The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

If the Price is Right…

Saint Louis University is willing to sell its Jesuit identity-if the price is right.
To help finance our $80 million arena, SLU received $8 million in public funds from the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. We got the money from a fund dedicated to redeveloping Grand Center, St. Louis’ theater and arts district.
However, some of our neighbors-particularly the Masonic Temple on Lindell Boulevard-are apparently jealous of our share of the pot. They claim that we operate under a “religious creed,” and that funding a Jesuit school’s construction with tax money is a violation of the separation of church and state. They’re actually suing us over it.
How did we respond to the accusation that we operate under a religious creed? Did we say, “Yes, SLU is a Catholic university-we operate under a Jesuit mission?” Did we proudly proclaim, “SLU’s Jesuit tradition is not merely an historical phenomenon, but a way of life that guides all university decisions?”
Of course not. Knowing that an admission of faith would be politically damning, we did what any party hungry for millions of dollars would do: We weaseled our way out of the question.
Here’s what the court said, and what we agreed with: “SLU, although a university with a Jesuit tradition, is not a university ‘controlled by a religious creed.'”
Come again? Did Saint Louis University-an institution that constantly touts its status as one of the top five Catholic universities in the nation, an institution that actively recruits Catholic students, to compete with other Catholic universities, an institution that, as Fr. Lawrence Biondi, S..J. insists, will be the best Catholic university in the nation by 2012-just sell its religious identity for $8 million?
Why not take the cheaper route-a kiss on the cheek and 30 pieces of silver?
How can we claim to operate independent of a religious creed when crucifixes hang in SLU classrooms, when the Arts and Sciences core requires nine hours of theology and when our president is a Jesuit priest?
Before taking or leaving this contested chunk of public money, SLU should consider the message this decision sends to the community and re-examine its identity: Are we a Catholic institution, or an institution that just happens to harbor a bunch of Catholics?

Story continues below advertisement
Leave a Comment
Donate to The University News
$1410
$750
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Saint Louis University. Your contribution will help us cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The University News
$1410
$750
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All The University News Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *