The Institute's Unique Role in the Catholic World

Most people are familiar with Catholic institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and projects that support the poor and victims of disaster. Few people understand the critical importance of institutes for advanced studies. In the United States there are now six of them. The very first was founded at Princeton in the 1920's and hosted such scholars as Albert Einstein and Jacques Maritain. None of these institutes focuses on the study of a specific religious tradition—that is, until the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies (IACS) was established at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

The mission of an institute for advanced studies, however, is much less familiar. In fact, it is quite different—it creates a special environment, offers financial support and ample time for scholars to do top research on critical issues. The IACS brings together scholars from all over the world, not just Catholics, to explore the broad and deep intellectual, spiritual and ethical traditions of Catholicism. Moreover, the Institute promotes a dialogue between the academy and religion, for the benefit of both, and certainly for the Church and the leaders of world religions.

Three people who help lead important Catholic institutions appreciate the value of doing serious intellectual work in the Catholic tradition and how it helps the Church, universities, and even local parish life. The author of The Intellectual Appeal of Catholicism and the Idea of a Catholic University (2003) and Why Choose the Liberal Arts? (2010), Mark Roche believes that "an institute of advanced studies rooted in Catholicism has the opportunity to highlight questions that have been central to the Catholic intellectual tradition and might otherwise be neglected." The former dean of the College or Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame, and now Joyce Professor of German Literature and Concurrent Professor of Philosophy, Roche is a leading Catholic intellectual. He offers three examples of such key questions: "What is the relation between what is and what should be? In what ways does the unity of truth bridge disciplines? What is the ultimate purpose of various kinds of research?"

 

Sustaining research on these questions is crucial to higher education. Through the leadership of its president Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, C. M., DePaul University became the first major Catholic educational institution to provide financial support for the Institute. In the competitive world of Catholic higher education (there are about 230 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States), this DePaul gift might seem like an odd thing for a Catholic university to do; after all, Fr. Holtschneider must support the programs for his 25,000-student university.

In discussing DePaul's support of the Institute, however, Fr. Holtschneider emphasized the unique role of the IACS, noting that "the Institute offers an important, critical and long-term support for the Church's Intellectual life." In other words, the IACS can provide unique opportunities for faculty to deepen their appreciation of Catholic intellectual themes in relation to academic disciplines, to other religions, and to secular thought.

Close to the IACS's home at USC, Fr. Lawrence Seyer is responsible for USC's Catholic campus ministry. As a pastor, Fr. Seyer is completing a capital campaign for the construction of a brand new church facility and student center, called Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center, which are now rising up right next to USC's main campus.

Asked to imagine a bright future for the Catholic Center, key stakeholders decided in the spring of 2011 to give priority to a close relationship with the IACS. Reflecting on this connection, Fr. Seyer sees the Institute as a "partner in building the Kingdom of God." Fr. Seyer has seen how the IACS reaches out to USC faculty and students in ways that a campus ministry by itself is unable to do. "The IACS connects the tradition of Catholicism with intellectual work and scholarly conversation at USC," Fr. Seyer adds that "the Institute does this not just for the USC community, but for the international church as well."

The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies is, therefore, a very special type of institution. It gives scholars a special place to do ground-breaking research that will deepen and broaden the great Catholic tradition. Prof. Roche, Fr. Holtschneider, C.M., and Fr. Seyer understand this. May even more people join them in recognizing what the Institute, with its special mission, can do for the Church, the academy and the world.