Debates about Catholic higher education in the United States sometimes
focus too much on what Catholic colleges and universities should not do,
rather than what they should do. This article attempts to reframe those
debates away from the negative expressions of Catholic identity (i.e.,
denying guests a right to speak on campus based on their stance on abortion)
and toward more positive expressions, like promoting scholarship on Catholic
history, culture, and theology. It reviews some key academic literature that
approaches Catholic identity from this positive, proactive perspective, and
attempts to categorize that literature into common, identifiable
themes.
Our Schools--Our Hope: Reflections on Catholic Identity from the 2011 Catholic Higher Education Collaborative Conference