Category: Catholic Higher Education

There is a vast literature on the philosophy, history and purpose of Catholic education, and the challenges that it faces. This bibliography represents only a sample of publications that I – as a novice in the subject – found helpful in gaining a general understanding. I focus mainly on recent works that address contemporary challenges, but include a few key older works to provide historical background and a trajectory of both continuity and change. Many additional publications are summarized in the first chapter of d’Souza (2016). In addition to the general challenges for higher education (primarily associated with the market economy, see Section One), commonly-referenced issues include dealing with “modernity” and religious pluralism; defining and being true to a Catholic identity; tension between “conservative” and “liberal” Catholic educators; competition with secular institution for students, prestige and funding; the diminishing role of the humanities and theology; the relationship between the Church and the university; academic freedom; reestablishing higher education as an individual and social good, and insufficient student and faculty development aimed at understanding and supporting Catholic missions.

Negotiating Identity

Gallin, A. (2000). Negotiating identity: Catholic higher education since 1960. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press.

This “history” takes up where Gleason (1995) left off with the decline of “Neo-Scholasticism” and the attempts to modernize Catholic education post Vatican II. The underlying question is “what makes a university Catholic”? Gallin includes many historical examples from Catholic universities. These long examples and the political details make this rather a heavy read (I confess I skipped over many of the details) but Gallin clearly shows the origin of many of our current challenges, especially the financial issues and – as indicated in the title – questions of identity. Continue reading “Negotiating Identity”

Contending with Modernity

Gleason, P. (1995). Contending with modernity: Catholic higher education in the twentieth century. New York: Oxford University Press.

This book covers “the historical development of American Catholic higher education since 1900” (vii). While it is primarily from a Catholic perspective, Gleason places this development in a broader educational and ideological context. The introduction provides an historical overview that is developed in great detail in later chapters. Continue reading “Contending with Modernity”

Blueprint for a Catholic University

Ward, L. R. (1949). Blueprint for a Catholic university. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co.

This is a good example of the Catholic response to the growing secularization of higher education and the difficulties that Catholic colleges (particularly in the United States) faced in maintaining their identity and purpose. Ward argues that “merely trying to keep up, not get behind” (p. 7), particularly in terms of standardized testing and accreditation, has resulted in dismal “mediocracy” along with a siege mentality in which “simply to keep the faith” rather than moving forward became an end in itself. He observes that “Merely being not non-Catholic, merely saving the faith, merely making not-bad men, is aiming at mediocrity and at best achieving it” (p. 8). Continue reading “Blueprint for a Catholic University”

The Idea of a University

Newman, J. H. (1931). Select Discourses from the Idea of a University. Cambridge, England: The University Press. Edited with an introduction by May Yardley.

This short book includes Discourses I, V-IX and “Literature: a Lecture” from Cardinal John Henry Newman’s seminal work: The idea of a university defined and illustrated I. In nine discourses delivered to the Catholics of Dublin II, including Discourses I, V-IX and “Literature: a Lecture”). Continue reading “The Idea of a University”