U.S. bishops begin 10-year review of “Ex corde”

The Chronicle of Higher Education [subscription required] reports on how the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is beginning its 10-year review of Ex corde Ecclesiae. The review will involve conversations between presidents of Roman Catholic colleges and universities and the bishops who lead their respective dioceses.

The bishops and presidents will base their conversations on five questions that were suggested by a working group of presidents and bishops, and approved by the conference’s Committee on Catholic Education this past November. The questions were modeled on those used in the five-year review of Ex corde but also include some changes, such as an additional question about how to continue the dialogue between bishop and president.

The conversations should take place between February and June and then be discussed by the bishops at their regional meetings.

U.S. Bishops Accept Recommendations on How to Approach10-Year Review of ‘Ex corde’

The Chronicle of Higher Education [subscription required] reports that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education voted on 14 November 2010 on how to approach the 10-year review of Ex corde Ecclesiae, including which questions to explore.

The committee voted to use the recommendations of a working group of bishops and Catholic-college presidents, which suggested five questions for bishops to use in private conversations with the presidents of colleges in their dioceses. The questions were based on a similar set created for the five-year review of Ex corde. The working group added a new question and changed the language to link the questions more directly to the application document.

The presidents expressed appreciation for the cooperative consultation. The Chronicle quotes the Rev. Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, president of DePaul University and a member of the working group, who observed that "There was certainly a history of mistrust between presidents and bishops in some cases. The more you can get people to talk at length about the serious issues between them, the more you can build a partnership."

Unfortunately, the article does not list the questions decided upon (but does give a link to the questions for the 5-year review). The review is scheduled to occur in 2011.

Outside pressure may have spurred Marquette’s decision to rescind the appointment of a lesbian to be dean of arts and sciences

An article in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggests that concerns expressed by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki and by the judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Paul Hartmann, may have contributed to the decision by the senior administration of Marquette University to withdraw an offer to sociologist Jodi O’Brien, a lesbian, to become Marquette’s Dean of Arts and Sciences. The Journal Sentinel reports,

Listecki called Marquette President Father Robert A. Wild about the university’s offer to Jodi O’Brien after receiving calls from clergy and lay leaders, the archbishop’s spokeswoman said.

Also expressing concerns about O’Brien’s appointment was Father Paul Hartmann, the archdiocese’s judicial vicar. Hartmann sent a March 3 letter to the chair of the search committee that said the gender studies professor "pursues subject matter that seems destined to actually create dichotomies and cause tensions (if not contradictions) with Marquette’s Catholic mission and identity."

Through a spokesperson, Marquette insisted that the decision was made only by Marquette officials. Additional details in the article, including a link to Paul Hartmann’s letter to the search committee.

[The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Insider Higher Ed]

Noted evangelical scholar of the Old Testament fired for endorsing evolution

Inside Higher Ed’s Scott Jaschik reports on the firing of Bruce K. Waltke, an evangelical scholar of the Old Testament at the Reformed Theological Seminary, for a video he made for BioLogos Foundation in which he endorsed evolution and warned that when evangelical Christianity denies evolution it makes itself look foolish to the rest of the world.

"If the data is overwhelmingly in favor of evolution, to deny that reality will make us a cult … some odd group that is not really interacting with the world. And rightly so, because we are not using our gifts and trusting God’s Providence that brought us to this point of our awareness," he says, according to several accounts by those who have seen the video.

Jaschik’s report offers different perspectives from the participants, including a joint statement issued by Waltke and BioLogos (see also an earlier statement), and comments from the Michael Milton, president of the Reformed Theological Seminary’s Charlotte campus and interim president of its Orlando campus, where Waltke taught. Jaschik also offers a useful overview of some the reaction to the firing. His article could serve to tee-off a faculty discussion on the issues of academic freedom and institutional identity.

Supreme Court Briefs in the Hastings vs. Christian Legal Society bias-policy case

If you’re following the supreme court case involving Hastings College of Law and the Christian Legal Society, Inside Higher Ed’s Scott Jaschik has a detailed overview of the briefs submitted on both sides of the case. The Christian Legal Society has sued Hastings College of Law (part of the University of California) over its refusal to give official recognition or funds to student groups that violate  Hastings’ anti-bias policy. That policy includes bias based on sexual orientation. Supporters of Hastings, including several major higher education associations, have, among their arguments advanced a line of reasoning involving academic freedom; supporters of the Christian Legal Society,  including the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, have, among other arguments, expressed a concern that a decision in favor of Hastings may undercut the right of religiously-affiliated colleges to hire only faculty members who share their religious beliefs.

For background, see this earlier Inside Higher Ed report.

Erskine College sues its denomination

In the continuing story of Erskine College and its denomination’s attempt to assert more control, Inside Higher Ed reports that the College has now sued the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church accusing its founding denomination of violating the college’s bylaws and attempting to take inappropriate control. A judge has issued a temporary restraining order.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers criticizes University for required faith statement, may investigate others

The National Post report that the Canadian Association of University Teachers has issued a report criticizing Trinity Western University for requiring its faculty sign a statement of Christian faith. The Association concluded that this requirement violated academic freedom. It also announced that it will investigate three other Christian institutions. See the article for detail and background to the dispute.

[The National Post via The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Religion News]

Baylor and Baylor Medical College Will Not Merge

Last week I passed on the news that Baylor and Baylor Medical College were in negotiations about a possible reunion of the two institution. Faculty at the Medical College were expressing concern about whether Baylor University’s religious commitments were compatible with the Medical College’s commitments to evolution, embryonic stem cell research, and questions of sexual orientation. Inside Higher Ed now reports that the talks are off and no merger will take place.

Worries that merging Baylor College of Medicine back into Baylor University would compromise the medical school’s non-sectarian status

Baylor College of Medicine is discussing strengthening its formal relationships with its founding institution, Baylor University. But an online petition questions whether Baylor University’s religious commitments are congruent with the medical college’s commitments to “scientific progress” especially regarding such issues as evolution, embryonic stem cell research, and questions of sexual orientation.

[The Houston Chronicle via Inside Higher Ed]

Criticism, Censorship, and Wheaton College

Scott Jaschik at Inside Higher Ed has another fine article, this one on a generally sympathetic but occasionally critical article on Wheaton College that was approved by its editor for publication in Books & Culture but then killed by the president of Christianity Today International. Books & Culture is, as Jaschik rightly puts it, “a highly respected publication … something like a Christian New York Review of Books.” Christianity Today International owns Books & Culture.

More on this later, but for now take a look at Jaschik’s detailed piece and associated links. Many things there to discuss with faculty colleagues.