Writer feels La Salle isn’t Catholic enough

By Kevin Hall
Collegian Reporter
March 21, 2007

It was Christmas time. Every day I walked by an unassuming display of a snowman in the Union. I am sure that many other students walked by the same snowman as often as I did. However, I am also sure that the snowman did not anger as many students as it should have. On the bottom of the display, it proudly stated “Seasons Greetings.”

Stuff like this bothers me. It is not because I don’t like Frosty as much as the next person. It is not because I am the modern day Scrooge and simply don’t like Christmas. It is because the display could have been a manger with a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. The display could have said something to the effect of “Christ is born,” or at the least “Merry Christmas.” Of course, the display did not have any of those things.

I am not one of those people who goes around to department stores and criticizes the place for not displaying the religious side of Christmas. Those are the choices that businesses make. They exist to make money, but La Salle exists for a different reason.

La Salle exists to provide its students with a top quality Catholic education. This is something that I know too many people forget.

Students of other Christian denominations or religions in general should come to terms with those ideas before coming to La Salle.

In years past, there were daily reminders of our Catholic heritage. Before, many classes began with a daily prayer. Other than a choice few, this practice has gone by the wayside.

Also, hanging on every classroom wall is a cross. Although,this is a reminder of our Christian heritage, it also is somewhat non-denominational, whereas a crucifix better reflects the position of La Salle as a Catholic university.

Additionally, God-forbid La Salle require students take a class on Catholicism.

The idea of being a Catholic university has a very distinct meaning. It should mean that La Salle exists proudly as a beacon of faith to civilization around us that is so often concerned with worldly things. It should mean that a student’s faith is enhanced by the time they graduate, so that Catholics can move on to lead good, Catholic lives. It should mean that in following the message of Christ, our students are challenged through the tradition of the Christian Brothers, and, in turn, work hard towards achieving their utmost potential both inside and outside of the classroom.

It would be wrong for me to state that these things are not accomplished by many who attend La Salle. It would also be wrong for me to state that I felt these were the goals of many who run La Salle today. How can it be that the reason for our faith, and in essence, the reason for the existence of La Salle as a university, is not even mentioned in the mission statement. Look it up. On the university’s listed “Mission and Goals” on the Web site you will find no mention of Christ, and hardly a peep about what it means for La Salle to be Catholic at all.

Compare that with a statement laid out by St. John Baptist de La Salle himself in Common Rules of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, published in 1718: “The end of this Institute is to give a Christian education to children; it is for this purpose the Brothers keep schools, that. . . they may teach them to lead good lives, by instructing them in the mysteries of our holy religion and by inspiring them with Christian maxims; and thus giving them a suitable education.”

Instead of a La Salle University community that stands up and states that this is what we believe as Catholics, I feel that too often we roll over and simply accept what the cultural world around us is already shoving down our throats. I am not saying that La Salle has lost its Catholic image, but talk with students who go here about their religion. Look at La Salle’s mission statement. Talk to the alumni and many of them will often state how they think that La Salle is not Catholic enough anymore. I am saying that we are on the slope, and if we don’t start standing up for what we believe in as Catholics, why bother standing up at all?

hallk3@lasalle.edu