Social Justice on Catholic Campuses: Is it Enough?
Diana Diem; Honors Student; Health Science Major, Psychology Minor; 2021
Abstract
There is no questioning the fundamental distinctions that make up a Catholic university. From the environment to the curriculum, the Catholic campus is unique and advantageous. Often adorned with religious statues of saints, crosses in hallways and classrooms, and a chapel resting in the middle of campus; the ambiance of a Catholic university undoubtedly reflects the spirit of Catholicism. The differences in the aura of a Catholic campus parallels the differences in the universities core values and curriculum. A Catholic university will make the effort to promote the value of human life, morality and justice from the philosophies of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching. Universities do so by aligning their mission statements in accordance with Catholic values, offering core courses in theology and ethics, and promoting social justice through service works.
Social justice is at the heart of social teachings within Catholicism, and it is an essential framework in Catholic institutions (Himchak, 2005). With the emphasis on social justice and service opportunities, Catholic campuses provide ways for their students to live out the virtues they teach in their everyday lives through community service based learning. These institutions across the United States make the effort to influence their students to be committed to striving for justice and respect for the dignity of all people. Despite this push, it is inevitable that some universities will stray from the core values of Catholic teachings and fail to touch on every social justice issue. Catholic universities teach the importance of human dignity and social justice with their unique curriculum, service opportunities on campus, and push for inclusivity, yet although the selectivity of social justice issues does not reflect the Catholic Social Teaching, the overall push to promote social justice has significant implications.
Over the course of this paper I will provide an in-depth background of the pillars of Catholic Social Teaching and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. I will then explain how the cultures at Catholic universities across the United States match those teachings, and how the missions and foundations of catholic universities are met with their curriculum and campus ministries. By utilizing work from theologians, researchers, and educators, I will go on to explain the implications of learning in a Catholic environment, and analyze the values promoted by the campus ministries and Catholic universities. I am going to use various examples from different universities to describe how their actions of volunteer services and works in social justice live up to their teachings. To counter those examples, I will depict how some Catholic institutions fail to promote certain notions that their teachings seemingly stand for, and I will allude the consequences. Finally, I will investigate if there can be a balance in the contention between the diverse issues of social justice, and conclude if the promotion of social justice on catholic campuses is enough.
Social Justice on Catholic Campuses: Is it Enough?
Digital Commons
There is no questioning the fundamental distinctions that make up a Catholic university. From the environment to the curriculum, the Catholic campus is unique and advantageous. Often adorned with religious statues of saints, crosses in hallways and classrooms, and a chapel resting in the middle of campus; the ambiance of a Catholic university undoubtedly reflects the spirit of Catholicism. The differences in the aura of a Catholic campus parallels the differences in the universities core values and curriculum. A Catholic university will make the effort to promote the value of human life, morality and justice from the philosophies of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching. Universities do so by aligning their mission statements in accordance with Catholic values, offering core courses in theology and ethics, and promoting social justice through service works.
Social justice is at the heart of social teachings within Catholicism, and it is an essential framework in Catholic institutions (Himchak, 2005). With the emphasis on social justice and service opportunities, Catholic campuses provide ways for their students to live out the virtues they teach in their everyday lives through community service based learning. These institutions across the United States make the effort to influence their students to be committed to striving for justice and respect for the dignity of all people. Despite this push, it is inevitable that some universities will stray from the core values of Catholic teachings and fail to touch on every social justice issue. Catholic universities teach the importance of human dignity and social justice with their unique curriculum, service opportunities on campus, and push for inclusivity, yet although the selectivity of social justice issues does not reflect the Catholic Social Teaching, the overall push to promote social justice has significant implications.
Over the course of this paper I will provide an in-depth background of the pillars of Catholic Social Teaching and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. I will then explain how the cultures at Catholic universities across the United States match those teachings, and how the missions and foundations of catholic universities are met with their curriculum and campus ministries. By utilizing work from theologians, researchers, and educators, I will go on to explain the implications of learning in a Catholic environment, and analyze the values promoted by the campus ministries and Catholic universities. I am going to use various examples from different universities to describe how their actions of volunteer services and works in social justice live up to their teachings. To counter those examples, I will depict how some Catholic institutions fail to promote certain notions that their teachings seemingly stand for, and I will allude the consequences. Finally, I will investigate if there can be a balance in the contention between the diverse issues of social justice, and conclude if the promotion of social justice on catholic campuses is enough.
