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The Church is concerned also with schools of a higher level,
especially colleges and universities. In those schools dependent on
her she intends that by their very constitution individual subjects be
pursued according to their own principles, method, and liberty of
scientific inquiry, in such a way that an ever deeper understanding in
these fields may be obtained and that, as questions that are new and
current are raised and investigations carefully made according to the
example of the doctors of the Church and especially of St. Thomas
Aquinas,[31] there may be a deeper realization of the harmony of
faith and science. Thus there is accomplished a public, enduring and
pervasive influence of the Christian mind in the furtherance of culture
and the students of these institutions are molded into men truly
outstanding in their training, ready to undertake weighty
responsibilities in society and witness to the faith in the
world.[32]
In Catholic universities where there is no faculty of sacred theology
there should be established an institute or chair of sacred theology in
which there should be lectures suited to lay students. Since science
advances by means of the investigations peculiar to higher scientific
studies, special attention should be given in Catholic universities
and colleges to institutes that serve primarily the development of
scientific research.
The sacred synod heartily recommends that Catholic colleges and
universities be conveniently located in different parts of the world,
but in such a way that they are outstanding not for their numbers but
for their pursuit of knowledge. Matriculation should be readily
available to students of real promise, even though they be of slender
means, especially to students from the newly emerging nations.
Since the destiny of society and of the Church itself is intimately
linked with the progress of young people pursuing higher
studies,[33] the pastors of the Church are to expend their
energies not only on the spiritual life of students who attend Catholic
universities, but, solicitous for the spiritual formation of all their
children, they must see to it, after consultations between bishops,
that even at universities that are not Catholic there should be
associations and university centers under Catholic auspices in which
priests, religious and laity, carefully selected and prepared, should
give abiding spiritual and intellectual assistance to the youth of the
university. Whether in Catholic universities or others, young people
of greater ability who seem suited for teaching or research should be
specially helped and encouraged to undertake a teaching career.
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