Respected Catholic layman, Joe de Bruyn, recently addressed graduating students at the Australian Catholic University and urged them to stand by what they believe to be right and true. He said to the students, “As happened to me, you will be faced with issues in your professional and personal lives where the general opinion of the majority of the population is at odds with the teaching of the Church”. He commented that many fear that expressing what they believe could harm their professional lives. He said that his own experience had been that it was possible to hold to what you believe in and maintain your career.

 

In holding firm to what a person believes, Joe de Bruyn emphasised that this must not be done in a hostile manner but it should be the presentation of truth in a persuasive and respectful way.

He outlined in his address his own engagement with some key moral and social issues of our time, including abortion, IVF for single women and same-sex marriage. He showed how he sought to present the social teachings of the Church on these issues in his work in the trade union movement and in federal Labor politics.

He also spoke about how he sought to be actively engaged with the issues and present his personal views as a Catholic.

His address was measured and had a positive message. He sought to encourage the graduating students in holding to their personal beliefs. He was speaking at a Catholic University graduation ceremony and one would have expected that his words would have been appreciated and affirmed.

The response of the students and staff, with a large number deciding to walk out, was disrespectful to a man of his standing who had in fact been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by this very university. It also showed how a culture has developed whereby when faced by views that are contrary to what a person believes, it has now become acceptable to treat the other person with distain.

It was a disgraceful act of intolerance on the part of those students and staff who chose to walk out.

There was no recognition that here was a man of proven character and one who had given dedicated service to the broader community.

The inability to listen respectfully to a leader in the Australian community and hear a man of integrity express his faith and commitment to high moral standards shows an extraordinary level of immaturity. One would expect these young people to exercise roles of leadership in the future. It seems that these students are being driven by their feelings rather than, as Joe de Bruyn said, allowing the logic of persuasive argument to guide their response. Those who walked out were not willing even to listen to their invited speaker.

It is a sad indictment also on the university itself. It has failed to inculcate in these students a love of truth and desire to pursue what is right and good. ACU, in claiming its Catholic identity, speaks of its commitment to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. One has to ask whether this tradition was in fact passed on to the students.

The nature and role of a Catholic university was expressed in the Apostolic Constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990), of Pope St John Paul II. The Latin title comes from its opening words which express an historical fact, “Born from the heart of the Church, a Catholic University is located in that course of tradition which may be traced back to the very origin of the University as an institution”.

In the document the Pope outlines four ‘ecclesial characteristics’ that should be evident in a Catholic university. The first is “a Christian inspiration not only of individuals but of the university community as such”. The second encourages “a continuing reflection in the light of the Catholic faith upon the growing treasury of human knowledge, to which it seeks to contribute by its own research”. The third emphasises “fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church”. And the final characteristic is “an institutional commitment to the service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life”.

This document has long been considered the most complete description of what should inspire a Catholic university.

Faith cannot be separated out from the academic enterprise.

In fact, all of the work of the university should be animated by the Catholic faith.

In order for this to be achieved it is essential that key leadership roles within the university are given to practicing Catholics who have a commitment to preserve the integrity of the faith in all aspects of the life of the university.

While it is expected that not all staff and students are themselves Catholic, it is essential that all involved in the work of the university accept its Catholic foundations and respect the right of the university to give expression to its beliefs and tenets. This is the only way in which the university can truly preserve its Catholic identity and so make a particular contribution to the life of students and its academic output. A Catholic university is different from other similar institutions and has its own unique contribution to make. This should be recognised and appreciated by students and staff.

The graduation ceremony at ACU this year should be seen as a moment for the university to examine itself and set about realigning itself to its true identity and mission.