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Even if the Vatican investigates (which I don't think is a given) I am doubting there will be any meaningful change here. I suspect it will end up like the Vatican's investigation of the Nuns on the Bus that straddled Benedict and Francis' papacies; they will get off because the Vatican is fearful of alienating people by defending teachings unpopular with the secular world.

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Yup.

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For my better understanding of Canon Law: doesn't the law give the diocesan bishop oversight over universities bearing the Catholic identity in his territory? Why would a Vatican probe be necessary?

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I was wondering the same thing. Who decides what entities can call themselves officially Catholic?

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Pillar Explainer Time!

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I suspect the local archepiscopacy needs to stop using Ex corde Ecclesiae as a paperweight and read it. At least according to this Newman Society article:

https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/the-bishops-role-in-discerning-catholic-identity/

“The bishop also has the right and duty to intervene at the college level, if he believes the character of a Catholic college is compromised. Catholic theology professors—whether or not at a Catholic institution—are required to obtain the mandatum from their local bishop, acknowledging that they are teaching in full communion with the Catholic Church. Ex corde Ecclesiae requires a periodic review of a Catholic college’s program and communication with the bishop…”

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APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II ON CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES

PART I: DENTITY AND MISSION

A. THE IDENTITY OF A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

3. The Catholic University in the Church

28. Bishops have a particular responsibility to promote Catholic Universities, and especially to promote and assist in the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic identity, including the protection of their Catholic identity in relation to civil authorities. This will be achieved more effectively if close personal and pastoral relationships exist between University and Church authorities, characterized by mutual trust, close and consistent cooperation and continuing dialogue. Even when they do not enter directly into the internal governance of the University, Bishops "should be seen not as external agents but as participants in the life of the Catholic University"(27).

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Dunno where their main campus is. They have campuses in Canberra (capital of Australia) and Brisbane but we're not hearing from the bishops of those places. So possibly they don't agree.

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Yes. Prowse and Coleridge are very quiet.

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This article (and the previous one) should clarify that Kate Galloway's reassignment was due to her positions in favor of legal abortion. The backlash was not the same as in de Bruyn's case, but that was not clear until I read the linked articles in the previous Pillar article on ACU.

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"Australia’s only public Catholic university."

What does "public" mean here? non-religious order? If so, wouldn't the better way to communicate that be "diocesan" or "secular"?

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I believe they receive public funding, that seemed to be the case from the previous article

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In this context, "public" means funded by taxpayers.

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And nowt just them. Pretty much every Catholic organisation in Australia receives government money - some thousands, some millions. ACU is in the millions category. This case is going nowhere - it would be better just to stop calling it Catholic now, because it manifestly isn't.

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// The ACU made international headlines in October when graduating students walked out of an honorary degree acceptance speech by former labor union leader Joe de Bruyn that criticized abortion, IVF, and same-sex marriage.

In response, the university promised to reimburse graduation fees, and offered counseling services to graduates, students, and staff. Vice-chancellor Skrbis told students and staff he regretted any distress they might have experienced following the Oct. 21 speech. //

Catholic In Name Only. There's been quite a bit of that going around. The contemporary Catholic Church aims to please everyone equally in a world culture in which such a goal is preposterous.

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