Skip to main content
There were two very interesting stories about universities in the U.S. that caught my attention. The first is about the ongoing debate over illegal immigration. At a recent conference, Sister Diane Kennedy, vice president for mission and ministry at Dominican University, proudly described 17 of Dominican’s students. Of the 17, several have achieved high academic honors, Kennedy said. And two, so far, have been arrested by immigration officials and spent time in jail. All 17 students are undocumented immigrants, and the college is spending $274,000 of its own money to help them pay tuition. At a session of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Kennedy and other Catholic leaders urged other colleges to follow Dominican’s example. Catholic colleges and the Catholic church, led by Cardinal Roger Mahony, who retired as archbishop of Los Angeles in 2011, are quietly stepping up efforts to enroll and assist students whose parents came to the United States illegally. In recent months, Mahony has held meetings with college leaders and students to find other ways to engage institutions on the issue. The church is planning to distribute several versions of an immigration curriculum, so that colleges can cover the issue from a Catholic perspective in a wide range of classes. In remarks to a small group of college presidents and vice presidents, Mahony cast advocacy for immigrants as part of the heritage of Catholic colleges and a core expression of Catholic values. This issue is so easily demonized. Politicians looking for votes very often describe the worst types of illegal immigrants, the folks who truly have evil in their heart and are coming over the border to cause trouble. This story points out that there are two sides to this issue. The second story is about the change in leadership at some of our Catholic colleges. The Loyola Marymount University Board of Trustees appointed David W. Burcham as the president of the university after a nationwide search. Burcham, who currently serves as the university's interim president and is a 1984 graduate of Loyola Law School, will be the first lay president in the university's 99-year history. Burcham's association with LMU began in 1981. He graduated first in his class from Loyola Law School and, after seven years in public and private practice, he returned to the law school and teaching. He was appointed senior vice president and dean of the law school in 2000, and served in that capacity until 2008 when he was named LMU's executive vice president and provost. In 2010, Burcham took over leadership of the university when Robert B. Lawton, S.J. resigned for health reasons. "We respect the process, procedures and the integrity of the Search Committee and their extraordinary efforts to find applicants, including Jesuit applicants," said both Archbishop of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and Coadjutor Archbishop José Gomez. "We support the steps taken by the Board of Trustees and we look forward to working with David Burcham." "We set a very high bar for what we wanted and expected in our next president, including academic excellence, executive leadership, fundraising experience and furtherance of our Jesuit, Marymount and Catholic traditions," said vice chair of the LMU Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, Kathleen Aikenhead. "Dave Burcham already has proved himself." The bar apparently did not include requiring that the leader of a Catholic university be a practicing Catholic. Really? Is that the best they can do? It is obvious that they are very sensitive about this hire. Just look at the number of folks who are trying to validate the "process." I for one am praying that Mr. Burcham is successful. Maybe someone will invite him to go through the RCIA process. By the way, what is the difference between Jesuit, Marymount, and Catholic traditions?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pope Saint John Paul II and the Socialist Threat

Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...

Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...

Love, the Greatest Gift: A Christmas Reflection

The Heart of Christmas The ancient pagans, as Aristotle articulated, conceived of God as a being whose power and influence were contingent upon human love and devotion. This notion, however, was radically challenged by the Christian revelation that God wants our love but He doesn't need our love to exist. The New Testament inverts Aristotle's paradigm, revealing that divine love precedes human love. God, in His infinite mercy, loved us first. "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This truth lies at the heart of the Christmas message. It is what makes this time of the year perfect for forgiveness and reconciliation as we prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The Gift of Divine Love Christmas offers us a unique opportunity to receive this infinite gift of God's love with amazement and gratitude. To fully embrace this gift, we must adopt a childlike faith, unburdened by the cynicism and caution that often accompany life'...