2.
The University Community
21.
A Catholic University pursues its objectives through its formation of an
authentic human community animated by the spirit of Christ. The source of its
unity springs from a common dedication to the truth, a common vision of the
dignity of the human person and, ultimately, the person and message of Christ
which gives the Institution its distinctive character. As a result of this
inspiration, the community is animated by a spirit of freedom and charity; it
is characterized by mutual respect, sincere dialogue, and protection of the
rights of individuals. It assists each of its members to achieve wholeness as
human persons; in turn, everyone in the community helps in promoting unity, and
each one, according to his or her role and capacity, contributes towards
decisions which affect the community, and also towards maintaining and strengthening
the distinctive Catholic character of the Institution.
22.
University teachers should seek to improve their competence and
endeavour to set the content, objectives, methods, and results of research in
an individual discipline within the framework of a coherent world vision.
Christians among the teachers are called to be witnesses and educators of
authentic Christian life, which evidences attained integration between faith
and life, and between professional competence and Christian wisdom. All
teachers are to be inspired by academic ideals and by the principles of an
authentically human life.
23.
Students are challenged to pursue an education that combines excellence in
humanistic and cultural development with specialized professional training.
Most especially, they are challenged to continue the search for truth and for
meaning throughout their lives, since "the human spirit must be cultivated
in such a way that there results a growth in its ability to wonder, to understand,
to contemplate, to make personal judgments, and to develop a religious, moral,
and social sense"(23). This enables them to acquire or, if they
have already done so, to deepen a Christian way of life that is authentic. They
should realize the responsibility of their professional life, the enthusiasm of
being the trained 'leaders' of tomorrow, of being witnesses to Christ in
whatever place they may exercise their profession.
24.
Directors and administrators in a Catholic University promote the
constant growth of the University and its community through a leadership of
service; the dedication and witness of the non-academic staff are vital
for the identity and life of the University.
25.
Many Catholic Universities were founded by Religious Congregations, and
continue to depend on their support; those Religious Congregations dedicated to
the apostolate of higher education are urged to assist these Institutions in
the renewal of their commitment, and to continue to prepare religious men and
women who can positively contribute to the mission of a Catholic University.
Lay
people have found in university activities a means by which they too could
exercise an important apostolic role in the Church and, in most Catholic Universities
today, the academic community is largely composed of laity; in increasing
numbers, lay men and women are assuming important functions and
responsibilities for the direction of these Institutions. These lay Catholics
are responding to the Church's call "to be present, as signs of courage
and intellectual creativity, in the privileged places of culture, that is, the
world of education-school and university"(24). The future of
Catholic Universities depends to a great extent on the competent and dedicated
service of lay Catholics. The Church sees their developing presence in these
institutions both as a sign of hope and as a confirmation of the irreplaceable
lay vocation in the Church and in the world, confident that lay people will, in
the exercise of their own distinctive role, "illumine and organize these
(temporal) affairs in such a way that they always start out, develop, and
continue according to Christ's mind, to the praise of the Creator and the
Redeemer"(25).
26.
The university community of many Catholic institutions includes members of
other Churches, ecclesial communities and religions, and also those who profess
no religious belief. These men and women offer their training and experience in
furthering the various academic disciplines or other university tasks.
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