EDUCATION

Group 3
Social Teachings of the
Church
 Definition of Education

• Education in the broadest sense is

any act or experience that has a
formative effect on the mind,
character or physical ability of an
individual.
• In its technical sense education is the
process by which society
deliberately transmits its
accumulated knowledge, skills and
values from one generation to
EX CORDE ECCLESIAE
Ex corde ecclesiae
and some background information

 The most significant document

affecting the Catholic university in
this century is Pope John Paul II's
Apostolic Constitution on Catholic
Colleges and Universities, Ex
Corde Ecclesiae, "Out of the
Heart of the Church."

Ex corde ecclesiae
and some background information

 Pope John Paul II writes in this

document with a passion which
reveals that he is speaking from his
own personal experience within the
Catholic university.
 He sees most clearly that one of the
principal purposes of the Catholic
university:
 First, "the ardent search for truth"
 And second, its unselfish transmission
to youth that they may learn to think
so as to act rightly.
 It is not enough only to know the truth--
one must love the truth and live the
Ex corde ecclesiae
and some background information

 The title selected by the Holy Father,

Ex Corde Ecclesiae, "Out of the
Heart of the Church," presents to
us a parent-child model, with the
Church as parent and the
university as progeny
 Apostolic Constitution, Ex corde
Ecclesiae (ECE) itself, is an
inspirational document on the
Catholic identity of our schools.
Ex corde ecclesiae
and some background information

 Attempts have been made since

1990 to establish norms for
implementing ECE in each country.
A 1996 consensus draft for the
U.S., developed by presidents,
bishops, and others, was approved
224-6 by the U.S. bishops, but
returned by Vatican officials to be
made "more juridical."
 more juridical-more related to the
Difficulties on the
current draft
 The requirement for Catholic
theologians to obtain a mandatum.
 The requirement of a majority of
Catholics on the Board and on the
Faculty.
 The "risk" of the norms opening our
schools to the charge of being
"pervasively sectarian" and thus
ineligible for public funding
 There are a lot of concerns on this,
“Two intellectual
orders”
 ThePope has explained that the
Universities has “two intellectual
orders” such orders are:
 ~the quest for Truth.
 ~the certainty of already
knowing the font of truth.

Essential Characteristics of
a Catholic University
“Essential
characteristics"
 There must be a Christian inspiration
which is found not only in the individuals
who make up the college or university,
but throughout the university

 Secondly, in the light of the truths of the
Catholic Faith, there must be an ongoing
reflection upon the growing body of
human knowledge to which the university
seeks to add its own unique contribution
in the field of research and writing.

“Essential
characteristics"
 Third, there must be "fidelity to the
Christian message as it comes to
us through the Church." There
must be loyalty and faith on the
message.
 Fourth, there must be a commitment
on the part of the institution to
serve the entire people of God and
the entire human family of mankind "
 "Catholic ideals, attitudes, and
principles penetrate and inform
university activities in accordance to
the proper nature and autonomy of
these activities."
Identity and mission of the
document
 
Identity and mission of the
document
 A.THE IDENTITY OF A CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY


 1.Every Catholic University, as a

university, is an academic community
which, in a rigorous and critical
fashion, assists in the protection and
advancement of human dignity and
of a cultural heritage through
research, teaching and various
services offered to the local, national
and international communities. The
university must guarantee academic
Freedom a long as the rights of the
 
Identity and mission of the
document
 2.Every catholic university must
have the essential characteristics.
And these are:

 Christian inspiration

 fidelity to the Christian message

 an institutional commitment to the
service of the people of God and of
 
Identity and mission of the
document
 3.A Catholic University, therefore, is a
place of research, where scholars
scrutinize reality with the methods
proper to each academic discipline,
and so contribute to the treasury of
human knowledge. Each individual
discipline is studied in a systematic
manner; moreover, the various
disciplines are brought into dialogue
for their mutual enhancement…….. is
a place to learn, where students are
being taught proper conduct,
 
Identity and mission of the
document
 4. a Catholic University, "has to be a
'living union' of individual
organisms dedicated to the search
for truth ... It is necessary to work
towards a higher synthesis of
knowledge, in which alone lies the
possibility of satisfying that thirst
for truth which is profoundly
inscribed on the heart of the
human person"
 
Identity and mission of the
document
 5.In promoting this integration of
knowledge, a specific part of a
Catholic University's task is to
promote dialogue between faith
and reason, so that it can be seen
more profoundly how faith and
reason bear harmonious witness to
the unity of all truth.

 
Identity and mission of the
document
 6.Catholic University is always
carried out with a concern for the
ethical and moral implications both
of its methods and of its
discoveries.

Identity and mission of the
document: The University
Community
A Catholic University pursues its
objectives through its formation of an
authentic human community
animated by the spirit of Christ.


 As a result of this inspiration, the

community is animated by a spirit of
freedom and charity; it is characterized
by mutual respect, sincere dialogue,
and protection of the rights of
individuals. It assists each of its
members to achieve wholeness as
human persons; in turn, everyone in the
Identity and mission of the
document: The University
Community
 Universityteachers should seek to
improve their competence and
endeavourto set the content,
objectives, methods, and results of
research in an individual discipline
within the framework of a coherent
world vision. All teachers are to be
inspired by academic ideals and by
the principles of an authentically
human life.
Identity and mission of the
document: The University
Community
 Students are challenged to pursue
an education that combines
excellence in humanistic and
cultural development with
specialized professional training.
Most especially, they are
challenged to continue the search
for truth and for meaning
throughout their lives. Learning
never ceases.
Identity and mission of the
document: The University
Community
 Directors and administrators in a
Catholic University promote the
constant growth of the University
and its community through a
leadership of service; the
dedication and witness of the non-
academic staff are vital for the
identity and life of the University
Identity and mission of the
document
 B. THE MISSION OF SERVICE OF A CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY

 1. Service to Church and Society:

 It prepares men and women who, inspired by
Christian principles and helped to live their
Christian vocation in a mature and responsible
manner, will be able to assume positions of
responsibility in the Church.

 A Catholic University, as any University, is immersed
in human society; as an extension of its service to
the Church.

 University contributes further development of a true
Christian anthropology, founded on the person of
Identity and mission of the
document
 The Christian spirit of service to others for the
promotion of social justice is of particular
importance for each Catholic University, to be
shared by its teachers and developed in its
students.

 a Catholic University will insist on cooperation among
the different academic disciplines, each offering its
distinct contribution in the search for solutions.

 a Catholic University can assist in making the growing
body of human knowledge and a developing
understanding of the faith available to a wider
public, thus expanding university services beyond
its own academic community.

 a Catholic University will relate especially to the
Identity and mission of the
document
 2. Pastoral Ministry
 integrating faith with life.

 the university community should give a
practical demonstration of its faith in
its daily activity, with important
moments of reflection and of prayer.

 willencourage teachers and students
to become more aware of their
responsibility towards those who are
suffering physically or spiritually.
Identity and mission of the
document
 Pastoral ministry is an indispensable
means by which Catholic students
can, in fulfilment of their baptism,
be prepared for active participation
in the life of the Church;
 Various associations or movements
of spiritual and apostolic life,
especially those developed
specifically for students, can be of
great assistance in developing the
Identity and mission of the
document
 3. Cultural Dialogue
 Helps to transmit the local culture to
each succeeding generation through
its teaching, and assists cultural
activities through its educational
services.
 a Catholic University assists the
Church, enabling it to come to a
better knowledge of diverse cultures,
discern their positive and negative
aspects, to receive their authentically
human contributions, and to develop
means by which it can make the faith
better understood by the men and
Identity and mission of the
document
A Catholic University must become
more attentive to the cultures of
the world of today, and to the
various cultural traditions existing
within the Church in a way that will
promote a continuous and
profitable dialogue between the
Gospel and modern society.

A Catholic University is the dialogue
Identity and mission of the
document
 4. Evangelization

 Evangelization means "bringing the Good
News into all the strata of humanity, and
through its influence transforming
humanity from within and making it new.

 It is a living institutional witness to Christ
and his message, so vitally important in
cultures marked by secularism, or where
Christ and his message are still virtually
unknown. , all the basic academic
activities of a Catholic University are
connected with and in harmony with the
evangelizing mission of the Church.
The Nature of a Catholic
University
A Catholic University is a community of
scholars representing various
branches of human knowledge.

 It informs and carries out its research,
teaching, and all other activities with
Catholic ideals, principles and
attitudes.

 The University, particularly through its
structure and its regulations, is to
provide means which will guarantee
the expression and the preservation
The Nature of a Catholic
University
 Catholic teaching and discipline are
to influence all university activities,
while the freedom of conscience of
each person is to be fully
respected.

A Catholic University possesses the
autonomy necessary to develop its
distinctive identity and pursue its
proper mission.