Grace Thompson
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. However, in 1969, the college established an independent board of trustees, and in 1991, under Pope John Paul II's decree, it became independent of the Catholic Church. In 2005, the Archdiocese of New York declared that Marist College is no longer a Catholic institution, and therefore not under the Church's jurisdiction. The college's promotional materials and website now describe it as an independent, liberal arts college. Nevertheless, the college retains some ties to the Catholic Church, offering a Catholic Studies minor and sponsoring lectures by prominent Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marist College's founding body | Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute |
| Year founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Saint Marcellin Champagnat |
| Current status | No longer a Catholic institution |
| Year of status change | 2003 |
| Reason for status change | Selection of pro-abortion New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as commencement speaker |
| Location | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States |
| Campus size | 180 acres |
| Branch campus | Florence, Italy |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the state in 1929 to offer degrees in arts and sciences |
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What You'll Learn
- Marist College was founded by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers in 1946
- In 1969, Marist College became independent, establishing a board of trustees
- The Archdiocese of New York declared Marist College no longer a Catholic institution in 2005
- The Marist Brothers is an international community of Catholic religious institutes of brothers
- The Society of Mary, better known as the Marists, is a Catholic religious congregation
Marist College was founded by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers in 1946
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The college was established as a Catholic institution by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute founded in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in 1816 or 1817. The Marist Brothers' focus was on educational work, and they aimed to educate young people, especially the most neglected.
The college was established as a four-year college under the name Marian College, led by Paul Ambrose Fontaine, FMS. The college continued the mission of training Marist Brothers as teachers for the congregation's schools. The Marist Brothers constructed several buildings on the campus, including a gymnasium, a chapel, and a residence hall. Over time, the college expanded and gained accreditation to offer a wider range of degrees.
However, in recent years, there has been confusion and debate about whether Marist College is still a Catholic institution. In 1969, the college established an independent board of trustees, and in 1990, a document gave local bishops the authority to determine the Catholic identity of colleges. While the college has claimed to be independent and not Catholic, it has retained some ties to Catholicism, such as offering a Catholic Studies minor and sponsoring lectures by prominent Catholics.
In 2008, the Cardinal Newman Society objected to the college's selection of a pro-abortion commencement speaker. This led to the Archdiocese of New York declaring that Marist College "is no longer a Catholic institution" and is not under the Church's jurisdiction. This was reiterated by Cardinal Edward Egan, confirming the college's status as independent and secular. Despite this, several sources, including Catholic organizations and directories, still identify the college as Catholic.
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In 1969, Marist College became independent, establishing a board of trustees
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The Marist Brothers, a Catholic society founded in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in 1816, focused on educational work throughout the world. In 1969, Marist College became independent, establishing a board of trustees. This was an action taken by most religious colleges in New York in the late 1960s to ensure state and federal aid.
The college's promotional materials and website now claim it to be an "independent, liberal arts college." However, the college's status remained unclear for some time, partly because college officials were careful not to distance themselves too much from the Catholic Church. The college retained a few Marist brothers on the faculty and staff, offered a Catholic Studies minor, and sponsored lectures by prominent Catholics. Several sources continued to identify the college as Catholic. These included the Official Catholic Directory, the websites of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the National Catholic College Admission Association, and the Diocese of Brooklyn. Catholic college directories compiled by Paulist Press and CollegeProfiles.com also listed Marist as Catholic.
The confusion ended in 2005 when the Catholic Church declared Marist a secular institution. In a letter dated May 2, Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director of the Archdiocese of New York, confirmed on behalf of Cardinal Edward Egan that "Marist College is no longer a Catholic institution." This was in response to a protest by the Cardinal Newman Society, an organization that aims to ensure Catholic colleges are faithful to their Catholic identity, against the college's selection of pro-abortion New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as its commencement speaker.
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The Archdiocese of New York declared Marist College no longer a Catholic institution in 2005
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The Marist Brothers, a Catholic society founded in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in 1816, focused on educational work throughout the world. In 1969, Marist College established an independent board of trustees, an action taken by most religious colleges in New York in the late 1960s to ensure state and federal aid.
In 2005, the Archdiocese of New York declared Marist College "no longer a Catholic institution" and therefore not under the Church's jurisdiction. This was in response to the college's selection of pro-abortion New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as the commencement speaker. Spitzer is a public advocate of abortion rights who recently harassed 34 pro-life pregnancy centers in New York, issuing subpoenas based on abortion advocates' claims that the centers were unlicensed and deceptive.
The Cardinal Newman Society, an organization that aims to ensure Catholic colleges are faithful to their Catholic identity, objected to the college's decision in a letter to the Archdiocese of New York. In response, Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director of the Archdiocese of New York, confirmed on behalf of Cardinal Edward Egan that "Marist College is no longer a Catholic institution." Zwilling wrote, "The president of Marist College, Dr. Dennis Murray, has assured us that Marist College is truly independent and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way."
While the college has claimed to be independent and no longer Catholic, it retains a few Marist brothers on the faculty and staff, offers a Catholic Studies minor, and sponsors lectures by prominent Catholics. Several sources, including the Official Catholic Directory and the websites of Catholic college associations, still identify the college as Catholic. However, Zwilling stated that Marist College would not be included in future editions of the Official Catholic Directory.
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The Marist Brothers is an international community of Catholic religious institutes of brothers
The Marist Brothers, commonly known as the Marist Brothers of the Schools, is an international community of Catholic religious institutes of brothers. The Marist Brothers was founded in 1817 by Marcellin Champagnat, a Marist priest from France. The goal of the Marist Brothers is to educate young people, especially the most neglected. While most of the brothers work in schools, others work with young people in parishes, religious retreats, spiritual accompaniment, at-risk youth settings, young adult ministry, and overseas missions. The Marist Brothers is organised into 26 provinces and 5 districts, with multiple provinces within a country depending on the extent of ministries within that country. For example, Brazil has three provinces and two districts, and Australia has two provinces and two districts.
The Marist Brothers is a branch of the Society of Mary (Latin: Societas Mariæ), also known as the Marists. The Society of Mary is a Catholic religious congregation of pontifical right, founded in Cerdon, France, by Jean-Claude Colin. The Society of Mary is made up of several branches (fathers, brothers, sisters, third order), with each branch being independent of one another. The "Marist Fathers" were founded by Jean-Claude Colin and approved by Rome on April 29, 1836, the same day as the Society of Mary itself. The Marist Fathers are religious who have received priestly ordination and live in community. They are educators and missionaries, and their mission is to announce the gospel and celebrate the sacraments.
The Marist Brothers have been involved in various educational and missionary works around the world. In France, they undertook mission work in various centres and entered the field of secondary or "college" education. They also assumed the direction of diocesan seminaries and held professorships in Catholic universities. Outside of France, the Marists have been involved in missionary work in Oceania, including New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), Marshall Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Caroline Islands. They have also established schools and other institutions in various countries, including Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, which was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers.
However, it is important to note that there have been several instances of sexual abuse within Marist-run institutions reported in Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In recent years, there has also been controversy surrounding Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, with the Archdiocese of New York declaring that the college "is no longer a Catholic institution" due to its selection of a pro-abortion commencement speaker and its claim of being an "independent, liberal arts college".
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The Society of Mary, better known as the Marists, is a Catholic religious congregation
The Marists were founded with the goal of educating young people, especially the most neglected. The congregation is involved in various ministries, including schools, parishes, religious retreats, spiritual accompaniment, youth work, and overseas missions. They are present in multiple countries and have established educational institutions worldwide.
The Marist Fathers, founded by Jean-Claude Colin, were approved by Rome on the same day as the Society of Mary itself. They are religious priests who live and work in community settings. Their mission includes announcing the gospel and celebrating the sacraments.
The Marist Sisters, founded by Jeanne-Marie Chavoin on 8 December 1824, are contemplative and apostolic nuns. They engage in parish animation, distribution of communion, youth ministry, and more. They are identified by their blue veil.
The Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, founded by Marie-Françoise Perroton, were approved by Rome on 30 December 1931. They are missionary nuns who work closely with people, especially women and children. They wear a white veil and a medal of the Immaculate Conception. Their mission is to live and spread the gospel through their service.
The Marists have had a significant presence in education and social work, with a focus on Catholic values and principles. However, it is important to note that the term "Marist" is also associated with specific educational institutions, such as Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, which was founded by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers but has since become independent and is no longer considered a Catholic institution by the Archdiocese of New York.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Marist University is no longer a Catholic institution. It was founded by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute, in 1905 to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. However, in 1969, it became independent and was later declared a secular institution by the Catholic Church in 2003.
The Archdiocese of New York's declaration that Marist University is no longer a Catholic institution came in response to the university's selection of pro-abortion New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as the commencement speaker in 2008.
The Marist Brothers of the Schools, commonly known as the Marist Brothers, is an international community of Catholic religious institutes of brothers. It was founded in 1817 by Marcellin Champagnat, a Marist priest from France, with the goal of educating young people, especially the most neglected.
