Educators heartened by Benedict XVI’s support
Posted: 04.23.08
CNS | NANCY WIECHEC
Vincentian Father David M. O’Connell, president of The Catholic University of America, welcomes Pope Benedict XVI to a gathering of Catholic educators at the university in Washington April 17. Seated at left, are Cardinal William J. Levada, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state; and Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl.
WASHINGTON | Pope Benedict XVI in an April 17 address at The Catholic University of America applauded the work of Catholic educators in the United States and Florida education leaders were renewed and affirmed by his words.
Dominican Sister Linda Bevilaqua, president of Barry University in Miami Shores, said the pope’s powerful message provided a feeling of intense jubilation as he thanked Catholic college and university presidents and diocesan superintendents of education and their institutions for their gifts to the church.
“His first line set the tone,” she said, referring to Benedict’s quote, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring God’s word” and how it sums up the role of Catholic education for the church. “He does see us as bearers of good news.”
Sister Bevilaqua told the Florida Catholic that as a former scholar, theologian and professor himself, Pope Benedict “understands the academy. He really does understand the complexities of the university, especially in a culture as diverse as the United States.”
She said it is obvious that he is “probably one of the most learned men in the world today,” but also noted that his presence at the meeting was shy, humble and gentle.
She said she was very pleased that of all the groups that would have wanted the attention of the pope on this short visit, the fact that he chose to speak to Catholic educators at all levels was an impressive sign.
The pope encouraged Catholic schools to continue their presence in poor areas and their commitment to those who are less fortunate, and that Catholic education needs support to be able to continue that mission. Sister Bevilaqua said when she heard the pope say everyone should support Catholic schools, “I wanted to stand up and cheer.”
Sister of St. Joseph Roberta Schmidt, who serves as director of education in the Diocese of Venice and since February has also taken on the duties of superintendent of schools, also applauded the pope’s encouragement to support inner city schools. She said it is a dilemma for school systems that face tight budgets and yet wish to serve at-risk populations. “The Holy Father was saying today not to abandon inner cities,” she said.
“We need to broaden the base of support for Catholic education so all who want a Catholic education can take advantage of it. … That’s not new either.”
Sister Schmidt noted that Pope Benedict addressed the need to focus on Catholic identity, and said that it should not just be about semantics, but a matter of conviction.
She said time and time again throughout the pope’s speech she heard his gratitude for and affirmation of Catholic educators, and she will take that back to her charges in the Diocese of Venice. “We know we give a good education, but it’s the values we teach — that’s the important role — the role the teachers have to witness and teach the Gospel” no matter what subject they teach, whether they are Catholic or not.
Sister Schmidt said she plans to affirm them in their role and thank them on behalf of the pope.
The president of the Archdiocese of Miami’s St. Thomas University, Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, said he, too, will take the pope’s message back, not just to his teachers, but to the whole university community. In a meeting scheduled for the afternoon of April 21, he planned to brief the faculty and students on what he heard from Pope Benedict. Further, he will encourage his administrators to study the text of the speech to see what the implications are for the long term for the Miami Gardens campus.
When he spoke with the Florida Catholic, Msgr. Casale had not yet read the text of the speech, but he did not recall Pope Benedict making any reference to “Ex Corde Ecclesiae,” a significant document on Catholic higher education by Pope John Paul II. Assured that the text did not refer to the earlier pope’s document, the university president said that he felt Pope Benedict took the opportunity of this address to educators to make his mark as a scholar, speaking on faith, reason and a variety of topics. “In essence, he was giving us his own charter, his vision, his view,” Msgr. Casale said.
He also found significant the pope’s call upon the church community in the United States to be certain to take care of the poor when it comes to education. “That’s important because we’ve been closing more schools,” Msgr. Casale said, noting that the pope remarked on the framework of church schools’ historic foundation in the immigrant experience. At both ends of the speech, he tied the theme together. “He began with the history of Catholic higher education and the end he made a plea for the support of schools.”
Both Msgr. Casale and Sister Bevilaqua felt encouraged by the pope’s call in his speech for Catholic universities to not give up academic freedom, and yet remain faithful to their Catholic purpose. Though some might have expected a papal “rebuke” at such a session, neither saw it in this light.
“I saw it as a reinforcement and an encouragement to study even more how we do that. We’re all about research,” St. Thomas’ president said, noting that thoroughness into how the university communicates the truth helps the students in their lives and ultimately into the lives of the people they serve.
Sister Bevilaqua said that for most Catholic colleges and universities, the way the pope expressed the concept in the context of Catholic higher education is “exactly how we understand academic freedom.”
Dr. Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, secretary of faith formation and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Orlando, said that although most of the pope’s talk about academic freedom was aimed at higher education, it has ramifications in lower grades, too.
“I think that he reaffirmed so much of what we are presently doing in our schools. One thing he emphasized was that we should have academic freedom but teach the documents of the faith. We are very much on target. …
“A lot of that was meant for higher education, but in Diocese of Orlando, we are teaching the doctrine of the faith.”
Wolsonovich, whose job includes oversight of all religious formation in the diocese, as well as special responsibility for schools as superintendent, said he was glad Pope Benedict touched on crisis of faith, because it is something seen a lot in the diocese. “We have a lot of kids in Catholic schools and (religious education) programs but we have a lot more who are not being touched. We need to reach out to them, and evangelize.
“There are too many not going to church on Sundays, not in our education programs,” he said.
The pope complimented the educators on the connection between truth and praxis, and said that “whatever we teach we should be practicing. I think he’s noting the fact that we do it and calling us to be better at it,” Wolsonovich said. “I think we do a good job of that already. I don’t want people to think we don’t already do a good job.”
He said he was pleased to hear the pope say schools must be places where children encounter God. For that reason, “We need to make sure our teachers are formed well in their faith — not only good knowledge but also formed well spiritually.”
He hopes to have more Catholic school teachers who are certified in religious education. “The more we grow in our total faith knowledge as well our spiritual faith, we’ll be able to perform our ministry better.”