It came as Bishop Paul S. Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington presided over the opening Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sunday.
Christendom´s entire faculty voluntarily takes the oath each year, although not mandated by ecclesial law.
The text of the oath is that promulgated by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: «On assuming the office of teacher at Christendom College, I promise that I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church in the words I speak or in the way I act…. In carrying out my charge, I shall preserve the deposit of Faith in its entirety, hand it on faithfully, and make it shine forth. As a result, I shall shun whatsoever teachings are contrary…. With Christian obedience, I shall associate myself with what is expressed by the holy shepherds as authentic doctors and teachers of the Faith, or established by them as the Church´s rulers.»
At a time in higher education when many people feel that there is a conflict between religion and academic freedom, school president Timothy T. O´Donnell said that there can be no real conflict between faith and reason.
«Faith comes from God, reason comes from God, and they´re meant to work in a harmonious fashion,» said O´Donnell.
