I think we can do it.
If anyone wants to talk to me, or has further questions about the University of Dallas and what's going on here, feel free to contact me at jswegler@gmail.com. Have a great day, and God Bless!
Is it the position of the American Papist that only Catholic speakers (and also only those with a particular point of view - heaven forbid they might choose to invite and pay a Kmiec) should recieve compensation to make public presentations at a Catholic University?
No, they need not be Catholic, but they shouldn't be teaching things contrary to the truth unchallenged. This gets at the identity of a Catholic university and the mandate it receives from its mission and supporters.
Wasn't the university community allowed to allowed to challenge the speaker's point of view?
So should Catholic colleges invite more anti-Semitic, sexist, and homophobic speakers?
Or is it historical and literary analysis that has your pants in a ruffle?
Or the word 'feminism'?
So the University of Dallas is losing money?
If it's the same school that the damned Straussians have taken over - then good!
It was probably damned neo-conservative Straussians who wanted the Bush library anyway.
I'm not saying Catholic colleges should gleefully invite speakers who have opposing view points to Catholicism to speak at their colleges. I am saying however that there is a good side to hearing a speaker who is such, because it gives us as Catholics a different view point other than our own, and gives us way to formulate arguments against anti-Semitic speakers, or homophobes (love the sinner hate the sin) etcetera. It then offers us a chance to grow.
Speakers, such as a local Rabbi for the synagogue in Dallas that the Theology department invited, gives us a path to look at our roots, and to consider why Judaism still exists (because it is founded in God, and is the building stone towards Christianity). Or last week, we had a Greek Orthodox priest come speak about icons and iconography, which many Catholics don't understand the connection to the Sacred.
If speakers who aren't Catholic are invited, it should be done with careful consideration. Even Catholic speakers make people raise an eyebrow, because they aren't in full communion with the Catholic faith (such as Notre Dame's Father McBrien). So those that Catholic colleges and universities should be chosen with careful consideration. Now whether or not this speaker has been or not, I don't know. Again, the majority of the student body in the undergraduate program knows little to nothing about this event, nor do many of my friends in the Braniff graduate program. Those who do know appear thus far to be all my friends who are in the School of Ministry program and that is all.
Anonymous, I'd be surprised if the average college student even knows who Strauss is...
Is anyone saying this speaker shouldn’t be allowed to speak? What about Cindy Sheehan? Should she have been banned? Also, I realize terms such as feminism and homophobic are “loaded terms” but what exactly is Anti or Uncatholic about Dr Levine’s self description? Being Jewish?
I have heard Dr. Levine's lectures on tape. She is actually quite brilliant and interesting. I don't think that it is problematic at all that she would be invited to speak at the University of Dallas, or any other university for that matter. She is an observant Jew who studies the New Testament. She has interesting things to say about it, and these comments should be invited into a university and allow for fruitful discussion and dialogue. That is what the university is for, right?
In particular, a Catholic university should be able to handle what St. Paul himself says to the Thessalonians: "Test everything, retain what is good." In that vein, Dr. Levine, Cindy Sheehan, Barack Obama, Noam Chomsky, etcetera . . .
A university is not a day care. We don't have to censor what is presented in academic setting in order to be faithfully Catholic. In fact, I would argue that censoring it is anti-Catholic.
I'm also a student at UD and would like to also emphasize a point-whatever one's view on this particular issue and others at UD- the UD Theology dept is -extremely- good: intellectual, yet without any negative modern connotations. It is very orthodox and a superb place to study theology--and the professors are amazing people.
Dear Mr. Peters:
I have been reading your blog profitably and with great pleasure two years. Thanks for your very hard and very good work.
Catholic higher education is certainly facing more than its share of troubles in the United States, and I applaud your efforts to draw attention to this issue.
Nevertheless, it strikes me that your criticism of UD in the present case is misplaced.
I do not know and cannot gauge the situation at UD, though I am quite certain the mere invitation of Dr. Levine cannot be a symptom of decline.
This speaker was invited to speak at a convocation of priests in my diocese. I did not find her brilliant or enlightening. I found her presentation to be shallow, flippant toward Christianity and its beliefs, a waste of my time and a waste of diocesan money.
I remember one image she proposed in her discussion of the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well. She compared this dialogue with a tv game show. This is brilliance? 'Nuff said.
Why should one be surprised? The UD School of Ministry website has for months included a publication with an article by a faculty member (a woman religious) advocating the ordination of women and other extreme feminist deformations of the faith. I wrote to the Cardinal Newman Society about this and they pointed out that their endorsement of authentically Catholic colleges addressed only undergraduate education and did not include academic units such as the School of Ministry.
Couple of comments:
- First, for those who are crying "censorship", the role of a Catholic university is the pursuit of Truth. Being a Catholic university, UD believes (or, rather should believe) that the fullness of the Truth is found in the Catholic Church. Therefore, inviting a speaker on campus who opposes the teachings of the Church goes directly against the mission of the university. Bear in mind that she is not invited in as an opposing view in a debate. She is an invited guest being honored at the School of Misery's, excuse me, the School of Ministry's big annual lecture.
Second, this is just the latest in a long series of issues that have come up to demonstrate President Lazarus' lack of leadership. He either does not wholy embrace the teachings of the Church, he does not understand the role of a university, or he just lacks personal courage. Whatever the reason, he needs to go.
I just wanted to affirm what Fr. Powell has said about UD students being up for the challenge. I graduated with a double major in history and theology (very orthodox theology at that) and found students more than able to dialogue with speakers- in fact, I think it only strengthened us. The point that the SOM is separate from the undergrad education is well taken. UD is distinctive, because it not only teaches material to students, it teaches students how to think for themselves (i.e. 'the Catholic School for Indpendent Thinkers). As I work on my Master's in Theology in D.C. (I also have a Licentiate in Communications from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome) I can easily attest that my UD education in theology has been the most instructive orthodox theology I have received.
While I have respect for several Catholic institutions, I urge people to look thoroughly into the University of Dallas and their unique education which challenges students to become part of the Classical and Catholic tradition, not simply learn from the sidelines.
OK. It's a given that the SOM is inviting the lady, not "U of D" proper.
The commenter who casts pebbles at Frank Lazarus, however, should understand that the Prexy reports to the Board of the U, not the other way around.
If a Board member (read: big contributor) wants to have Gorby show up and talk, why not?
The challenge for Dr. L. is to allow speakers while maintaining the orthodoxy of the U--which it seems he has done. At the same time, the President is un-wise if he hacks off generous contributors with peremptory "no" answers to their requests.
To add to the mix of things, the University of Dallas did not have the sole choice for the lecturer. According to the University News, the Landreagan Lecture's speakers are recommend and selected by "a committee comprised of University of Dallas faculty, diocesan staff and deacons, School of Ministry alumni and other prominent Catholics." The dean of the S. of Ministry also said that she was selected in part for her work in "helping Christians and Jews understand the Jewishness of Jesus."
Regarding the professors, everyone has failed to mention the fact that for the first time in many years the university is running in the black. In addition to that, President Lazarus has been without a Provost for a long time and a new Dean of Admissions recently assumed his position after months without. I am not trying to make excuses for the president, but we must consider the handicap as well. In other words, Lazarus has, in part, doing more than just his job and has been at a disadvantage not having these important positions filled.
And why would a Catholic School want the Bush Library? Maybe because this Catholic school has a 90% first choice law school acceptance rate, has an excellent philosophical politics department, the 2008 graduation speaker was Dr. John Lenczowski of the Institute for World Politics, College Republics is regularly one of the largest clubs on campus, and maybe because the university liked the idea of being able to lend the insight available in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to the Think Tank that would be at the library. We have a definite interest in politics - even as a Catholic university. Not to mention, they're blowing up Texas Stadium... what to do with all that land.
To add more about our Catholic identity, the president has publically stated that he is dedicated to Ex Corde Ecclesia. Also, the full-time undergraduate Theology faculty headed by Dr. Lowery have all taken the Mandatum with our Ordinary. The students are the best indicator... and if you've ever been by the Incarnation, you probably saw somebody there praying, day or night. Crusaders for Life is our largest and most active club on campus. There are several rosary groups that meet daily. Between the on-campus church, the Dominican Priory and the Cistercian Abbey there are seven Sunday masses, and 20 daily masses M-Sat that students attend. In addition around 20+ students drive to Mater Dei Latin mass community led by a Fraternity priest every Sunday.
For the record: I'd like to make a quick response to some of the previous comments regarding Dr. Dougherty's mention of professors buying clothes at thrift stores. He did not intend to portray buying clothes at thrift stores as humiliating or anything of the sort; rather, he meant it as a demonstration of how badly the faculty at the University of Dallas are compensated. I have no idea where any of you got the notion that he thought it humiliating or embarrassing.
Augustine,
You wrote: "The UD School of Ministry website has for months included a publication with an article by a faculty member (a woman religious) advocating the ordination of women and other extreme feminist deformations of the faith."
I can't find this article now...can you provide a link?
Fr. Philip, OP
Fr Philip, I'd like you to justify your slanderous comments (or have they been removed yet?)
I'd also like Mike to know that SoM is part of the University of Dallas -- it always has been, as part of the Brannif Graduate School.
I think many of the people on this blog need to take a valium and relax. If you look at the website, Dr Levine is not being brought in to pursue any radical anti-Catholic agenda. She's no more going to bring down the Catholic faith than the Rabbi who spoke for the theology dept. She's speaking on a Jewish reading of the good samaritan story. It would seem academically valuable for people to know how non catholics (and in fact non-christians) would read the same story. In fact, Levine's perspective is all the more valuable because too many people forget the Jewish heritage of Christianity.
Shawn,
If anyone needs to take a Valium and chill, it's you.
Thomas deleted my comments at my request.
You will need to be more specific about what you consider slanderous.
My comments expressed my assessment of the overall reputation of the SOM...a reputation that I think is fair described as "liberal" when the SOM is compared to UD theology's dept. I did not say that the SOM is heretical or anything of the sort.
I know for a fact that at least one faculty member of the SOM has in the past publicly supported women's ordination and the ordination of married men. It's possible that this person has had a change of heart.
Again, what's slanderous? Should I hold my breath waiting for you to apologize for falsely and publicly accusing me of grave sin?
Fr. Philip, OP
Fr Phil,
Re: "liberal" when the SOM is compared to UD theology's dept.
heck, I'd say the Holy Father is liberal compared to the theology dept. ;-)
Mud sticks and you know it. Please be more careful next time.
Shawn,
Speaking of mud sticking...where's my apology for publicly accusing me of slander?
I did a little checking and found out that you have made a habit of accusing people of slander in comboxes.
My mistake was an honest one given the evidence available, and I owned up to the mistake. You, however, with absolutely no evidence and a crippled definition of the word "slander," uncharitably accused me in public of grave sin.
Own up, Mr. Lamb, and stop wagging your hypocritical finger at others.
Fr. Philip, OP
Just so everyone knows who we're dealing with...Shawn "tattled" on me to the dean of the SOM. Not that it made one whit of difference. Turns out all was as I described it.
Fr. Philip, OP
Commenting by HaloScan
