Never Too Young

I received your letter Jan. 26th. It's a great idea and I would love to get the 4 free weeks and be able to pay for the rest of the issues. Also, I like National Catholic Register's ideas about the “hard issues” the media doesn't like to talk about. Although I am only 12, and your offer only being for checks and credit cards, I'm in a jam. Since they don't let kids my age get checks or credit cards it looks hopeless. If there were any way I could just send cash, please inform me.

Wendy Philip Evergreen, Colorado

Business manager's note: What a pleasure to receive your response! The best solution is to use postal money orders, available at your post office in exchange for cash. Many of our subscribers use them.

Notre Dame's Catholic Identity

I enjoyed the article on the real Catholic identity of 10 Catholic colleges in your issue of February 21-27, 1999 (“Identity Crisis on Campuses?”). It had a very personal meaning for me since my daughter is a graduate of the University of Dallas.

However, the same issue carries an article about Notre Dame choosing to retain its Catholic identity rather than becoming part of the Big Ten consortium. How “Catholic” does Father Malloy want to be? If I am not mistaken, Father Malloy objects to Notre Dame being in compliance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae. Am I missing something here?

Sarah A. McCray Annapolis, Maryland

Editor's note: Notre Dame's former president, Father Theodore Hesburgh, signed the Land O'Lakes document in 1967, which declared Catholic universities independent of ecclesiastical control. The university's current president, Father Edward Malloy, in America (Jan. 30), praises the ideals of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, but objects to the current draft of a document by a U.S. bishops’ committee which contains regulations meant to implement Ex Corde Ecclesiae in this country. The bishops had invited comment on the draft.

Ed Langlois’ article, “Identity Crisis on Campuses,” (Register, Feb. 21-27) left Notre Dame on the sidelines instead of a major player in the contemporary struggle on college campuses to maintain and nurture its Catholic identity. Graduating in 1934 I returned to reside on campus in 1991 to find the same, only more so, Catholic thinking and living. In my student days the campus chief chaplain, Father John F. O'Hara, CSC, later Cardinal, called Notre Dame “The City of the Blessed Sacrament,” with a chapel in each dormitory hall. Today, it is more so when we have 25 chapels with daily Eucharistic Liturgies, and to boot, Sacred Heart Basilica which on Sundays rocks with student worshippers, student choirs and Eucharistic ministers. The student daily newspaper, The Observer, is alive with faith-filled student articles and letters to the editor. Our Campus Ministry is highly visible.

As a consolation prize, your article did honor our “little sister” next door, Saint Mary's College for women. … We remind all comers that Notre Dame's founder, Father Edward Sorin, CSC, was also the Founder of St. Mary's College. …

In reflecting upon why Notre Dame may have been omitted from your listing of resurrectional Catholic colleges, I like to think that it is common knowledge, and need not be publicly mentioned, that Our Lady's University has faithfully flown Her banner of faithfulness to the faith.

Vincent Ferrer McAloon Notre Dame, Indiana