Franciscan President Speaks at World Congress on Catholic Education

Company: Franciscan University of Steubenville
Location: Sheridan
Posted on: May 17, 2023

Job Description:

Franciscan President Speaks at World Congress on Catholic Education Rome Gathering Brings Together Catholic Educators From All Over the World STEUBENVILLE, OHIO - Franciscan -University of Steubenville President Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, JD, JCD, presented -a paper and joined more than 2,200 leaders in Catholic education who gathered in -Rome -to examine the challenges facing Catholic education in the 21st -century.Working under the -theme, Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Passion Renewed, participants at the November -18-21 World Congress on Catholic Education, grappled with issues that were -timeless -as well as unique to the modern era. Topics included the tension between religious -freedom and equality, religious education versus secularism, -identity and mission of Catholic -educational -institutions, the spiritual formation of Catholic teachers and administrators, -and many more issues affecting Catholic schools and universities.Father Sheridan -spoke on November 21 at the Libera Universit-- Maria Ss. Assunta in Rome at a -track for legal scholars who attended the congress. He presented a paper titled -"The -National Agenda on Challenges/Conflicts of Catholic Schools Vis----Vis the -State."Citing the Vatican -II Council, the Code of Canon Law, the U.S. Constitution, and other sources, -Father Sheridan focused on several recent legal challenges that U.S. Catholic -schools face -that arise out of "a Catholic school's desire to remain true to -its mission while existing within a civil society." These include the U.S. Supreme Court's -legalization of same-sex unions and the Health -and Human Services mandate to -provide contraception and potential abortifacients under the Affordable Care -Act."As the Fathers of -Vatican II stated in paragraph 2 of -Dignitatis -Humane: 'This Vatican synod declares that the human person has a right to -religious freedom,'" -said Father -Sheridan. The -synod further declared, he said, "This right of the human person -to religious freedom should have such recognition in the regulation of society -by law as to become a civil right."In the 25 years -since St. John Paul II issued -Ex corde -Ecclesiae, Father Sheridan said it is more important than ever to attempt -to influence the wider culture about the truths of the faith. This, -he said, -"is different than 'embracing' or 'accepting' the culture through which the -Church might become just an extension of the culture."The morning of Father -Sheridan's presentation, congress participants were invited to join other -visitors for a papal audience with Pope Francis. As reported by Vatican Radio, in an informal -question-and-answer session, Pope Francis said, "For me, the greatest crisis in -education, in order that it be [truly, authentically] Christian, is this -closure to transcendence." The Holy Father went -on to say, "To prepare hearts, -that the Lord might manifest himself," is the true mission of the teacher and -the goal of all education worthy of the name.Father Sheridan -said it was a blessing to represent Franciscan University at the World -Congress. "The Church greatly values the ministry of Catholic Education and the -leadership role to -which Franciscan University has been called. Despite the -uncertainty of people's safety throughout the world, there was a true sense of -'family' among the participants and a renewed dedication to -the ministry of -Catholic education."As a sponsor of -the World Congress on Catholic Education, Franciscan University of Steubenville -made a financial donation to ensure that Catholic educators from impoverished -countries -could countries could attend the event, which celebrated the 50th -anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's document on Catholic education, -Gravissimum -educationis, and the 25th -anniversary -of -Ex corde Ecclesiae. Upcoming Events: Related News:

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