(ZENIT News / Rome, 09.04.2024).- Last March saw the inauguration of the Catholic Institute of Technology, an American Catholic university that seeks to train the next generation of Catholic scientists who can set the Church at the forefront of intellectual development, as it was from the beginning, when in the Middle Ages, the university was developed as a quest for knowledge and truth.
William Haughey, co-founder of the institute, says that when he was on his honeymoon with his wife, they visited the Vatican Astronomical Observatory, one of the oldest and the only scientific research center of its kind that is funded by the Vatican itself.
Having a tour of the Observatory, guided by a religious they knew who works there, Haughey and his wife were inspired to launch this project of creating an institute that could be a community of believers seeking to be «spearheads» in scientific advancement.
Fr. Michael Baggot, LC, who is one of the professors who will be teaching theology and bioethics, explained that many of the professors come from Sillycon Valley or from institutes that are in some way related to this place, and are bringing their expertise to the new institute.
He also noted that he finds it significant that the campus has opened at Castel Gandolfo in the heart of Catholicism, showing that the Church is not at all afraid of science and that it is rather she who is promoting and encouraging it to see how best to use it.
Pope Francis has said many times that technological advances have to be aligned with human values and has encouraged to pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence can always be for the benefit of mankind.
On the official website you can see the curricular offerings of this university that seeks to: «integrate rigorous technical education with a moral and spiritual formation in the Catholic faith». In addition, it seeks to create a community of students «saints, doctoral students and scientists» whose mission is to serve the Church and society.
William Haughey spoke of the urgency of such a program: «Why do we need it?» he asks, «Because it’s good for the Church. Being an asset to the Universal Church is invaluable.» The long-term goal behind Catholic Tech is to serve as an engine to start a wave of new Catholic enterprises in the scientific field.»
The university will begin its first cycle in the fall of this year. More information about the university is available on its website at https://catholic.tech/
