The Catholic character of DLSU is evident in the University’s student, faculty and staff demographics, of which a great majority are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Students take Theology classes geared towards rooting them in the traditions and fundamental doctrines of the Catholic Church, even requiring church service hours as a part of the course.
In addition, the University encourages organizations to create activities in line with the Catholic Church’s character; many student government units and student groups hold organizational and multi-sectoral celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.
Another key aspect of DLSU’s identity is its research-intensive University aspect, often focusing on research initiatives, developing research centers and most importantly, faculty research as evident in publication in scholarly journals.
Independent inquiry becomes an issue when researchers belonging to the natural and social sciences hold views that are not in line with the Church’s.
A case in point is the formulation of position papers that seek to prove the effectiveness of the Reproductive Health Bill from economic, socio-political and biological viewpoints, even if such a thesis contradicts the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church, as an institution, prescribes to a defined set of ideologies and fundamental doctrines, which are by its mandate to be reflected in institutions affiliated with it. Many Catholic universities in the Philippines, however, are constrained by these provisions.
In search of the Truth
“Just because you are a Catholic University does not mean that you are not going to explore [controversial issues],” says DLSU President Br. Jun Erguiza FSC. “You might say something, which may not be the stand of the Catholic Church. But we are at the same time in search of new knowledge, and the truth. We should be open to research, new knowledge and discoveries in certain areas that may not necessarily be in line with what the Church is teaching.”
Catholic universities such as DLSU, however, are not exempted from public perspectives on the quality of education. The University has an obligation to provide an integrated and focused approach on discovery and maintaining the best.
Generally, research in DLSU involves a high degree of academic freedom and intellectual liberty. The University policy on Intellectual Property maintains its stance on a commitment to the scholarship and individual academic freedom of its faculty to write and publish, but takes into account academic freedom: “the University is a resource of Church and State, with research committed to the use of inventions and intellectual creations for the common good.”
Research in the University is generally grounded on its vision-mission: “a learner-centered research University in the service of the poor.” Research production at DLSU focuses on the areas of poverty alleviation, environment and safety, youth-at-risk, globalization and applied technologies, which are issues the Church highlights. In the same vein, the focus on service to the poor is not only tied to essential Catholic pro-poor tenets, but also the crux of the Lasallian Brothers’ dedication to uplift the poor through education.
Not a seminary
DLSU differentiates itself as a Catholic University by being sectarian, but it is dissimilar from other academic and formative Catholic institutions such as seminaries and pontifical Universities. A sectarian university is a not-for-profit private educational institution owned by Catholic or protestant religious groups.
Seminaries are academic institutions dedicated to prepare students for religious life. Those who wish ordination as priests, whether regular or secular, enter seminaries for philosophy and specialized courses in Catholic theology.
“We are not a seminary,” says Br. Jun. “Other graduate schools would be more involved in that, such as the Loyola School of Theology of Ateneo. Their main clientele are seminarians.”
On the other hand, pontifical Universities such as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) fall under the direct authority of the Holy See in Vatican City. In the case of UST, the manner of research have to follow rules of greater concordance with Church teaching as it is technically under the Vatican’s jurisdiction.
Many famous Universities worldwide maintain both their Catholic identities and their focus on research over other priorities such as teaching.
In the United States, Notre Dame University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and the Catholic University of America, all of which are under certain religious orders, have been recognized for their research, even classified by accrediting organizations as part of the top 50 research universities in the country.
One of the more distinguished research Universities, standing as 68th according to the QS World Rankings, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven based in Belgium, professes a respect for independent inquiry and has historically served as a crucial location in the formation of Catholic theology from the late medieval period to present day.
