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Building
the bridge between Catholicism and law
Eileen M. Rafferty ‘06
The University’s Law School held a panel discussion
on Oct. 10 deliberating the controversial issue, “What does it mean
to be a Catholic Law School?” The panel consisted of Mark Sargent,
dean of the University’s Law School; Paolo Carrozza, professor at
the University of Notre Dame’s Law School; and Daniel Morrissey,
dean of Gonzaga University’s Law School in Spokane, Wash.
“Law can be a soul destroying way of looking at life, defined only
by materialistic, competitive concerns,” Sargent stated. He continued
to state that being in a Catholic law school entails a responsibility
to academic freedom, but also an obligation to Catholic identity “requiring
a self-conscious attempt to balance two weighty commitments.”
Carrozza continued this concept by addressing the vital integration of
one’s Catholic faith and the surrounding world. He asserted, “Instead
of checking our faith at the door, we should have the desire to both fully
and intensely engage with the world in a way that is Catholic. A Catholic
Christian life ought to be whole, where no aspect of life is left out
of consideration.”
Subsequently, Morrissey spoke about Jesuit faith communities in regard
to justice. Other relating issues mentioned and/or discussed were the
challenging aspects of being a Catholic, the crisis that Catholic education
is experiencing, the defining concepts of education and the significance
of sacrifice.
After the panel delivered their speeches, the discussion was extended
to the audience for questions and comments. “We see the church as
a light in the world,” Sargent declared in closing, “and in
turn we must bring that light into the institutions.”
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