On the reclamation of our Catholic identity

In my time at CSB+SJU, I have observed many alarming trends, but they all stem from one main concern: the denial of Catholic identity. As students, we learn all about the Benedictine values, but this institution fails to teach us that without a Catholic foundation, the Benedictine values become obsolete. St. Benedict was a Catholic monk after all. What we are experiencing at this school right now is what happens when you try to combine pluralism and relativism with values that require a basis in objective reality.

The Benedictine value of community, apart from a Catholic foundation, becomes Sal’s on a Friday or Saturday night. Sure, it’s acommunity, but a community built upon drunkenness, immorality and degeneracy. The value of hospitality, apart from a Catholic foundation, results in drag shows on our campus. While a drag show “welcomes everyone,” it promotes a disordered view of human sexuality which is not in alignment with God’s purpose for gender and sexuality. In Genesis 2, God creates them “male and female,” complementary to each other and equal in dignity.

I could go down the list of all the Benedictine values that this institution puts on all their postcards. CSB+SJU may uphold community, hospitality, etc., but it promotes them as esoteric, relativistic and abstract “ideals” without considering the necessary foundation. This foundation is the objective moral order found in God and the fullness of truth found in the Holy Catholic Church.

Ironically, it was to combat the immoralities previously mentioned that St. Benedict of Nursia wrote his rule. He was worried that he would fall into an immoral and degenerate lifestyle that was the norm in Rome at the time. CSB+SJU claim to uphold Benedictine spirituality, but the on-campus culture contradicts that assertion.

President Bruess and the broader CSB+SJU administration have acknowledged that enrollment is down, but they fail to provide an adequate explanation. The monks and sisters of St. John’s Abbey and St. Benedict’s Monastery have experienced a similar decline in vocations. In contrast, the University of Mary in Bismarck and Franciscan University in Steubenville are experiencing record student enrollment because of their embrace of the Catholic identity and tradition.

I would like to humbly encourage President Bruess, the faculty and staff of CSB+SJU, as well as my fellow students, to work to build a culture centered around the Catholic Faith. We cannot, as we are doing currently, promote the values of St. Benedict without placing them in the proper context and foundation, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church.