Return of the Cross

THE WASHINGTON TIMES, March 7 — The College of William & Mary has ordered the immediate return of a cross that was removed last fall from the school’s historic Wren Chapel. While William & Mary is now a public institution, it was founded 313 years ago as an Anglican institution. College President Gene Nichol decided in October that the cross should be removed to make Wren Chapel “equally open and welcoming to all,” including non-Christians who might be offended by an explicitly Christian display. Nichol’s decision sparked widespread criticism, with nearly 18,000 people signing an online petition demanding the cross be returned to the chapel. Nichol initially refused to reverse course despite the criticism. But the university backed down this month in the face of threats from disgruntled alumni to withhold millions of dollars of donations — including a $12 million gift from one unnamed donor — if the cross wasn’t restored.

Accolade for Thomas Aquinas

VENTURA COUNTY STAR, March 11 — Thomas Aquinas College has earned a listing in the 2008 edition of The Best 366 Colleges. The college guidebook noted the advantages of the “Great Books” educational model that Thomas Aquinas employs. “That approach, plus small classes, allows a more seminarylike experience,” said Rob Franek, lead author of the guide. “These students seem very engaged in the classroom.”

Vatican Appointment

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE, March 8 — Pope Benedict XVI has named American historian Nelson Hubert Minnich as a member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. Minnich is professor of Church history at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.