When a school embraces pro-abortion administrators, what makes it Catholic?
The University of Dallas is one college on a short list of schools deemed by the Cardinal Newman Society to be worthy of the name “Catholic.” Some recent events have thrown shade on another institution on that list—Benedictine College—and other “Catholic” schools, like the University of Notre Dame.
Recently, Notre Dame came under fire for hiring Susan Osterman, an abortion advocate. Osterman was hired as Director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Students of Notre Dame were appalled to hear this decision, and began asking the question: are Catholic universities and colleges living up to their Catholic identities?
Joseph B., a student at Notre Dame, shares his opinion with The Cor Chronicle.
“It’s like appointing one of Adolf Eichmann’s cronies as human rights ambassador for Germany. The whole purpose of the Liu Institute is to understand Asia and human rights in Asia. This professor has been involved in the population control center, very involved in China’s, which has really horrible human rights abuses.”
Notre Dame has been repeatedly called upon by bishops and large masses of the student body to reverse the appointment, and they have refused. They have responded that they are sorry for the disappointment in their choice, yet confident that Osterman can still act in accordance with the values of the university.
In a recent development, Susan Osterman has resigned from her position. According to The Pillar, because of public, private, administrative and diocesan pushback, Osterman felt pressured to leave the position. The overwhelming response from Catholics everywhere has influenced her to withdraw from Notre Dame.
Joseph also spoke about whether he thought that Notre Dame was living up to its Catholic identity.
“I think it does,” he said. “The fact that there was so much pushback against this shows that it has the Catholic identity. It isn’t a place like Georgetown or Boston College where people wouldn’t have blinked twice and this wouldn’t have been an issue.”
“[Administration] is standing by this choice because they have already made the decision, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the backlash caused by this appointment will affect future appointments.”
Response to a decision is often more telling than the action itself. Though many Catholics are appalled, the resistance and the immediate willingness to combat and speak out against this decision is another reminder of the Catholic presence that unifies to rectify the clear injustices in our world.
Joseph also expressed that though administration may not be aligned with Catholic identity, “Catholic identity on grassroots level is strong. This is evidenced by the Ice Mass and the constant, crazy long lines for confessions daily. Though confession is twice a day with two to four priests, lines still stretch half the nave of the Basilica.”
Joseph remains optimistic about the university. “I definitely still have hope for Notre Dame and l feel blessed to be here and be a part of pushing for what Notre Dame should be.”
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, has recently had the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica remove their funding from the college. According to Catholic Vote, [The Sisters] said they will remain involved through hospitality at the monastery, collaboration on college-related programs, and ongoing relationships with students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
The Benedictine Sisters do not wish to distance themselves or their ideals from the college. They still very much believe in what they helped found.
Though the nuns could have retracted their funding due to limited membership and governance capacity, as Inside Higher Ed suggests, it is also proposed that this is due to a situation in 2024, when the nuns publicly disagreed with what the University was doing.
The nuns criticized a controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in 2024. This was due to the fact that Butker said that being a mother was the highest calling a woman could have, whiel the nuns had followed their undeniably honorable calling to give their lives to God.
As both the sisters and the college progress, their priorities may not align. It is possible that the sisters have removed funding because their values are deviating from those of the college.
With all of these controversies in mind, one must ask whether the University of Dallas is living up to its Catholic identity, or has it fallen slightly from its mission? UD seems to have good participation in daily Masses, and often students can be found in the chapel praying late into the night. Campus Ministry is constantly hosting events to draw in the Catholic students.
The University does not explicitly tell you to go to Mass or adoration, nor does it enforce certain rules and regulations to encourage religion, like other universities do. It does, however, make the sacraments and events so accessible that it draws you to be closer to God by your own volition.
It also fosters a community that prioritizes God in everyday life. Small reminders that God is present in the hearts of the student body, such as late night chapel runs with friends, Rosaries prayed together or Sunday Mass followed by brunch, burn incandescently in the minds of college students as they look out to a bleak, secular world.