Pope Benedict XVI's Sinks His Teeth Into the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
A catholic University should be... Catholic
The university has not understood its Catholic and Pontifical duties. It has turned its back on the Catholic and Magisterial light, sadly necessitating what is an unprecedented move in the history of the Church. Though long in coming, it shows that Pope Benedict XVI has teeth.
PrintCORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - Drawing from the beautiful First Chapter of the Gospel of John, the motto of the former Pontifical Catholic University of Peru is Et lux in tenebris lucet--and the light shines in the darkness. (John 1:5) It appears, however, that the university has not been true to its motto and the darkness has won out, at least for now.
After more than 20 years of unsuccessful yet patient efforts on the part of the Roman curia to have the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru abide by the norms of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Cordis Ecclesiae issued in 1990, Pope Benedict XVI has finally been compelled by an intransigent institution to issue a significant sanction. As of July 21, 2012, Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, under mandate received from Pope Benedict XVI, decreed that the university may no longer call itself Pontifical and may no longer call itself Catholic. The decree was delivered to the current rector of the university, Marcial Rubio Correo.
It is one of those unpleasant but necessary disciplines.
There is a certain irony in the university's motto. The university has been a hotbed of so-called Liberation Theology, including among its teachers at one time the infamous Gustavo Gutierrez, the priest frequently considered the founder of the Liberation Theology movement. As it seems to have moved from orthodoxy and settled into heterodoxy, it has moved from light into dark, and its motto seems to have moved with it. From et lux in tenebris lucet--and the light shines in the darkness--it has moved to the next words of St. John's Gospel: et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt-and the darkness did not understand it. (John 1:5)
The university has not understood its Catholic and Pontifical duties. It has turned its back on the Catholic and Magisterial light, sadly necessitating what is an unprecedented move in the history of the Church. Though long in coming, it shows that Pope Benedict XVI has teeth.
The university is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Latin America. It was founded in 1917 with the ecclesiastical approval of the then Archbishop of Lima, Pedro Manuel García y Naranjo. In 1942, the university was given canonical status under the Code of Canon Law, thereby subjecting itself to the jurisdiction of the Roman curia.
Since 1967, however, the university has changed its internal statutes in ways that were inconsistent with its mission as a Catholic institution. Since the late 1960s, the administration of the university has gotten progressively more recalcitrant. It has rejected guidance of the Church, has been the hotbed of Liberation Theology, and it has actually worked against the interests of the Church and her Magisterium.
To say the least, it is highly inconsistent--even deceptive--for an institution to call itself "Pontifical" and "Catholic" and work against the Catholic Church and her Pontiff. In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI's move is welcome.
Pope Benedict XVI's recent act is an implementation of reforms put in place by his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II. Faced with Catholic universities that were progressively untrue to their founding purpose and progressively inimical to the Catholic Church which gave them birth, Pope John Paul II decided to do something about it.
On August 15, 1990, the Holy See issued the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which required that all Catholic universities that were subject to canonical legislation adapt their internal statutes to the norms of that Apostolic Constitution. "It is the honor and responsibility of a Catholic University," Ex Corde Ecclesiae said, "to consecrate itself without reserve to the cause of truth." ECE, 4. Ex Corde Ecclesiae was a "sort of 'magna carta'" whose purpose it was to provide basic principles of what should be the vision of a Catholic University.
Ex Corde Ecclesiae identified four characteristics of an authentically Catholic university: (1) it must be of Christian inspiration, (2) it must continually reflect on the treasury of human knowledge "in the light of the Catholic faith," (3) it must be faithful "to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church," and (4) it must be institutionally committed "to the service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life." ECE, 13. To the end of assuring these characteristics, the Apostolic ...
After more than 20 years of unsuccessful yet patient efforts on the part of the Roman curia to have the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru abide by the norms of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Cordis Ecclesiae issued in 1990, Pope Benedict XVI has finally been compelled by an intransigent institution to issue a significant sanction. As of July 21, 2012, Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, under mandate received from Pope Benedict XVI, decreed that the university may no longer call itself Pontifical and may no longer call itself Catholic. The decree was delivered to the current rector of the university, Marcial Rubio Correo.
It is one of those unpleasant but necessary disciplines.
There is a certain irony in the university's motto. The university has been a hotbed of so-called Liberation Theology, including among its teachers at one time the infamous Gustavo Gutierrez, the priest frequently considered the founder of the Liberation Theology movement. As it seems to have moved from orthodoxy and settled into heterodoxy, it has moved from light into dark, and its motto seems to have moved with it. From et lux in tenebris lucet--and the light shines in the darkness--it has moved to the next words of St. John's Gospel: et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt-and the darkness did not understand it. (John 1:5)
The university has not understood its Catholic and Pontifical duties. It has turned its back on the Catholic and Magisterial light, sadly necessitating what is an unprecedented move in the history of the Church. Though long in coming, it shows that Pope Benedict XVI has teeth.
The university is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Latin America. It was founded in 1917 with the ecclesiastical approval of the then Archbishop of Lima, Pedro Manuel García y Naranjo. In 1942, the university was given canonical status under the Code of Canon Law, thereby subjecting itself to the jurisdiction of the Roman curia.
Since 1967, however, the university has changed its internal statutes in ways that were inconsistent with its mission as a Catholic institution. Since the late 1960s, the administration of the university has gotten progressively more recalcitrant. It has rejected guidance of the Church, has been the hotbed of Liberation Theology, and it has actually worked against the interests of the Church and her Magisterium.
To say the least, it is highly inconsistent--even deceptive--for an institution to call itself "Pontifical" and "Catholic" and work against the Catholic Church and her Pontiff. In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI's move is welcome.
Pope Benedict XVI's recent act is an implementation of reforms put in place by his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II. Faced with Catholic universities that were progressively untrue to their founding purpose and progressively inimical to the Catholic Church which gave them birth, Pope John Paul II decided to do something about it.
On August 15, 1990, the Holy See issued the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which required that all Catholic universities that were subject to canonical legislation adapt their internal statutes to the norms of that Apostolic Constitution. "It is the honor and responsibility of a Catholic University," Ex Corde Ecclesiae said, "to consecrate itself without reserve to the cause of truth." ECE, 4. Ex Corde Ecclesiae was a "sort of 'magna carta'" whose purpose it was to provide basic principles of what should be the vision of a Catholic University.
Ex Corde Ecclesiae identified four characteristics of an authentically Catholic university: (1) it must be of Christian inspiration, (2) it must continually reflect on the treasury of human knowledge "in the light of the Catholic faith," (3) it must be faithful "to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church," and (4) it must be institutionally committed "to the service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life." ECE, 13. To the end of assuring these characteristics, the Apostolic ...
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Andrew M. Greenwell: Informing Article! I am saddened to hear of more corruption w/in the Catholic Church. But I am more than >happy that Our Holy Father is doing something about it. And yes, as one said on this board, there are many more schools to be dealt with. A cleaning of house, as it were. Our Lady, Pray For Us. Blessings...
@Jack Gubbaloskis. There is no "People of God" issue involved at all. What's involved is a bunch of administrators and academics (both lay and clerical) that have lost the Catholic faith and dedication to the Magisterium. They have breached their trust to the University, its founders, its vision, and all the worldly assets that its benefactors dispensed for the purpose of enriching and furthering the education of young people within the boundaries of the Catholic faith. In a manner of speaking, they are thieves.
Jack, no, the Pope (who is Christ on Earth) is not joking. Pope Benedict condemned Liberation Theology, but did praise it in some respects: ideals of justice, rejection of violence, and its stress on "the responsibility which Christians necessarily bear for the poor and oppressed." You cannot apply "Catholic" to an institution and teach Liberation Theology, it is not in line with the teachings of the faith. I applaud the Pope for standing up for the church. Liberation theology has roots in Marxism, just do some research. People make mistakes, but the church does not. To mock the Pope or to posit that he is fallible is to say that Jesus himself and his ideals are flawed. There is enough confusion within the church, there does not need to be any more. God Bless!
The Pope must be joking. Our church is the church of the "People of God". Lay people have become much more aware of the Christian faith, especially, the women. I applaud the courage of governing assembly of the University to uphold the concepts of "Liberation Theology" which focus of freedom and justice. These concepts are alien to the so-called intellectuals in the Vatican. Civil law is above canon law when it comes to directing students to addressing the realities of daily living.
Example: if the university was named Coca-Cola University of Peru and they decided to serve Pepsi products against policy, I'm more than confident that Coca-Cola would have their heads. But what I am asking is if the university's name as is would be the same thing? For example, can I legally open up a "Mike's Catholic Lemonade" stand on the corner of the street without any legal ramifications ? I mean the pope can decree and decry all the way home, but does it have any more effect than a fleeing bandit snubbing an old-fashioned "Stop! Stop in the name of the Law !!" by an officer ?
If the Holy Father is truely intend on making this the first step of an academic house cleaning he can continue with Notre Dame and Georgetown.
In other words "Liberation theology" is moving away from the Apostolic faith, which can also be called as moving towards another christ, & is anybody's guess as to who the other christ is. Bodily liberation without Spiritual liberation is no liberation & as a matter of fact is slavery caused through rebellion against Christ, as the Bible calls it "the great deceit".
I follow Our Lord Jesus Christ. What did He institute and why? Praise God for Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, and the Magisterium.
So after appointing Archbishop Muller, who is a follower of liberation theology, to head the Inquisition, Pope Benedict then attacks a university professing liberation theology? I think the good Pontiff needs to look closer to home.
University of Peru sounds a lot better than Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.