Sed Contra: A Podcast of Catholic Theology

Truth, Freedom, and the Catholic University

Episode Summary

Dr. John G. Brungardt and Dr. Kevin Clarke discuss truth and academic freedom in the context of the contemporary Catholic university. Listen as they explore the historic Land O'Lakes document, its impact on how the Catholic university understands itself, and the response it has elicited over the past 55 years.

Episode Notes

• On the Land O’Lakes Statement
  • The original statement: “Statement on the Nature of the Contemporary Catholic University”
  • Fr. John Jenkins, CSC, “The document that changed Catholic education forever”
  • Dr. Michael McLean, “‘Academic Freedom’ and the Tyranny of the Modern College Campus”
  • Optionally, see also §III of “A Porposal for the Fulfillment of Catholic Liberal Education” the founding document of Thomas Aquinas College
  • Patrick Reilly, “The Land O’ Lakes Statement Has Caused Devastation For 49 Years”
• Church Documents
  • Pope Leo XIII, Libertas
  • Vatican II: Gravissimum Educationis
  • Optionally, see Lamb & Levering, eds. The Reception of Vatican II, ch. 15, Paige E. Hochschild’s commentary (file attached)
  • Pope St. John Paul II: Ex Corde Ecclesiae
  • Pope Benedict XVI: La Sapienza University speech of 2008
    • This speech was cancelled due to faculty protests, evidently over use of quote in a 90’s speech of Ratzinger’s quoting Feyerabend contra Galileo here