American Catholic universities and the passion for the impossible (Examining the concept of "holiness" as an impasse between the Vatican and college curricula)

Recent debate regarding the implementation of "Ex Corde Ecclesiae" has led many Catholic colleges and universities to reexamine their identity in rela tion to the church. Often departments of theology and religious studies are charged with maintaining the "Catholic" character of a campus, with negati ve effects. Much of the reaction to "Ex Corde" has been framed in terms of free speech, American systems of tenure, and religious diversity. This pape r, however, suggests that holiness, understood as an ever-deepening awarene ss of Mystery (Rahner) or as "a passion for the impossible" (Caputo) might be a more fruitful context for dialogue between Catholic institutions of hi gher education and the Vatican.