Adsum

May 2003

Should Non-Catholics Be Given Courses in Catholic Doctrine in Catholic Schools?

From the book, More Answers to Today’s Moral Questions
by Very Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D., L.L.D., L.H.D.

Question: In a Catholic school or college should the non-Catholic students be obliged to take a course in religion? If so, should the content of the course be Catholic doctrine or merely the truths of natural religion? The same problem would arise in a Catholic hospital which conducts a course in religion and ethics for the nurses.

Answer: Every Catholic school and college should have religious instruction as a part of its curriculum — religious instruction in Catholic doctrine. This holds for all academic grades. Otherwise, it is difficult to see how the institution can be designated as a Catholic school or college. I might add that these courses should be taught by fully competent intructors, not by those who cannot qualify for other branches. And the content should be proportionate to the academic grade. It is surely not fitting that high school or college students should be limited in their religion course to matter that is supposed to be taught in grade schools.

Although others may have different ideas, I believe that non-Catholic students attending a Catholic school or college should ordinarily take a course in Catholic doctrine, not merely a course in natural religion and ethics. If they wish to attend a Catholic educational institution, they must expect to take the courses that are an essential part of the curriculum. If they do not wish to take the religion course, they may withdraw from the school or college. I agree fully with the following statement that appeared recently in a doctoral dissertation from the Canon Law School of the Catholic University of America:

The function of a Catholic university or college is to give to its students an education which has been placed by centuries of successful effort into a definite framework. That system of education contains as a necessary part of its curriculum a course in the teachings of the Catholic Church. This need cause no concern to the non-Catholic that he will be forced to accept these teachings for his own private convictions. Rather, he is to look upon the course in religion as an integral and valuable piece of information in the education he is to receive in a Catholic college or university.... To teach the natural law apart from Catholic doctrine to non-Catholic students is to teach two objective standards of morality, one for Catholics and one for non-Catholics. This can only lead to indifferentism.

This does not necessarily mean that non-Catholics must attend the same classes as the Catholic students. Ordinarily, they will need instruction in the fundamental truths of religion which the Catholics have already acquired, and naturally they will need a more detailed explanation of the basic doctrines. But the important teachings of the Catholic Church should be explained to them, particularly the Catholic doctrine on the necessity of the Church for salvation. I believe that this same procedure should be followed in the courses of instruction given to the student nurses in Catholic hospitals.

Back to May 2003 Newsletter.
Back to top.

Printed copies of Adsum, a publication by the seminarians of Mater Dei Seminary for the reading enjoyment of friends and benefactors, are sent free of charge to all who request it. Most issues also contain photos of recent events involving the seminarians. If you would like to put on this mailing list, please use this form.