McGinniss will attend pope's address

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
April 16, 2008

As a part of his American tour, Pope Benedict XVI will address the presidents of the country’s Catholic colleges April 17 at Catholic University in Washington D.C. La Salle President Brother Michael McGinniss is set to attend the meeting along with 213 of his peers.

“All of us who are involved in Catholic higher education are interested in Pope Benedict XVI’s address to Catholic educators,” McGinniss said.

Scholars and public figures nationwide are divided about what the pope will and should address in his talks with the school leaders.

McGinniss offered his view.

“Those closest to the pope have suggested that his message will be encouraging and inspiring,” McGinniss said.

“No one knows for sure what he’s going to say” in his 11 prepared remarks over five days, the Rev. David O’Connell, president of Catholic University of America, said to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“But I can tell you what he’s not going to do: He’s not going to hammer us over the head,” he said.

Former Republican Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum recently blasted schools in his biweekly Inquirer column.

“Since Vatican II, most Catholic colleges have sought to reduce their relationship with Catholicism and the church to a one-word marketing pitch - Catholic,” Santorum wrote.

“On most Catholic campuses across the country, you might be surprised to learn that most professors are not Catholic and that the Catholics are often non-practicing.”

McGinniss countered that perspective.

“In my view, Catholic colleges and universities across the country (which educate some 700,000 students) make a significant contribution to this nation by offering quality education and moral values both to Catholics and non-Catholics,” he said. 

“What’s particularly encouraging is a recent study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, which showed that those who attended Catholic colleges and universities are more engaged in the Church than those who did not attend such institutions,” McGinniss said.

“The data, which was collected between 2000 and 2007, indicated that Catholic college and university attendees were more likely to be registered in a parish, attend mass, have done parish volunteer work and have participated in parish small groups for prayer, bible study, and discussions of faith.”

The pope’s first visit to the United States features visits to Washington D.C. and New York, with large masses at Yankee Stadium and Nationals Park.

Leaders from St. Joseph’s University, Villanova and De Sales are set to attend the meeting as well.

scavuzzos1@lasalle.edu