Is it a sin to go to a non-catholic college?

[Ben Sinner]

I read an article in the Old Catholic Encyclopedia that said this...

The attendance at non-Catholic schools by Catholic children is something which, for weighty motives and with due safeguards, can be tolerated, not approved. In any case parents must carefully provide for the child's religious instruction.

As to higher education, parents have a clear duty to see that the faith of their children is not imperilled by their going to non-Catholic universities and colleges. In the lack of positive legislation before parents can assent to their children attending non-Catholic universities or colleges there must be a commensurately grave cause, and such dangers as may threaten faith or morals are to be rendered remote by suitable remedies. The last-named requirement is obviously the more important. Failure to fall in with the first, provided that means had been taken faithfully to comply with the second, would not oblige the confessor to refuse absolution to such parents. There is an undoubted and under ordinary circumstances inalienable authority to be exercised by parents.

http://oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Parents


This is freaking me out because I just enrolled to a non-catholic college!!!!


Is this teaching true anymore?

[skigirl1689]

I went to a public university and we had a strong Catholic student parish as did the other public universities in our region and the bishop supported them immensely. I cannot imagine it being a sin as there are thousands of Catholic students going to secular schools and a lot of them could not attend Catholic universities because of financial or other reasons, like not having a specific program. My school specialized in engineering and I thought one of my friends said none of the Catholic schools had engineering programs.

Just my thoughts.

[zenith15]

Well, if sending your children to a non Catholic (public) school is a sin, I am a big sinner. In no way can I afford the cost of Catholic private school--even with a partial scholarship, should we be lucky enough to get one. Also, my son has Aspergers, and many Catholic schools are not set up to deal with kids on the Autism spectrum or provide the extra help/therapies they may require.

In the olden days, Catholic education was much cheaper for young children due to the abundance of sisters giving their time to teach at little or no salary. That is no longer the case, and the price has skyrocketed as a result. I don't think we can be guilty of sin for being unable to send our child to a school--whether it be elementary, high or college--that is beyond our financial means.

As for you, if you ARE able to go to a Catholic college, and they offer the area of study that interests you, why NOT go there? But, if you cannot, for some justifiable reason, then I don't think that is a sin.

[Ben Sinner]

and then I read this....

Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical, Divini illius Magistri on Christian Education (December 31, 1929), explains why Catholics cannot attend "neutral" schools, from which religion is excluded, or "mixed" schools, in which children of different religion are educated side by side:

From this it follows that the so-called "neutral" or "lay" school, from which religion is excluded, is contrary to the fundamental principles of education. Such a school moreover cannot exist in practice; it is bound to become irreligious.... We renew and confirm their declarations [Pius IX & Leo XIII] …in which the frequenting of non-Catholic schools, whether neutral or mixed, those namely which are open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, is forbidden for Catholic children, and can be at most tolerated, on the approval of the Ordinary alone, under determined circumstances of place and time, and with special precautions. Neither can Catholics admit that other type of mixed school…in which the students are provided with separate religious instruction, but receive other lessons in common with non-Catholic pupils from non-Catholic teachers (St. Paul Editions, pp.42, 43).


...freaking out

[iloveangels]

Originally Posted by Ben Sinner

I read an article in the Old Catholic Encyclopedia that said this...

The attendance at non-Catholic schools by Catholic children is something which, for weighty motives and with due safeguards, can be tolerated, not approved. In any case parents must carefully provide for the child's religious instruction.

As to higher education, parents have a clear duty to see that the faith of their children is not imperilled by their going to non-Catholic universities and colleges. In the lack of positive legislation before parents can assent to their children attending non-Catholic universities or colleges there must be a commensurately grave cause, and such dangers as may threaten faith or morals are to be rendered remote by suitable remedies. The last-named requirement is obviously the more important. Failure to fall in with the first, provided that means had been taken faithfully to comply with the second, would not oblige the confessor to refuse absolution to such parents. There is an undoubted and under ordinary circumstances inalienable authority to be exercised by parents.

http://oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Parents


This is freaking me out because I just enrolled to a non-catholic college!!!!


Is this teaching true anymore?

It's not doctrine and never has been. Of course it's not a sin.

[Catholic80]

Originally Posted by Ben Sinner

I read an article in the Old Catholic Encyclopedia that said this...

The attendance at non-Catholic schools by Catholic children is something which, for weighty motives and with due safeguards, can be tolerated, not approved. In any case parents must carefully provide for the child's religious instruction.

As to higher education, parents have a clear duty to see that the faith of their children is not imperilled by their going to non-Catholic universities and colleges. In the lack of positive legislation before parents can assent to their children attending non-Catholic universities or colleges there must be a commensurately grave cause, and such dangers as may threaten faith or morals are to be rendered remote by suitable remedies. The last-named requirement is obviously the more important. Failure to fall in with the first, provided that means had been taken faithfully to comply with the second, would not oblige the confessor to refuse absolution to such parents. There is an undoubted and under ordinary circumstances inalienable authority to be exercised by parents.

http://oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Parents


This is freaking me out because I just enrolled to a non-catholic college!!!!


Is this teaching true anymore?

Why don't you ask this in the "Ask an Apologist" section as well? I know it takes a few days to get a response, but they'll be able to provide you with a thorough response.

I've never once heard a priest, or anyone, teach on this. They obviously promote Catholic schools, but I have never heard it "considered a sin" if they don't send their children to one.

My guess is, if you have the opportunity to send your children, and you don't, it's a grave matter. But around here, Catholic elementary school education is from $7,000+ and High schools are from $10,000+/ year Of course, there is tuition assistance, but even then, not everyone can afford that. And if you have several children to boot.... you can do the math.

However, if the parents' would rather have a new luxury car rather than give their children the education, I can also see how that could be a grave sin.

As for college, since college is an option and technically, the child is an adult now, I don't see how the parents can be held responsible for this. If the young adult wants to study astrophysics and there isn't a Catholic University that provides this, then it makes sense that the young adult attend a secular school. But, as all adults, they are responsible for continuing their Catholic education by other means.... going on retreats, going to talks, studying Catholic literature, getting a spiritual director, etc.

This is my take on it... I still suggest asking an apologist as I too am curious as to what they might say.

[Ben Sinner]

btw, I got the quote from the former pope from an SSPX site (I know I shouldn't visit those pages), but I saw what I saw and that site said the 1917 Code of Cannon Law agrees with the "going to non catholic schools" being a sin

[iloveangels]

Originally Posted by Ben Sinner

btw, I got the quote from the former pope from an SSPX site (I know I shouldn't visit those pages), but I saw what I saw and that site said the 1917 Code of Cannon Law agrees with the "going to non catholic schools" being a sin

Well, I mean, if you're not really asking us the question, but you already have your mind made up, then save us (and yourself!) the aggravation of typing it in. Okay?

[Ben Sinner]

Originally Posted by iloveangels

Well, I mean, if you're not really asking us the question, but you already have your mind made up, then save us (and yourself!) the aggravation of typing it in. Okay?

It sounds like I have offended you and I'm sorry if you feel that way, but that wasn't my intention...I don't know where you got it that I've made my mind up on it. .....I was just saying that the website said the 1917 code of canon law agreed with the sinfulness of attending secular schools and I was just seeing what the deal is with that because it doesn't seem like that rule is in affect anymore if the rule actually exists and I just cited sources on why it may be a sin.

has the rule changed since 1917?

[Bill Martin]

"In the world but not of it"

not

"Isolated from the world and burying heads in the sand about it"


It's great to go to a public college and be an example of Catholic living. That's something we could use more of.

[Mrs Sally]

Originally Posted by Ben Sinner

has the rule changed since 1917?

Yes, the current code is from 1983. It is not now and never has been a mortal sin to send your child to a secular school or to attend a secular college. Since Catholic education is not universally available, there is no way something can be considered a sin if you do not have access to it, cannot afford it, or cannot logisitcally arrange it - ir due to lack of transportation in younger years, or programs of study in older ones.

Ben, you seem very scrupulous. I recommend you speak to your priest about this. Also, be sure to look up the Catholic student group at your college. It may be a Newman Center, FOCUS mission, or a Chapliancy.

[MarcusAndreas]

The Old Catholic Encyclopedia said a lot of weird things. It's not an authoritative document.

[thewanderer]

As far as I can tell it was a particular discipline (remember that disicplines are changeable, they are not doctrine) put in place at the time to ensure that children would,
1. learn their faith
2. Not be led away from their faith by being taught that their faith is a load of rubbish.
Most people were not very well-educated in the past, so to make sure that Catholics weren't fed a bunch of BS they made it a discipline for them to only attend Catholic schools. It is no longer required.

[zenith15]

And imagine, if Catholics, following the command not to utilize artificial birth control, and perhaps as a result having beautiful, large Catholic families, and wanted mom to stay at home, the cost of sending each of those children to 12 years of Catholic school plus four years or more of Catholic college--well, one can see how only the wealthiest of the wealthy could afford that.

[pangaious]

To the OP - no it is not a sin to attend a non-Catholic college!; trust me.