It’s college-picking season. And that means several facebook statuses about school acceptance and new affinities for the colors (insert new school colors here).
Whatever you do, don't be that guy.
As somebody with a lot of Catholic friends, every year I will hear at least a few people comment about going to a Catholic school. The comments will often go as follows:
- My faith is too important to me to go to a Public School
- I’m going to a Catholic School because I value my faith
- Being able to live out my Catholic faith is worth the extra money
Because nothing says Christianity like avoiding conflict.
Now, I get the message people are trying to get across, but often times the “Public School vs. Catholic School” comparison is made into a shining example of a false dichotomy. Catholics go to Catholic school, where the Catholic faith is fully embraced and lived out, and heathens/lame Catholics go to their public schools, where hopefully they can resume being Catholic again after graduation.
In short: No.
Before I address this, let’s be clear that I’m not going to spend time (except for this sentence) on the fact that many Catholic universities today are Catholic in name only, and are a cause of great scandal for the Church. Somebody else can write a blog on that. Instead I’m going to focus on the fact that Public Universities can and are in several circumstances fantastic places to live out one’s Catholic faith.
A couple of years ago I was interviewed by a Catholic news agency for a story on (as I was told) practicing Catholicism in a secular school setting. I was asked the questions you might expect, covering the who, what, where, why, and how bases. I was also asked if I ever experienced people or settings which were against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. As a human being living on Earth, of course I had – I named a few times that professors or even members of other Christian groups on campus were not quiet about their negative opinions of the Church. I also mentioned the unique evangelization opportunities these gave me. If the apostles and saints could spread the Gospel message to nations who had never heard of Christ or were explicitly against him, surely I could do this too (perhaps not with the same zeal or success rate) – especially since martyrdom at the hands of these people was not likely (although sometimes you wonder).
I was disappointed when the article was published the following month under the pretense that Catholic schools are so much better than secular colleges, and proceeded to use the rest of the article to state why Catholics should go to Catholic universities.
In short: No.
Before I address this, let’s be clear that I’m not going to spend time (except for this sentence) on the fact that many Catholic universities today are Catholic in name only, and are a cause of great scandal for the Church. Somebody else can write a blog on that. Instead I’m going to focus on the fact that Public Universities can and are in several circumstances fantastic places to live out one’s Catholic faith.
A couple of years ago I was interviewed by a Catholic news agency for a story on (as I was told) practicing Catholicism in a secular school setting. I was asked the questions you might expect, covering the who, what, where, why, and how bases. I was also asked if I ever experienced people or settings which were against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. As a human being living on Earth, of course I had – I named a few times that professors or even members of other Christian groups on campus were not quiet about their negative opinions of the Church. I also mentioned the unique evangelization opportunities these gave me. If the apostles and saints could spread the Gospel message to nations who had never heard of Christ or were explicitly against him, surely I could do this too (perhaps not with the same zeal or success rate) – especially since martyrdom at the hands of these people was not likely (although sometimes you wonder).
I was disappointed when the article was published the following month under the pretense that Catholic schools are so much better than secular colleges, and proceeded to use the rest of the article to state why Catholics should go to Catholic universities.
I remember the last day of classes my senior year of High School – my physics teacher was saying goodbye and then suddenly got pretty serious. “Listen up guys,” he started. “You've heard I don’t know how many times that you’re 'going out into the real world’ now. That couldn't be further from the truth. College is the most non-reflective example of what the world is actually like. It’s a completely different lifestyle that doesn't exist anywhere except during your 4-year stretch there. Be responsible and don’t lose sight of the real world.” This has stuck with me. Colleges are mini-cities. Or just plain cities, depending on where you go. Things fly on college campuses that would get you arrested anywhere else, like the unfortunate genitalia poster display on UC’s campus two years ago. Lifestyles revolve around student schedules and social events. Catholic schools and public universities with Catholic/Newman groups can fall into the “college-Catholicism” trap where living out one’s faith is done in a way you will never be able to reproduce after graduation. Most notably is the redefining of “Church” and “Mass” as places made up of the young, exclusively for the young! Sorry grandma – I get that we’re all a part of the body of Christ but your oxygen tank is just a little bit harshing my style right now.
This problem is not unique to Catholicism – several Protestant groups also take this sort of approach to target the college audience. Separating pieces from something that was never meant to be separated results in destruction, dysfunction, and disunity. This is as true in the spiritual sense as it is in the physical sense.
What happens is often a significant or total redirection away from the notion of Parish Life.
If you came from a practicing Catholic family, you were probably a part of a parish before you came to college. After college, you’ll move somewhere, settle down, and find a parish that will then be your home parish.
This problem is not unique to Catholicism – several Protestant groups also take this sort of approach to target the college audience. Separating pieces from something that was never meant to be separated results in destruction, dysfunction, and disunity. This is as true in the spiritual sense as it is in the physical sense.
What happens is often a significant or total redirection away from the notion of Parish Life.
If you came from a practicing Catholic family, you were probably a part of a parish before you came to college. After college, you’ll move somewhere, settle down, and find a parish that will then be your home parish.
In college, it’s very easy to go to your on-campus Mass/Church event while being a member only of the school – not as a member of a parish. Because of this we lose sight of who we are – our identity as Catholics as part of The Universal Church that greatly expands beyond the confines of college walls.
The fact of the matter is, your school’s religious affiliation does not determine whether or not you live out your Catholic faith. You do. This post is titled “Good Catholics go to Public Colleges” – and this is true. But good Catholics go to Catholic colleges too. As Catholics, college should be a time for growth, community (both in and outside of the campus walls), evangelization, and an overall deeper entering into the life of Christ, wherever you go.
Pray and discern about which college is best for you - but don't let the fact that a college is "secular" scare you away.
The fact of the matter is, your school’s religious affiliation does not determine whether or not you live out your Catholic faith. You do. This post is titled “Good Catholics go to Public Colleges” – and this is true. But good Catholics go to Catholic colleges too. As Catholics, college should be a time for growth, community (both in and outside of the campus walls), evangelization, and an overall deeper entering into the life of Christ, wherever you go.
Pray and discern about which college is best for you - but don't let the fact that a college is "secular" scare you away.
