Catholic School Offers Option of Queer Theology


The University of Portland has the term Catholic by name. Being a Catholic business, there is a requirement that all students take one of various courses offered by the Department of Religion. While formerly the requirement probably was a course on "Biblical Texts" or "Catholic Theology" now students can choose others and fulfill this requirement. One has the title "Queer Theology."  

Looking at the course description of Queer Theology, it is apparent students will study the Bible. That is, instead of studying it under the course title of "texts", they will read texts in the Queer course. No doubt the previously required course touched on various meanings of these texts, including how Catholics interpret such material, the replacement options will include other interpretations as well. 

How could a private university with "Catholic" in its name get away with this? Perhaps the way to answer that is another question, "How can a private university with any past or present Christian affiliation survive without presenting itself as a place in tune with its young constituency?" 

I spent my entire adult life in universities. While I was never a high-level administrator, I had several decades to watch them and try to figure out what was going on. One problem I perceived among administrators was the inability to see their university in its proper context. That is, often administrations would see their university as a place which it was not and never could be. They would reach for something that was out of their reach. If you and your university is located in a small state far from major urban centers your chance of being seen as an equal to say, Ohio State, is unlikely. It may be just as good as Ohio State but in the public's image it is less significant.

 In the complex set of people who support any university are those telling a President he/she should reach for the stars. This, even though the stars are out of reach and the trying will set it back.

It seems to me the University of Portland understands who it is and what it is. It is located in a large metropolitan area. There will be a lot of students who live at home to save money. Portland and Oregon are not Mississippi. The Catholic University of Portland needs to present itself as part of the community which, by most standards is left of center. Fulfilling the requirement of a course in religion by allowing a course in Queer Theology makes perfect sense.         

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