I’ll begin these reflections with an upfront affirmation of my love for the University of Notre Dame. My wife was an undergraduate there (class of 1988), our nephew (and my godson) recently graduated from Notre Dame, and I have many dear and wonderful friends who teach there.
I believe that the theology department is one of the very best in the world. I have attended conferences at Notre Dame sponsored by the De Nicola Center (run by the excellent theologian, Dr. Jennifer Martin) that I would rate as the best I have ever attended anywhere.
There is a vibrant Catholic student culture on campus as well as many fine Catholic faculty members teaching in a variety of departments. There are also many excellent non-Catholic faculty members who support and promote the Catholic identity of the school without reservation. Not without reason, therefore, did one of my intellectual heroes, the late David L. Schindler, choose to be buried at Notre Dame.
In short, there really is no place like it in the Catholic world, and I cherish every opportunity I get to go there.
“Refreshed” staff values
I begin with this resounding endorsement to underscore that the following criticisms are motivated by a love for Notre Dame and not any animus against it.
Recently, the President of Human Resources (Heather Chrisophersen) released a new set of “refreshed” staff values that will guide the evaluation of the many non-faculty staff members who work there. Most noteworthy is that the new values delete any specific mention of supporting the Catholic mission of the school. For comparison’s sake, here are the old values followed by the new guidelines (as listed in the CNA article):
Old staff values:
— Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for decisions, actions, and results. Accountable for both how and what is accomplished
— Teamwork: Works cooperatively as a member of a team and is committed to the overall team objectives rather than own interests
— Integrity: Demonstrates honest and ethical behavior that displays a high moral standard. Widely trusted, respectful, and honorable
— Leadership in Excellence: Demonstrates energy and commitment to improving results, takes initiatives often involving calculated risks while considering the common good
— Leadership in Mission: Understands, accepts, and supports the Catholic mission of the university and fosters values consistent with that mission
Here is the new set of staff values:
— Community: Treat every person with dignity and respect.
— Collaboration: Work together with honesty, kindness, and humility.
— Excellence: Pursue the highest standards with a commitment to truth and service.
— Innovation: Embrace opportunities with creativity and dedication.
In an interview, Heather Christophersen says that the entire category of “Leadership in Mission” was deleted, including the specific reference to Catholic mission, to highlight that every one of the values speaks in its own way to the school’s mission. The CNA article summarizes as follows:
According to the Notre Dame Observer, Christophersen said in an interview that the former Notre Dame values “had only one value that pointed into mission” and that the decision to remove the “Leadership in Mission” value was motivated by a desire to reframe the school’s Catholic mission as all-encompassing. She said the old values had caused confusion in staff evaluation processes during annual performance reviews and that the school does not monitor religious affiliation for staff in the same way as faculty and students.
What sort of “global” institution?
This “clarification” hardly clarifies anything and raises several troubling questions.
First, it is indeed strange that there is no mention of a specifically Catholic mission that guides all the staff values if the goal was to emphasize that all the various values fall under that Catholic umbrella. A neutral observer, ignorant of Notre Dame’s Catholic status, if handed these values would have no inkling from them that they were animated in some way by a Catholic missional identity.
Ms. Christophersen states that the goal is for Notre Dame to be a “global Catholic Research University.” One can perhaps detect here a whiff of tension between the desire to be “global” and the Catholic mission of the school. One hopes that in the near future, Ms. Christophersen can define with greater specificity what she means when she says that the goal is for Notre Dame to be a “global university” even as it eliminates any mention of Catholicism from its staff values. Specifically, does she think that there is a conflict between a strong emphasis on Catholic identity and the desire to be global?
In other words, is there some meaning in the use of the term “global” that goes beyond the basic empirical fact that the school’s reputation and influence extend far beyond its campus borders and into the wider world? If the term had been combined with a robust reaffirmation of Catholic identity and that Notre Dame expects all of its employees to, at the very least, respect that identity and to do nothing to impede it, then there would be no issue. But the absence of the latter—indeed, in light of its explicit removal—raises a serious red flag about just what kind of global presence Notre Dame seeks.
The fact is, there are competing models for what it means for an institution to be global. The dominant model of our culture is mostly secular and emphasizes a kind of political Liberalism that positions itself as the great, allegedly value-neutral, cultural Esperanto of denatured parochialisms, where all specific identities are equal in the sense that they are all equally trivial in the big picture. And that “big picture”, or in common academic argot, that “metanarrative”, is that a truly global culture will emphasize our freedom to be whatever we want to be or to worship however we please, which is all well and good, but only so long as it is understood that such particularisms are merely the epiphenomenal exudations of an atomized, choosing self.
A self that bears no intrinsic meaning or value in itself and whose “inherent dignity” is largely a merely stipulative legal fiction, the contents of which are largely determined by a combination of parasitical borrowings from a dying Christianity and various secular sentimentalisms of the moment. It is ultimately, therefore, a vision of “globalism” that is rather metaphysically vacuous, grounded in nothing of real intellectual substance, unmoored from all traditional concepts of value, and held together by the thin, diaphanous thread of economic affluence and digital tech enchantments. In other words, bread and circuses brought to us by Apple, Microsoft, and trillion-dollar deficit spending.
By contrast, Catholicism has always embodied a radically different kind of globalism. It is a globalism grounded in the paradox of an absolute particularism (the Incarnation), which alone can ground a true universalism of a global solidarity of all human beings in God. And unlike modern secularism’s parochial anti-parochialism, which corrosively dissolves all genuine particularisms in the acid of a purely materialistic uniformity (the most parochial vision of all), Catholicism embraces the good in all cultures and peoples wherever it is found as manifestations of grace, even as it purifies them and thus elevates them into a heuristic liberation that makes them, not less than they were before, but more.
This is why the powerful elites of modernity so fear a robust and revivified Catholicism and seek to domesticate it wherever they cannot just overtly destroy it. This, too, is why the current debates in the Church over this and that topic cannot be resolved without first reaching a resolution on which model of globalism it seeks to champion. Both so-called traditionalism and garden-variety Catholic progressivism miss the point of Vatican II insofar as they both read it as an essentially globalist enterprise in a modern Liberal register.
In reality, the Council, in many obvious ways too numerous to mention here, promoted the ressourcement vision of folks like Henri de Lubac and Karol Wojtyla et al., all of whom sought a truly universal (global) Church but from within the framework of a radically Christocentric theological anthropology and a Christian humanism grounded in the same.
Returning then to the question of Notre Dame and its “refreshed” staff values for a truly “global” Catholic university, one does wonder which model of globalism is operative here. This might seem like making a mountain out of a molehill, but it is not. Notre Dame is too important to just ignore this change as “no big deal”. It is the flagship Catholic university in America, and perhaps globally as well, and “what happens in South Bend does not stay in South Bend.” Or, as my friend Dr. Rodney Howsare would put it, “Dadgummit, this is important.”
Restoring Catholic mission
As I said, this is perhaps all a bit of a stretch and somewhat unfair, but in light of the decades-long trend among American Catholic universities to downplay Catholic identity in the name of being more “inclusive”, it is a legitimate question to ask. All of us who have worked at putatively Catholic schools can attest to the fact that the standard model for campus tour guides when speaking to prospective students is to tell them, “Don’t worry, it is a Catholic school, but that doesn’t affect your education here very much at all.” At my former university, I once asked an administrator (a priest) why Catholic identity was not more heavily promoted in our recruiting literature. He responded by saying, “Because we aren’t Steubenville, that’s why”. Well, QED I guess.
This trajectory is real and has attenuated the Catholic identity of most Catholic universities to such an extent that the hiring of faculty and staff who are openly opposed to Catholic identity is taken as a marker of how “truly Catholic in our inclusion of everyone we are!” And those who object to this trend are branded as “uncatholic” in their “hateful exclusionism”.
So, whither Notre Dame? It is interesting to note that Ms. Christophersen dropped a small hint of things when she said that the old values, which emphasized supporting the Catholic mission of the school, caused “confusion” at evaluation time. She further states that staff are not hired with any emphasis upon religious identity, like faculty are.
However, we have all seen how this dynamic works. You hire people without any care as to their religious views, but later, when a conflict arises that involves a topic pertaining to the Catholic mission of the school, evaluators are paralyzed with embarrassment that the issue is even being raised at all. They say, “What does it matter?” whether the counselors in our student services office or the library staff, or our maintenance workers toe the line on “Catholic dogmas”?
That problem is now “solved” at Notre Dame since the staff values no longer mention Catholicism at all. However, at a school where Catholic identity is truly valued and where there is a proper theological vision for a true Catholic humanism/globalism, instead of eliminating the Catholic mission bits, there should instead be a series of sub-statements that make it very clear what adhering to the Catholic mission of the school means and, most importantly, what it does not mean. This would give employee evaluators and the staff members the specific and concrete criteria they need for adjudicating expectations.
For example, the nettlesome question of morality clauses could be dealt with by making it clear that, barring criminal behavior and/or boundary violations with students and other employees, no employee evaluation will take into consideration the “lifestyle” situation of anyone. I would not favor such a clause, but it is an example of how things can be nuanced to avoid “confusion” about what adherence to Catholic mission means.
But to just summarily remove the offending Catholic bits because of “confusion” speaks to what is most likely a cavalier annoyance at the whole question of Catholicity by those in charge. I hope that Notre Dame will reconsider these “refreshed” staff values and will restore Catholic mission as a specific category worthy of the importance it possesses.
Finally, Go Irish!
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Someone… anyone, please demonstrate to me in a convincing manner why Notre Dame University should be considered a Catholic institution. I’m waiting.
ND is Catholic.
Judas was an Apostle – he could have been St. Judas, the Repentant, having asked for forgiveness at the foot of the Cross.
We all need reform. It’s not over. Fight for her.
ND is Catholic.
Judas was an Apostle: he could have been St. Judas, the Repentant, having asked for forgiveness at the foot of the Cross.
We all need reform. It’s not over. Fight for her.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs, maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen
GodsFool: Just stating a desideratum does not make it so. And, repeating it makes it no more convincing.
Mt 7:16
I did not repeat my desire. There is no edit function for comments.
Regardless, ND is Catholic because the Church hierarchy allows it. Canon Law #808. My desire is not determinant. My desire is not determinant! 🤓
As for fruits, this old prune will always be grateful for encountering Christ at ND, even if I also experienced numerous betrayals of the Faith from those associated with her.
ND is a suitable school for well catechized students who can thrive in a theological war zone.
https://sycamoretrust.org/
“this old prune will always be grateful for encountering Christ at ND”
There’s the rub. Thanks for clearing up the confusion.
Deacon, your fight is with the hierarchy that allows ND to be called Catholic. How is your position toward the hierarchy different from Fr. Hesburgh? https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/07/02/the-problematic-legacy-of-fr-hesburgh/
Not even the Newman Catholic Colleges are Catholic Disney Land. There is no guide to sinless schools.
Before stripping ND of her Catholic status, the Bishops could start with the Jesuit Universities!
Amen, God’s Fool. 🙏
There’s always hope. But the troubles still need to be addressed in a serious way. If we love something we fight for it. As you state.
God bless!
mrscracker: I’d like to see ND turned over to the Dominican Fathers of the St. Joseph Province (yes, South Bend is unlikely to be in the geographical region of their province). Some of these religious orders that founded these institutions started out as intrepid defenders of the Catholic fai1th have been weakened by modernism.
How do you un-ring a bell that already been rung? You tell me.
Thank you. You said it clearly. May it be heard.
Allowing professors to assist students with abortion and allowing the LGBTQ mafia to operate on the campus is sad and now this. Catholicism is the true religion, stop apologizing for it.
One of the standards for judging if they are Catholic is their student fees. The higher their fees; the less likely that they are Catholic.
The undergraduate tuition for the University of Notre Dame for the 2025-2026 academic year is $67,100, with additional fees bringing the total estimated cost of attendance to approximately $86,045. Financial aid is available to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Harvard exempts students whose families make less than <$200K from tuition.
Why doesn't Notre Dame have a "preferential option for the poor"?
At least Harvard will be openly hostile, rather than offering a hollowed out, subverted counterfeit to "young skulls full of mush".
Seems that accountability was also taken out? Interesting
There is no need to shy away from the Gospels. Suggestion to ND: add the following instruction to your latest: “When in doubt consult the Catechism.”
Great, deservedly skeptical article. Thanks.
Fifth last paragraph – whither Notre Dame?
As a Christian with 60 years of experience from student to executive in higher education, this is the all to often “watering down” of traditional religious practices, beliefs, and values in most of our colleges and universities.
What is the problem with truth.
Mr. Kraai, the generic answer to your question, not referring to ND or anyone in particular, is that the people of the lie cannot stand to be in the presence of truth.
The new direction for ND staff feels like being a disciple of Jesus Christ without ever mentioning his name, the cross, the resurrection, or anything directly related to him. It’s deeply sad.
right
Agree. She was hired about a year ago and has already made a MONUMENTAL change.
In light of its new mission statement while Notre Dame may still be considered a “premier university” by some, it certainly is not a “premier Catholic university” and apparently no longer wishes to be considered as such.
I don’t believe that Noter Dame is on the Cardinal Newman society list of universities know for their Catholic identity.
Nothing really new here other than another scenario in the cultural war within Catholicism between the RadTrads and the progressives in the Church, the latter intent on conforming god to the world, the former conforming the world to God.
The section that begins mid-paragraph with “And that “big picture”, or in common academic argot, that “metanarrative”, is that a truly global culture will emphasize our freedom to be whatever we want to be or to worship however we please, which is all well and good, but only so long as it is understood that such particularisms are merely the epiphenomenal exudations of an atomized, choosing self” and continues with the contrast in the next two paragraphs is absolutely brilliant and should be required reading for the HR department, not that they would understand it.
You can still get a Catholic education at ND, but not by default. The drift away from a solid Catholic environment started under Hesburgh and has accelerated with each admin. If you want to help keep ND true to Catholic teaching, follow
@sycamoretrust on X & visit sycamoretrust.org
Dr. Chapp explains the difference between “global” and, say, globbal as in cosmopolitan.
Some convenient confusion at Notre Dame (etc.) would be to distinguish between the universal and inborn Natural Law and moral absolutes, and other realities/dogmas more distinctly Christian and especially Catholic…
About the Natural Law, “the Church is neither the author nor the arbiter of this norm” (Veritatis Splendor), and this norm is true not because the Church teaches it, but the Church teaches it because it is true. Something here about the coherence of Faith and Reason, which is the foundation of the university thingy…at whatever administrative superstructure and exorbitant price.
Not limiting himself to the word games of academia’s administrative class, on the mission of Catholic universities St. John Paul II had these sobering words about all the chips on the table:
“What is at stake is the very meaning of scientific and technological research, of social life and of culture, but, on an even more profound level, what is at stake is the very meaning of the human person” (Ex Cordia Ecclesia, 1990, n. 7). https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae.html
But after the “mess” especially since 2013, why should Joe Campus—just another “human person”—hear anything in class about just another dead white dude?
The secular institution called notre dame is a shadow of itself and has been for near 60 years…it’s contradictions to the faith are numerous…I understand larry,s desire and affection for ND and some of its students and faculty but if you openly allow the most heinous groups and clubs to be given a platform of evil….ie abortion. Contraception. LG bt approval etc it has stopped being catholic…thank God for f of steubenville, Ave Marie. Christendom and other orthodox universities…if you want your student to end up deconstructing their faith…then send them to ND, and pray hard for their salvation..
What is amusing about this article is how Chapp acts like Notre Dame obscuring its Catholic character is somehow a new phenomenon. I know the school updated its stated values recently to remove reference to the word Catholic but come on, this pales in comparison to the litany of issues emanating from ND. It wasn’t clear 20 years ago that there were problems at the school when in 2006 (the halcyon days of JPII and Benedict XVI) a certain [Female Anatomy] Monologues was allowed by Fr. Jenkins to be performed on campus? Anyone remember the Obama commencement?
At the time the ‘VM’ was an annual event on campus, and one year (I can’t remember exactly when) opening night was at Washington hall on campus on Ash Wednesday. Some of us went to the Basilica and tried to pass out small cards protesting this but we were politely but firmly refused. The phrase ‘academic freedom’ was bandied about rather liberally.
Use of the language of ‘values’ is already a surrender to the subjective character of secular thinking. Values are the price tags that I place on things. Values language replaces consideration of principle and truth. The slippery slope upon which Notre Dame and so many other Catholic schools on all levels have been sliding since the 1960s begins here.
This is not news.
It’s Notre Dame “saying the quiet part out loud”.
Thank you, Dr Chapp, from, Ike your wife, an ND alum.
Interesting to me that this week’s Lectionary reading have been from 1 and 2 Maccabees which describe the unbelievable suffering and battles certain Jews endured rather than surrender to the then extant secular culture. Quite a contrast compared to ND’s surrender here.
Fr Theodore Hesburgh and the intellectual sacred premise that wide open pursuit of truth requires no restrictions, no reservations, fealty to no man be he Jesus Christ or the Buddha. Land O’ Lakes was Hesburgh’s enshrinement in academia, his acknowledged excellence awarded with two gold medals, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal.
You cannot erase the legacy of a giant, particularly the university that sired him. Failure belongs to pontificates, good men who nevertheless lacked the verve to require correction largely because of their own ambivalence on pursuit of truth. Dignitatis Humanae was the final estocada.
We all know they have gone to the dark side.
When it comes to mission-related matters, HR should be implementers, not deciders.
re: Hesburgh
“Attendees and speakers at the memorial service included former President Jimmy Carter, Condoleezza Rice, Lou Holtz, then cardinal Theodore McCarrick and cardinal Roger Mahony”
The last two speakers are as about a clear an indication of the decedent’s orthodoxy as can be had.