Is Saint Anselm College Catholic?
Recent disturbing developments at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire call into question whether the college is taking a direction away from its proud Benedictine heritage towards a more secular feminist nature.Criticism was leveled recently in the Manchester paper and on some blogs regarding the decision to move to coed dorms. The reason cited by the school was that the demographic shift towards a higher female population percentage necessitated this move for more efficient use of space. Of course, the school controls whom it accepts in the first place making the claim curious to say the least.
But this belies the real agenda which is to continue the trend towards the feminization of the school. Other indicators like the hiring in recent years of a female as Dean of Student Affairs and another as Executive Vice President show an increasing strategy to turn the school further away from its traditional Catholic roots towards a modernist, secularist and especially feminist ideology. The Catholic credentials of these hires are never really mentioned or emphasized. The result? The college now has a rampant hedonistic under culture, lack of enforcement of visitation rules, epidemic underage drinking and most of all, a declining spiritual character as the school moves closer towards the secular world around it. Indeed, the school now shows open hostility towards white Catholic males and the social structures like fraternities that support them.
Other indicators of this shift can be found in the increasing decline in the percentage of Catholic faculty and staff as well as in the student body at large. The school makes no attempt to screen for Catholic students in admissions or in faculty and staff hiring. These changes largely have come about during the reign of Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., as President of the School. Fr. DeFelice seems more comfortable moving in political power circles than ecclesiastical ones. A quick perusal of the Saint Anselm website and blog shows a heavy tilt towards left-leaning democrats as campus speakers. In one recent on-campus speech, presidential candidate John Edwards even had the audacity to welcome Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Fr. DeFelice was in attendance and issued no statement of repudiation. Indeed, attendees reported he greeted her with polite applause.
In the fall of 2004, a prospective student wrote to Fr. DeFelice about a news story he saw where that great political intellectual, pro-abortion feminist activist Sharon Stone had held a pro- John Kerry rally at Saint Anselm College. The rally seemed to include Saint Anselm faculty, staff and students. DeFelice claimed neutrality by the college in the campaign in a typically condescending reply. Might this exchange have set the stage for future events? It's one thing to encourage spirited debate and civic involvement on a Catholic college campus, but quite another to promote the side of the debate most at odds with Catholic moral teaching.
In a letter to parents in the Spring of 2007, Fr. DeFelice announced that the presidential debates at the college would be held during Holy Week. Though he didn't get specific, one was actually scheduled for Holy Thursday. It was a wonderful confluence of two traditions at the college, he said, civic involvement and Catholicism. He didn't recommend one activity over the other but in fairness, the students would be on break anyway and would likely be nowhere near the campus for the event. Bet they didn't mention that when they recruited the politics majors. It was in the same letter, buried at the bottom of the second page, that he announced the change to coed dorms.
Then there's the area of theology. One theology professor explained to his class that he didn't believe God was active in the temporal sphere but had merely put creation into motion and then sat back and observed in a "Seven Days of Rest" manner. So much for scripture and tradition. Another stated confidently that God never "really spoke" to men. It wasn't clear which heresy this was, that Jesus Christ wasn't God made man and that when He spoke He wasn't God speaking or that the words recorded in Gospel weren't His. Either way, its a reflection of where this college is going.
In the area of literature, having exhausted all the classics from Virgil to Aquinas to Milton, the students are required to read Virginia Woolf, the famous bisexual feminist author who committed suicide. Most students have already had her "literature" crammed down their throats in public high school but St. Anselm College wants to make sure it isn't missed.
In a telling article in the school newspaper in 2006, DeFelice was reported to have polled the faculty on whether to adhere to the requirement that classes open with a prayer. When the result turned out negative, all Fr. DeFelice could bring himself to do was "strongly encourage' that they continue the practice anyway. He's learned well the leadership method of the world. Take a poll and defer to those you are supposed to be leading.The National Catholic Register asked Catholic Colleges to fill out a survey to indicate their fidelity to the Church. Those responding affirmatively are listed on their website. Saint Anselm is not listed.
Under Fr. DeFelice, it appears Saint Anselm has gone the way of too many other apostate Catholic colleges. It's a shame. The Benedictines had worked so hard to build something good.
But this belies the real agenda which is to continue the trend towards the feminization of the school. Other indicators like the hiring in recent years of a female as Dean of Student Affairs and another as Executive Vice President show an increasing strategy to turn the school further away from its traditional Catholic roots towards a modernist, secularist and especially feminist ideology. The Catholic credentials of these hires are never really mentioned or emphasized. The result? The college now has a rampant hedonistic under culture, lack of enforcement of visitation rules, epidemic underage drinking and most of all, a declining spiritual character as the school moves closer towards the secular world around it. Indeed, the school now shows open hostility towards white Catholic males and the social structures like fraternities that support them.
Other indicators of this shift can be found in the increasing decline in the percentage of Catholic faculty and staff as well as in the student body at large. The school makes no attempt to screen for Catholic students in admissions or in faculty and staff hiring. These changes largely have come about during the reign of Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., as President of the School. Fr. DeFelice seems more comfortable moving in political power circles than ecclesiastical ones. A quick perusal of the Saint Anselm website and blog shows a heavy tilt towards left-leaning democrats as campus speakers. In one recent on-campus speech, presidential candidate John Edwards even had the audacity to welcome Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Fr. DeFelice was in attendance and issued no statement of repudiation. Indeed, attendees reported he greeted her with polite applause.
In the fall of 2004, a prospective student wrote to Fr. DeFelice about a news story he saw where that great political intellectual, pro-abortion feminist activist Sharon Stone had held a pro- John Kerry rally at Saint Anselm College. The rally seemed to include Saint Anselm faculty, staff and students. DeFelice claimed neutrality by the college in the campaign in a typically condescending reply. Might this exchange have set the stage for future events? It's one thing to encourage spirited debate and civic involvement on a Catholic college campus, but quite another to promote the side of the debate most at odds with Catholic moral teaching.
In a letter to parents in the Spring of 2007, Fr. DeFelice announced that the presidential debates at the college would be held during Holy Week. Though he didn't get specific, one was actually scheduled for Holy Thursday. It was a wonderful confluence of two traditions at the college, he said, civic involvement and Catholicism. He didn't recommend one activity over the other but in fairness, the students would be on break anyway and would likely be nowhere near the campus for the event. Bet they didn't mention that when they recruited the politics majors. It was in the same letter, buried at the bottom of the second page, that he announced the change to coed dorms.
Then there's the area of theology. One theology professor explained to his class that he didn't believe God was active in the temporal sphere but had merely put creation into motion and then sat back and observed in a "Seven Days of Rest" manner. So much for scripture and tradition. Another stated confidently that God never "really spoke" to men. It wasn't clear which heresy this was, that Jesus Christ wasn't God made man and that when He spoke He wasn't God speaking or that the words recorded in Gospel weren't His. Either way, its a reflection of where this college is going.
In the area of literature, having exhausted all the classics from Virgil to Aquinas to Milton, the students are required to read Virginia Woolf, the famous bisexual feminist author who committed suicide. Most students have already had her "literature" crammed down their throats in public high school but St. Anselm College wants to make sure it isn't missed.
In a telling article in the school newspaper in 2006, DeFelice was reported to have polled the faculty on whether to adhere to the requirement that classes open with a prayer. When the result turned out negative, all Fr. DeFelice could bring himself to do was "strongly encourage' that they continue the practice anyway. He's learned well the leadership method of the world. Take a poll and defer to those you are supposed to be leading.The National Catholic Register asked Catholic Colleges to fill out a survey to indicate their fidelity to the Church. Those responding affirmatively are listed on their website. Saint Anselm is not listed.
Under Fr. DeFelice, it appears Saint Anselm has gone the way of too many other apostate Catholic colleges. It's a shame. The Benedictines had worked so hard to build something good.
Labels: Abortion, DeFelice, John Kerry, St. Anselm
posted by Theophilis at
4:54 PM
11 Comments:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Bowler,
As a graduating senior I am devastated by the news about Chris, a student I know pretty much just by name. But that shows how well-liked he is by everyone here. Also, I'm blessed to be leaving a school whose Catholic identity is quickly being washed down the drain, swept under the carpet, etc. It's really rather sickening...considering the people who still run the school are monks. It might be less disgusting, except for that.
St. Anselm used to be a beacon of hope for Catholics who wanted a solid education parallel to their solid faith. Every year they come closer to the ranks of schools like Notre Dame and other Fatholic (Fake+Catholic) schools.
Please keep praying for the students and faculty of St. Anselm College.
They need all the prayers they can get.
To Chris,
Keep the faith, man. If St. Anselm treats you like this (and believe me, you're not the first and won't be the last), the school doesn't deserve you.
I've had the privilege of knowing the inside track on things like this for a few years here, and I'm glad that you are speaking out. If I can do anything, let me know.
Please know that the Bowler family is NOT alone in their concerns for the welfare of St. A's.
Yours in Christ,
By
Anonymous, At
July 3, 2007 11:52 AM
If you want your arguments about Saint Anselm College to actually do some good, you might want to remove your ultra-conservative ideological gripes towards the college from your website.
"But this belies the real agenda which is to continue the trend towards the feminization of the school. Other indicators like the hiring in recent years of a female as Dean of Student Affairs and another as Executive Vice President show an increasing strategy to turn the school further away from its traditional Catholic roots towards a modernist, secularist and especially feminist ideology. The Catholic credentials of these hires are never really mentioned or emphasized."
The goal of the college in hiring women for positions is not in the least anti-catholic, they simply attempt to hire the best person for the job, male or female. It's surprising that someone who has so many strong opinions doesn't have the intelligence to realize the need for quality hires in administration. You yourself have questioned the effectiveness of the clergy in administration , so what is it exactly that you want?
And your comments about Virginia Woolf in the humanities program? This comment must be coming from someone who has absolutely no regard or appreciation for the monumental intellectual developments of our time. It's people like you who fail to look just at the literature in front of you as valuable, instead you ruin the development of so many people by thinking it's more important to point out that authors such as Woolf are "Bisexual", try "genius" instead.
"the school now shows open hostility towards white Catholic males and the social structures like fraternities that support them."
-Don't kid yourself, The King Edward society is first and foremost a fraternity for drinking, SECONDLY it is a catholic group--and even that is a joke. The only reason groups such as them claim that they are a catholic group is to maintain their endorsement by the college.
You fail to remember the Knights of Columbus, a real catholic fraternity in good standing with the college. But then again, you seem to enjoy using only the facts that will make your point appear stronger.
And there's more! First you say this: "DeFelice claimed neutrality by the college in the campaign"
and then this : "but quite another to promote the side of the debate most at odds with Catholic moral" teaching.
So you acknowledge that DeFelice claimed neutrality, but then a few sentences later claim the college is picking sides? Your arguments lack any substance and credibility.
I give up.
it's sad that the Chris bowler everyone knows on the saint Anselm college campus is being represented by websites such as this, we all know him as a fun loving guy who can have a conversation with anyone. These websites are making him look exactly like what he was made out to be by administration. An intolerant lout-- Which he is most definitely not.
By
Anonymous, At
July 3, 2007 12:02 PM
Obviously, the above letter is from one of the resident heretics. First, the person claims to know Chris but isn't willing to reveal who he or she is or come to Chris' defense. Second, the person seems unaware that Chris is also a member of Knights of Columbus. Third, the person calls Virginia Woolf a genius, revealing their likely profession. And forth, he or she uses miniscules when writing the word Catholic and so is likely to be one of the non-Catholics we wrote about above. Courage seems hard to come by at this school. Truth even more so.
- ITH
By
Theophilis, At
July 3, 2007 12:03 PM
"the person calls Virginia Woolf a genius, revealing their likely profession. And forth, he or she uses miniscules when writing the word Catholic and so is likely to be one of the non-Catholics we wrote about above. Courage seems hard to come by at this school. Truth even more so."
The curriculum chosen by the college for the humanities program was selected by intelligent individuals,professors, who appreciate the value of good writing regardless of the sexual orientation of the author. That's all. As for "revealing their likely profession" I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, not all students dwell on the fact that Woolf was bisexual or that she killed herself. - Ars Gratia Artis.
catholic or Catholic, god or God---the context remains the same, as does the word--don't get caught up in a technicality.
And.... I am not employed by the college, just because I may disagree with the things you say against the college does not mean I feel that what happened to Chris was right. There is no lack of courage-- but due to the circumstances it's sad to see someone criticizing a curriculum that includes a bisexual woman when attempting to defend someone who allegedly called someone a racial slur. Your intolerance doesn't help your case....rather, it makes the person you're defending look like they fit the part. I don't think that's what you want Chris to look like.
focus on the judiciary process--- not the humanities program, the theology department or anything else, that's just silly.
By
Anonymous, At
July 3, 2007 12:03 PM
You never get to the question posed on this page, "Is Saint Anselm College Catholic?" In effect, you are ceding my point that Saint Anselm College no longer can call itself Catholic. It has gone the way of Marist College, Nazareth College, Marymount College and Saint John Fisher College. The primary mission of all the Church's institutions, religious, health, charitable, educational etc. is the same - to "preach the Gospel to all nations," i.e. to evangelize. By stating that he gives all viewpoints and religions equal weight, Fr. DeFelice is stating that there is no objective Truth, that one point of view, or one religion, is as valid as another. At his ordination, he gave a different oath, to save souls from eternal damnation and to help them avoid hell and achieve Heaven. By failing to lead young people to Christ in His Church, denying objective Truth, he is damning the young people in his charge.
- ITH
By
Theophilis, At
July 3, 2007 12:04 PM
Maybe God wills it to be "that one point of view, or one religion, is as valid as another"
By
Anonymous, At
July 3, 2007 12:04 PM
Yes, then the official religion of the college can be changed to Relativism. Perhaps you should suggest that to Fr. DeFelice. I bet you would do that anonymously too.
- ITH
By
Theophilis, At
July 3, 2007 12:05 PM
The last email I sent you was actually a joke, I had a feeling you would take it seriously....
But----I must disagree with your thoughts--- I feel that Fr. Defelice very sufficiently answered the letter from Chris in regards to speakers on campus. It seems that, on your website, you are looking too far into the issue. The benedictine tradition of hospitality implies that any respectful speaker on campus will be treated with as a welcome guest. It's even likely that the benedictines would welcome n athiest, or gasp! a protestant into their home. Just because he welcomes such people does not mean, in any way, that he or the college supports their ideologies. Similarly, Fr. Jonathan does the right thing by allowing speakers from both sides to speak on campus-- to create dialogue. Just because he welcomes someone on campus does not mean he endorses them.
Anonymity does not change the message of what I am saying-- the only thing telling you my name would accomplish would be to satisfy your curiosity, and although curiosity is a good thing-- in this case, it's hardly important.
By
Anonymous, At
July 3, 2007 12:05 PM
If you recall, the tradition of hospitality was offered as a reason by the Taliban for not coughing up Osama Bin Laden.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops very clearly ordered Catholic colleges not to "provide a plaform" to politicians and others who would use that platform to advance ideas contrary to Church teaching. St. Anselm College does just that on a regular basis. It's not a Republican vs. Democrat thing at all. Most of the politicians advance ideas contrary to Catholic teaching and nary a word is said or written at the school.
Most of the students and sadly many of the faculty are oblivious to what those teachings even are or why they exist. If Fr. DeFelice wants to share a coffee with his guests, fine. But giving them a platform to advance abortion, gay marriage, uneven distribution of wealth, death penalty, war, etc. is just not the mission of a Catholic institution. Teaching truth and justice is.
- ITH
By
Theophilis, At
July 3, 2007 12:06 PM
1. Why would you screen for Catholics? Would you keep non-Catholics out of the college? How is that fair or keeping in a Christian spirit? Secondly, by allowing students to come to Saint Anselm they are getting closer to God by having a religious atmosphere around them. I know some people who came to school as not religious people but were baptized. Would you deny them the chance to become Christian?
2. John Edwards welcoming a pro-choice activist has nothing to do with what the college believes. Secondly, the college does not control who is invited to appear at the NHIOP, since the NHIOP is state funded. Thirdly, what would Father Jonathan do? Fold his arms and sit back in his chair? He was being polite, you can disagree with something and do it in a polite and respectful manner.
3. Are Theology professors supposed to be Catholic? How are students supposed to learn and explore the world if they do not hear the opinions of other people, especially their professors? The professors do not hold it against the students if they disagree with their beliefs, rather, they encourage it.
4. While Virginia Woolf certainly was not my favorite reading, she was a necessary part of our humanities program. In seminar, there was no emphasis on her bisexuality, rather her literary talents.
5. We still pray before class starts….
I think this is a very skewed version of what the college looks like. Remember, this is a college. We are here to learn, even the beliefs that are contrary to the Church’s beliefs. Our school’s motto is faith seek understanding, to understand is to know things that are contrary to the Church’s teachings.
By
Saint Anselm student, At
November 17, 2007 7:40 PM
1. Read Ex Corde Ecclesiae which answers all your questions about what the Church teaches about Catholic colleges. Catholic students and faculty are to be favored in order to maintain a Catholic character to the institution. Non Catholics are not to be rejected but should know at all times they are in a Catholic institution.
2. The NHIOP is on the campus, run by the school and should be representative of what the school believes. Have your debates, fine, but someone should take the Catholic position. There is no exchange of ideas if anti- Catholic speakers and views go unchallenged.
3. Theology professors are required to attain a teaching mandatum from the local bishop in accordance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae. Do your homework.
4. in the 200 year treasury of the Church, there is enough literary excellence to keep you busy for a lifetime without resorting to modernist fads surrounding anti-Catholic authors.
5. When and where will you be learning the Church's position instead of the dissenting views?
By
Theophilis, At
November 17, 2007 10:13 PM
Post a Comment
<$I18N$LinksToThisPost>:
Create a Link
<< Home