The Challenge and Promise of a Catholic University

Edited by Theodore M. Hesburgh

How is the Catholic character of the university to be preserved and fostered while avoiding both secularization and insular sectarianism? Must a majority of the faculty in a college or department be Catholic? How is Catholic to be defined in terms of culture, belief, or practice?

These and other questions prompted Fr. Hesburgh to write a position paper and invite 29 faculty members to respond.

What makes a great Catholic university? Must a majority of the faculty in a college or department be Catholic? How is Catholic to be defined in terms of culture, belief, or practice? What is the level of commitment to intellectual inquiry and the possibility of dissent that must be present on a Catholic campus? These are some of the issues addressed in The Challenge and Promise of a Catholic University, which includes an introduction by Fr. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., and essays by 29 distinguished members of the faculty and administration at the University of Notre Dame.