It’s understandable that the legislative debacle known as Obamacare dominated the headlines recently. But something important has gone largely unremarked on though I believe it will have a disastrous impact on the country, especially Catholic and Christian colleges.
Obamacare essentially eliminated the private lending channel for college loans and, I fear, will end up being anti-Christian. For those keeping score at home, the government’s original stated intent into the college loan industry was a “government option.” They argued that it wasn’t a government takeover at all. How’d that work out?
So now that the federal government has taken over the student loan industry, let’s go over what, I believe, will inevitably happen now. I really don’t see anyway around it.
Look into my crystal ball and peer into the foreboding future with me:
At some point some administrator at some religious university will say something that will be construed as outrageously offensive by liberals or anti-gay or even racist. Let’s say some place like Liberty University or Bob Jones University.
It’s an inevitable as the tides that someone from a religious university will say something that liberals will freak out about. They’re professional freak-outers. It’s what they do.
Around the clock coverage will incite some congressman to flank himself with the twin pillars of demagoguery Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and propose that because of the terrible racist or anti-gay demagoguery coming from that university they propose that no federal money should go towards funding colleges like this one.
The Republicans, too scared of being seen as defending racism or homophobia, will grumble but eventually acquiesce. And the aforementioned college will be seriously harmed as students will find it difficult to procure loans for that school.
Colleges will then be deathly afraid of offending the government. They’ll start donating money hand over fist to elected officials in order to stay in their good graces. You know, protection money.
And then somewhere down the line some genius in the Senate will say that because of the separation of church and state no loans can go to religious colleges at all.
The Supreme Court already ruled that states can withhold state scholarship money if the student pursues a theology degree so this shouldn’t really be a jump at all.
When the government controls the funding of universities it controls the universities and that is never a good thing. As you know some Catholic colleges have already seemed to be more concerned with pleasing government officials rather than defending their faith but it will only become worse when these schools depend on those officials for their livelihood.
Exit question: How Catholic will Catholic universities be allowed to be when the government controls the funding?
March 25, 2010 at 2:59 am
Christendom already manages to function without federal funds. Students attending Christendom do not fill out a FAFSA for financial aid therefore I am fairly sure that Stafford Loans and Pell Grants and other forms of federal monies are not used to go to that institution. It can be done. I am sure it is difficult for the insitition to keep donations to it's scholarship funds flowing as well as for families to pay for whatever scholarships don't cover but last I checked Christendom wasn't hurting for students.
March 25, 2010 at 3:11 am
Every college and university that wants to retain its Catholicism must begin immediately to procure an endowment designed to mitigate the cost of tuition for all students. All donations must be designed to feed into that coffer to make Catholic higher education not only a viable alternative to the state options out there, but a permanent voice not limited or cowed by the government.
March 25, 2010 at 4:23 am
Funding equal to the Catholics should be available to all Pastafarians, too!
See http://www.venganza.org/ and contribute!
March 25, 2010 at 4:23 am
I love Christendom College…I think they are doing a wonderful thing, but they have less than one thousand students and only a handful of majors, I don't think we can say that they are bursting at the seams.
March 25, 2010 at 4:47 am
First, you are assuming there are any Universities that are not just nominally Catholic. Second, it's not just liberals who are professional freak-outers. This blog is becoming one serious downer.
March 25, 2010 at 5:13 am
A little off-topic, but here's Robert Gibbs admitting that the Executive Order essentially is meaningless. http://videos.mediaite.com/embed/player/?layout=&playlist_cid=&media_type=video&content=GX451S0XN52KCNYB&widget_type_cid=svp
March 25, 2010 at 5:24 am
Um, I don't need to ASSUME there are "universities that are not just nominally Catholic." I graduated from one- Steubenville. It has a plethora of majors and is double the size of Christendom. I know thats not saying much, compared to Notre Dame, but there are indeed GREAT CAtholic universities out there that stand to be wiped out if this dire prediction comes to pass. And I think it will, eventually.
March 25, 2010 at 6:14 am
I'm more concerned about Catholic Churches. Now that abortions and contraceptives et all are government mandates, won't they be under even more pressure?
March 25, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Believe it or not, there are a small number of colleges and universities that already do not offer federal aid as part of their financial aid packages. Unfortunately, many of these colleges are small and their program majors are limited. But they are still out their and I imagine if parents and students are serious about it, they can find some options and get a very good liberal arts education. Our oldest is headed off to university in Aug–he's narrowed down to 2, one Catholic and one of another Christian denomination. Both of these universities have been VERY generous with their scholarship and grant options. I believe their philosophy is one that students shouldn't really start their adult lives with crushing debt. They are trying. I suspect, if the feds DO start bullying–and they will, more Christian colleges will step up to the plate.
March 25, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Loans are not scholarships, Mr. Archbold.
"Socializing" student loans ends the banks' writing of contracts that over-charge taxpayers to manage risk-free loans. That is a good thing.
March 25, 2010 at 12:47 pm
As for how many Catholic colleges are nominally Catholic, well, let's just say that there are 182 Catholic-affiliated colleges and Universities in the US and only 16 of them are mandatum schools. That means only 16 Theology departments have taken the mandatum oath before their local bishops to follow the teachings of the magisterium in their research and teaching.
Unfortunately, I don't think we have too much worry too much about at all.
March 25, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Not just studies, either folks. What about the college's health clinics? They'll be required to stock contraception (if they're not already), refer to abortion mills or just do it themselves. They'll have to allow the Vagina Monologues, and every pro-homosexual group and activity under the sun. They'll have to stifle Church teaching on all such topics and their priests won't be able to preach about it in a homily on campus.
I'm afraid this prediction is right on target and it's only a matter of time before our Catholic colleges are gone unless they can survive without assistance.
This was, in my opinion, a very crafty and targeted move by Obama to control the school system and eliminate religion and religious freedom in education. No accident…
March 25, 2010 at 1:20 pm
With the antics of Georgetown and Notre Dame of late, are we really that surprised, or even more so, concerned that they will all of sudden become "non-Catholic" in their practices?
March 25, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Matthew …. why did you have to go and depress me even further? Ugh!
March 25, 2010 at 6:09 pm
We've sent children to Christendom's high school program during the summer, and sent 3 to college at Franciscan University. We couldn't afford Christendom because of the lack of student federal loans. Both are excellent schools, but if the teens want math and science, they're better off at Franciscan, which unfortunately recently dropped their engineering program. If we are to maintain good orthodox Catholic universities, we need to be prepared to donate to them as SherryTex said. After the last of ours graduate from Franciscan, we plan to continue donating. Also, another sign for hope: both Franciscan and Christendom accept a large number of homeschoolers. Those families have sacrificed to take responsibility for their children's education and will continue to do so. I can see, with the advent of easy access to the net, more informal online universities coming down the pipe. Organizing a mandatum online university would enormously reduce the cost of college – from home. Sometimes the solution to the problem is a left turn, rather than continuing down the same path.
March 25, 2010 at 7:29 pm
The Catholic Bishops, so called Sisters, and liberal Catholic associations, as well as those liberals in the pews put this radical, pro abortion, socialist in the White House. Now all of us will pay the price. Bishops support pro abortion organizations and democrats through the CCHD..(millions of our dollars) Sisters support ObamaCare for so called "social justice." Pray!
March 25, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Wait is there actually a Catholic College out there? I thought that unless you are seminary, you handed back the Catholic portion of your college and gave into secularism.
March 26, 2010 at 10:02 am
Is Notre Dame still Catholic?
I think not – http://www.FreeTheND88.org
March 26, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Q: How Catholic will Catholic universities be allowed to be when the government controls the funding?
A: As Catholic as Pelosi, Biden, Stupak, Kennedy
March 26, 2010 at 3:22 pm
I am sick of seeing so many people say there are NO Catholic Universities. Yes, many if not most of our "Catholic" universities are turning away, but rather than lump all Universities together, why not do a little research, find the good ones, and put your money where your mouth is. My husband teaches at a Catholic university (in the theology department) and he did have to meet with the Bishop (now Cardinal DiNardo of Houston). I cannot say wether he had to get a full mandatum, but I believe he did. The newman society put a list out naming the 21 most catholic colleges in the US. His college was listed. Did you give money to any of the ones on the list Anonymous? If no, then you shouldn't be surprised that those Universities are going by the wayside since all you do is comp0lain and make untrue and unsupportive statements. In the name of all the truly catholic universities out there, put up or shut up!