Comments on: Fr. Jonathan Delivers Homily During Opening Mass http://blogs.saintanselmcollege.net/2006/08/29/fr-jonathan-homily/ A nationally ranked, Benedictine Catholic, liberal arts college located in Manchester, N.H. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:01:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Steven M. Karr '91 http://blogs.saintanselmcollege.net/2006/08/29/fr-jonathan-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Steven M. Karr '91 Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:07:56 +0000 http://blogs.saintanselmcollege.net/2006/08/29/fr-jonathan-homily/#comment-356 I agree with Fr. Jonathan--we can hardly characterize Saint Anselm College as an "ivory tower." I disagree vehemently, though, that a Catholic college, particulalry Saint Anselm, cannot in his words, "be separated from the reality of the world around them." These words ring hollow. It is my belief that, with the support of the resident monastic community, Fr. Jonathan and the other members of the college's governing board--all monks mind you--have in fact established and maintained such a separation from the reality of the outside world. As an institution of higher learning, is the College genuinely concerned with educating good students, or is it concerned with educating good Catholics? Anachronistic dorm parietals, compulsory theology, not serving meat on Fridays during Lent--these appear to be examples of rules handed down by the few for the many to live by; hardly a state of "profound respect" for those who are different. This type of parochialism, instead, demonstrates a state of profound mistrust--mistrust of individuals who are not Benedictines. Only through the implementation of profound change can the College truly prosper, creating an environment where free thought and respect reign. If we are to take Fr. Jonathan's own words at face value, that "[o]ur mission in Catholic higher education is not something that we 'own' to benefit ourselves," we must ask ourselves, who is it that should truly benefit from the College's mission? Is it the Benedictine community, or rightfully, the broader Saint Anselm community, comprised not only of monks, but of students, faculty, staff, and alumni? Holistically, we all represent the mission and legacy of an institution created to educate, not indoctrinate. I agree with Fr. Jonathan–we can hardly characterize Saint Anselm College as an "ivory tower." I disagree vehemently, though, that a Catholic college, particulalry Saint Anselm, cannot in his words, "be separated from the reality of the world around them." These words ring hollow. It is my belief that, with the support of the resident monastic community, Fr. Jonathan and the other members of the college's governing board–all monks mind you–have in fact established and maintained such a separation from the reality of the outside world.

As an institution of higher learning, is the College genuinely concerned with educating good students, or is it concerned with educating good Catholics? Anachronistic dorm parietals, compulsory theology, not serving meat on Fridays during Lent–these appear to be examples of rules handed down by the few for the many to live by; hardly a state of "profound respect" for those who are different. This type of parochialism, instead, demonstrates a state of profound mistrust–mistrust of individuals who are not Benedictines.

Only through the implementation of profound change can the College truly prosper, creating an environment where free thought and respect reign. If we are to take Fr. Jonathan's own words at face value, that "[o]ur mission in Catholic higher education is not something that we 'own' to benefit ourselves," we must ask ourselves, who is it that should truly benefit from the College's mission? Is it the Benedictine community, or rightfully, the broader Saint Anselm community, comprised not only of monks, but of students, faculty, staff, and alumni? Holistically, we all represent the mission and legacy of an institution created to educate, not indoctrinate.

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