The Pope Francis Mind Revealed in his Statements on Catholic Higher Education

A couple of decades ago the star of Saturday Night Live was a comedian, Mike Myers. His schtick was playing a woman called "Linda Richman." When things were complicated or unresolvable his conclusion was, "Talk amongst yourselves."

"Talk among yourselves" is how I would generalize the approach of Pope Francis to much of the Catholic Church's drama. Priests can decide for themselves whether to accept remarried couples as members in full. Gay couples get a big welcome into the church. 

A complicated problem for Rome has always been Catholic Universities. They have big budgets and a permanent dilemma. Stick to closely to conservative dogma and their students go elsewhere. Adjust to quickly to the times and conservative donors give them the bird. Ultimately, if they don't make some adjustments to changing cultures they will cease to exist. Many smaller ones have closed. The previous two Popes were big on lecturing Catholic Universities on what to teach and how local Bishops should hold the hammer over local University Presidents. Pope Francis, however, has no interest in dictating policy and theology to Catholic Universities. His instructions are, "Talk among yourselves." This is the generalization I take from a paper which reviewed written positions published by the Pope. He tells universities to teach the faith but adjust to changing times. How they adjust is up to them. 

One can see this inside and across the Catholic world. All prominent Catholic Universities have gay student organizations. The German Catholic Church continues to invite gay marriage and Rome does not bring it to toe. Homosexuality is still listed as a sin but any Bishop who goes too far in publicly declaring it a sin is canned. The world is changing, the Pope seems to say, let's not be left behind. 

One beautiful part of the Pope's view is Catholic Universities are to be "outward looking." How different that is from Popes John and Benedict who were deep focused inwardly on the purity of the faith. The percentage of students and parents, let along grant making and research awarding institutions, who care about internal stuff has to be tiny. The cutting edge does not care about Catholic theology. The Pope's directive says Catholic Universities need to be in on diversity. He wants them to be aware of "the whole of life."

Sometimes in the past, the Pope has influenced parts of Protestantism. Hopefully he might be helpful now.