Controversy over Obama at Notre Dame should hightlight UnCatholic professors

The controversy over Notre Dame and its awarding of an honorary degree to President Barack Obama brings to mind a professor named Father Richard Peter McBrien and the urgent need for the Church to rein in "Catholic" institutions of higher learning, which in some cases are outright renegade.

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Father McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at Notre Dame; for 11 years, he was chairman of that department. We certainly respect his priesthood, as well as his freedom of speech. We respect his scholarship. And we hate to single anyone out. But there is a searing question and it is is how Father McBrien -- and many like him -- could be allowed to teach young Catholics. Is Father McBrien an appropriate teacher when one of his major works was officially disapproved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the grounds that many of its statements are "inaccurate or misleading" -- also, "unforgivable." Other transgressions: More...

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