University of Dallas president: Mission of higher ed is open debate in pursuit of truth
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University of Dallas President Dr. Jonathan Sanford speaks at the Heritage Foundation on Feb. 8, 2024. / Credit: Tyler Arnold/CNAWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 12, 2024 / 13:30 pm (CNA).In a speech delivered at the Heritage Foundation, widely considered the most influential conservative think tank in the United States, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford expressed concerns about the level of politicization that reigns in American universities and emphasized that the pursuit of truth requires open debate.In a Feb. 8 speech titled "Universities, Patriotism, and Citizenship: A Catholic Liberal Arts Approach to the Election Year," Sanford said there are only "very rare moments" when taking a political stance is appropriate for institutions of higher education. He said universities should instead foster open debate so that "the pursuit of truth can proceed in an unfettered way."Sanford, a professor of philosophy, has served as president of the University of Dallas, a ...
University of Dallas President Dr. Jonathan Sanford speaks at the Heritage Foundation on Feb. 8, 2024. / Credit: Tyler Arnold/CNA
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 12, 2024 / 13:30 pm (CNA).
In a speech delivered at the Heritage Foundation, widely considered the most influential conservative think tank in the United States, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford expressed concerns about the level of politicization that reigns in American universities and emphasized that the pursuit of truth requires open debate.
In a Feb. 8 speech titled "Universities, Patriotism, and Citizenship: A Catholic Liberal Arts Approach to the Election Year," Sanford said there are only "very rare moments" when taking a political stance is appropriate for institutions of higher education. He said universities should instead foster open debate so that "the pursuit of truth can proceed in an unfettered way."
Sanford, a professor of philosophy, has served as president of the University of Dallas, a private Catholic university located in Irving, Texas, since 2022.
Sanford cited the example of several university presidents who made statements after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade that implied that "there's something wicked to holding the pro-life position." Such statements, he said, "silence those who like to argue about that position" and can create an "alienation of Christians on campus."
"Arguing about abortion ought to be possible," Sanford noted.
Politicization, Sanford warned, also jeopardizes the public's trust in the objectivity of institutions and their academic research.
"There's a growing perception that universities aren't worth it anymore," he said. "There seems to be a whole lot of politics going on. Does that mean there's not much learning going on?"
During his remarks Sanford also gave voice to "deep concerns about cancel culture," noting that the university setting needs to be one "where genuine debate can occur."
He recalled that free and open debate helps foster patriotism as well. He pointed out that the Federalist Papers, which were the framework for the U.S. Constitution, were "arrived at through a lot of debate," adding that one must learn, test, and then come to embrace the founding principles, at which point "your admiration and love for them ensues."
However, Sanford noted that patriotism, from a Catholic perspective, does not always mean supporting the actions of one's country. He cited St. Thomas More as the perfect example of a patriot. More was an adviser to King Henry VIII who was executed for refusing to support the king's defiance of the Church in the establishment of the Anglican Church.
"Genuine patriotism is grounded in love of God and his Church," Sanford said.
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St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów is depicted as the patron saint of Poland in a miniature painted by Stanislaw Samostrzelnik of Mogila. / Credit: Polona Digital Library|Wikimedia|PD-ArtWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 8, 2024 / 16:53 pm (CNA).Pope Francis during his Wednesday general audience invoked the intercession of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland, for peace in Ukraine and Israel.Addressing Polish pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, the pope said: "Today you celebrate the solemnity of St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, patron of your homeland.""St. John Paul II wrote of him," Francis went on, "that from high in heaven, he shared in the sufferings and hopes of your nation, sustaining its survival, especially during the Second World War."Francis prayed that the intercession of St. Stanislaus "obtain, even today, the gift of peace in Europe and throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East."What does Poland have to do with these wars? This co...
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null / Credit: ShutterstockCNA Staff, May 8, 2024 / 17:23 pm (CNA).A trio of Catholic radio networks has filed a petition against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over new requirements that will soon mandate that all U.S. radio and television stations publish information about the race and gender of their employees.In a 3-2 ruling in February, the commissioners of the FCC reinstated a requirement that radio stations must annually file a document, known as Form 395-B, that lists the race and gender of their employees.The FCC governs radio stations transmitting on AM or FM frequencies, satellite radio and TV stations, cable networks, and broadcast TV stations. These entities are required to maintain a summary of publicly accessible information known as a public file, with varying requirements among the types of stations regarding what must be contained in the file.The FCC had not required Form 395-B since 2004, following a 2001 ruling by t...
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Servant of God Nino Baglieri. / Credit: ANS/SalesiansACI Prensa Staff, May 8, 2024 / 17:53 pm (CNA).The diocesan phase of the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Nino Baglieri has been closed in Modica, a town in southern Sicily. Overcoming his bitterness due to his quadriplegic condition, Baglieri gave himself to the mission of evangelizing through the means available to him. The closing of the diocesan phase, according to the Salesian News Agency, took place on Sunday, May 5, in Mother of St. Peter church, where a solemn Eucharist was celebrated by Salvatore Rumeo, the bishop of Noto. In his homily, the prelate related that on May 5, 1951, Baglieri received baptism, "becoming a Christian."Regarding the servant of God, he emphasized that "prayer for Nino was everything: Despite his suffering, like a light that shines and burns, he managed to infect others with the meaning of true prayer."Addressing the servant of God in prayer, Rumeo said: "We are grateful t...