Pope's Tough Words For Notre Dame

A special message from the Cardinal Newman Society:

January 31, 2014 Connect with Us       Donate to Support Our Mission Dear friends, Pope Francis surprised us Thursday with his frank words to the University of Notre Dame's leadership about its Catholic identity. He told them: "To defend it, to preserve it and to advance it!" In this Catholic Schools Week, Pope Francis offered loving but tough words for Our Lady's university—and by extension, for all Catholic colleges. Most pointedly, he insisted on fidelity to Catholic moral teaching… just a few days after a Notre Dame professor took to the New York Times to lobby Pope Francis to allow certain abortions. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops followed today with a call for prayerthat "we can continue to educate students in the fullness of our Catholic faith." And they specifically cite Pope Francis' words to Notre Dame! But it's Catholic Schools Week, so let's focus on the positive. Don't miss theGREAT success story of Saint Agnes School in St. Paul, Minn., which was set to close in 2007 but revived itself with a simple formula: strong Catholic identity and a classical curriculum. In 2012, it was one of the nation's best on The Cardinal Newman Society's Catholic High School Honor Roll—and now it's celebrating its 125th anniversary! Also be sure to consider:     •  our new, inspiring video of Catholic students at the March for Life in        Washington…     •  Denver Archbishop Aquila gives reasons why Americans should treasure        Catholic schools…     •  religious orders are once again expanding their presence in Catholic        classrooms…     •  and the Catholic schools of Philadelphia are placing emphasis on Catholic        identity. Joining with our bishops, we pray today that God blesses the Church with more great news in Catholic education! And may He bless you for supporting this most important work. Yours in Christ, Patrick J. Reilly President