Is Seattle University just not Catholic enough?
According to several Catholic organizations and their members as well as alumni, the answer to that question would be yes.
The institution, like other Catholic and Jesuit Catholic universities and colleges, has been subject to increased public scrutiny concerning its Catholic nature since early 2008.
One of the most vocal and critical of these Catholic organizations is the Cardinal Newman Society, whose mission is to "renew and strengthen" Catholic identity at the U.S.'s Catholic colleges and universities. This includes "urging fidelity" to the teachings of the Church and keeping tabs on activities and curriculums on Catholic campuses.
The Newman Society started publishing frequent "Catholic Higher Education Alerts" online in 2008. The New York Times noted that the organization "has become increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Catholic university officials perceived as less than faithful to church doctrine." The short alerts detail activities at Catholic colleges the society finds inappropriate or against Church teachings—though a few alerts are positive.
Since then, Seattle U has been named in 10 alerts, ranging from the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality's support of overturning California's Proposition 8 to the campus' production of "The Vagina Monologues."
The Cardinal Newman Society and Catholic News Service, a religious news agency, have strong Web presences that are central sources to a religious blogosphere that frequently leaps on Catholic universities' controversial decisions.
Notre Dame's selection of President Obama to be its commencement speaker exploded in the blogosphere in early 2009. Also drawing considerable attention was Seattle U's Transgender Awareness Week, of which Newman Society President Patrick J. Reilly said in a statement: "That Catholic universities would permit these events on their campuses at any time of the year is unthinkable, but to do so during the holy season of Lent is unconscionable."
Critiques, though, of Seattle University's Jesuit Catholic identity don't end with organizations.
The university's events and policies also draw the ire of some alumni, according to multiple departmental leaders.
Steve Lindell, director of Alumni Relations at Seattle U, says he occasionally hears from alumni who are concerned with what they perceive as a university that is losing its Catholic values. But he says he gets more phone calls about the move to Division I athletics.
It's hot-button issues like abortion, homosexuality and sex that the university is frequently criticized for, says Fr. Peter Ely, S.J., vice president of Mission and Ministry.
For Ely, it's a matter of Seattle University better demonstrating what it does that is easily recognizable as Catholic. Events like the Lavender Celebration, an annual day meant to honor graduating LGBTQ students, are given more exposure than the university's retreats, Masses and other strongly Catholic programs, he says.
"I think we need to do a better job of putting the picture out there that we are Catholic," Ely says.
The university recently placed a linked image labeled "Jesuit Catholic Mission" on the home page of seattleu.edu, but other Jesuit universities more prominently display religious visuals and statements.
A recent Seattle Times story, "Departure may mark shift in admission goals at Seattle U," drew more than 100 comments from readers, many of whom wrote about the lack of a Catholic presence at Seattle U.
"I am a SU grad and a Catholic," wrote one such reader. "I have chosen not to encourage my children to enroll at SU because it seems to have lost its Catholic identity."
Ely contends that since Fr. Stephen Sundborg, S.J. became president, Seattle University has become more faithful to its Catholic identity.
Similar comments to those on The Times' story are often made on The Spectator's Web site on coverage of LGBTQ issues and sexuality.
Of seven readers who have made multiple comments recently questioning Seattle U's Catholic nature, three responded to attempts to contact them.
"It's pretty clear to Catholics which universities are following the teachings of the Catholic Church and those that aren't," wrote one reader in an e-mail while declining an interview. "I just feel a university should not call itself a ‘Catholic' university, Jesuit included, unless it follows Catholic guidelines."
Jay Jarrell, a graduate of the Catholic Duquesne University, was the only commenter who consented to an interview, as well as the only reader to sign his name to his comment.
Jarrell says he believes Catholic universities shouldn't provide funding to student organizations whose efforts are contrary to Catholic teaching. He says there's a line between encouraging conversation around difficult issues and advocating them, and that too often Catholic universities allow or even support advocacy against Church teaching.
"A professor or group teaching against the church […] is not okay at a Catholic institution," he says.
Tim Wilson, director of Student Activities, says the university does take a Catholic approach to events that still draw criticism. For example, he says "The Vagina Monologues" was followed by an event called "The Vagina Dialogues," so students could reflect on what they had heard.
Fr. Mike Bayard, S.J., director of Campus Ministry, says people criticizing the university are coming from a narrow view of the faith.
"They fail to see the wider breadth and beauty of the Church, which is sacramental and inclusive," he says.
Bayard, whose own feelings on whether Seattle U is Catholic enough "varies day to day," says the university and Campus Ministry is studying its Jesuit Catholic identity.
"The thing about being Jesuit," he adds, "is we enter into dialogue with different cultures."
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