Still Running Off at the Keyboard

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY V. THE MASONIC TEMPLE ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS

This month's Catholic World Report carries an editorial by George Neumayr on the deplorable state of Jesuit education. The case that is the title of my post is especially amusing:

This case--which will cause future Church historians considerable head scratching--pitted Masons arguing that the school [Jesuit St. Louis University - ct] is Catholic against Jesuits arguing that it is not. (The neighboring Masons were challenging a tax abatement St. Louis University received, claiming sectarian schools should not receive government monies.)

The Jesuits in St. Louis prevailed in the case, telling a Missouri appelate court that the school is "independent of the Catholic Church," has a wan mission statement, makes no serious attempt to propagate Catholicism, and disobeys the local bishop. The judges agreed, ruling that the school's "secular identity" is undeniable.