By John F. O’Sullivan

On the field, the Johnnie/Tommie rivalry is intense enough to warrant the singing of vitriolic songs against their students, but in the classroom, the religious affiliation of St. Ben’s, St. John’s, and St. Thomas provide a common link between the three schools.

One thing leaders from all three schools agree on is this: Catholicism isn’t going anywhere.

“In fact, we have tried to be more intentional about integrating our Benedictine character into the program,” said Bill Cahoy, dean of the School of Theology.

Theology professor Dan Finn agrees. “(Our catholicism) is probably stronger now than it was 15 years ago. In terms of the faculty, there’s a clearer sense of the Catholic identity of the place,” he said.

The private school setting allows for greater intellectual freedom, Finn said.

“Those outside of the more technical courses feel free to address value questions. They know they won’t be criticized for raising those sorts of issues for students,” he said.

CSB/SJU differences

Despite St. Ben’s and St. John’s close connection, the schools’ organizational structure differs greatly.

St. John’s is still owned and operated by the St. John’s Abbey, with Klassen serving in the highest position as Chancellor of the university.

St. Ben’s, meanwhile, unincorperated from the monastery in the 1960’s, and although the university manitains a close working relationship with the university, the monestary only has limited legal control over the college.

“There’s no difference in the education, there’s just a difference in the management. It’s a slightly more complicated business to run a college when you’re an abbey,” said S. Colman O’Connell, former president of St. Ben’s.

Despite the changes in bureaucracy, O’Connell said the college’s religion doesn’t come from adminstration.

“Students seem to cherish community, to cherish hospitality, to cherish a love of learning and a respect for the environment and moderation,” she said.

Klassen agreed, “Catholic Beneditine identity is clearly here because of the student body. 65-70% of our students are Catholic.”

Conflict of interest?

Does Catholic moral teaching come into conflict with the pursuit of knowledge?

“Only when you have a false construction of what it means to be Catholic,” Klassen said.

Catholic teaching doesn’t effect what is taught in the classroom, O’Connell said.

“If no one is studying war or abortion or whatever wouldn’t that be sad? Those aren’t problems, those are realities that ought to be examined and a liberal arts college ought to be examining them,” she said.

Looking ahead

St. John’s may soon follow in the footsteps of St. Ben’s and St. Thomas, based on talks that are underway.

“We’re exploring that arrangemnt as we speak,” he said. “The university is big, complex, and the board leadership is increasingly demanding. We want to make sure we do not constrain the university in moving things forward,” Klassen said.

No specific plans are in place for the monastery to separate from the university, but the Board of Regents is simply “posing the question,” he said.

Regardless of bureaucratic changes, Cahoy doesn’t think they relate to an institution’s religous background.

“The way we relate shouldn’t be reduced to corporate structures,” Cahoy said. “That applies to St. Ben’s, St. John’s and St. Thomas.”

Filed under: News by Justin Roth