The application of the requirement for the mandatum of ex corde ecclesiae to American Catholic universities sponsored by religious institutes: A case study of St Norbert College

On 15 August 1990 the Vatican issued Pope John Paul's Apostolic constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae (From the Heart of the Church) concerning Catholic higher education. Promulgated as law, the document deal firstly with the Catholic identity and mission of the college or university, and secondly with the general norms for all institutes of higher studies. The document also reflects and reaffirms the mandatum of c. 812. This study looks at the mandatum and how the norms of Ex corde Ecclesiae are implemented at a Catholic college in the United States that is sponsored by a religious institute by attempting to place the discussion in the context of the American culture. Beginning with a canonical look at the defining moment when one becomes a Catholic and an historical examination of the university system and the Catholic Church, this study shows the intimate relation that religious institutes have had with higher education. In the United States there are over 230 Catholic colleges and universities and other such institutions of higher studies, most of which are canonically and civilly connected to a religious institute. The question is what role does the sponsoring religious institute have in the canonical compliance of their separately incorporated apostolate in the implementation of the norms of Ex corde Ecclesiae? Discussed in this work are the canonical obligations and rights of the diocesan bishop, the religious institute, the college (administrators and trustees) and the professors of theological disciplines. This study also looks at some of the issues of concern that were raised by theologians, canonists, colleges and universities, religious institutes and bishops relating to the implementation of Ex corde Ecclesiae. It took ten years for the bishops of the United States to receive the Vatican recognitio for "The Application of Ex corde Ecclesiae for the United States" to be used in the implementation of Ex corde Ecclesiae for American Catholic colleges and universities. On 3 May 2001 the Application became particular law for the United States. St. Norbert College, a Norbertine sponsored college in De Pere, Wisconsin, USA, is used as the case study for this work.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Ottawa (Canada)

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Herring, James B

• Canon Law.
• Education, Higher.

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-09, Section: A, page: 3483.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-19903

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/29770