Michael Brooks
Edgewood College is a Catholic college in Madison, Wisconsin. It is affiliated with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa and follows the Dominican Catholic intellectual tradition. The college has a commitment to teaching and engagement in an educational model that reflects a community of learners. While the college is sponsored by a Catholic organization and upholds Catholic values, it also respects other religious traditions. This has led to some controversy with the Madison Catholic Diocese, which has banned some faculty members from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. Despite this, the college continues to engage in interfaith learning experiences and has recently established a Queer Student Center on campus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of college | Catholic |
| College location | Madison, Wisconsin |
| College size | Small |
| Number of undergraduate students | 1,053 |
| Acceptance rate | 95% |
| Popular majors | Nursing, Business, Biology |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Average starting salary | $56,026 |
| Relationship with the diocese | The Madison Catholic Diocese has "pastoral responsibility" for the college |
| Support from the diocese | The diocese banned two former Edgewood College employees from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches |
| College response to the ban | More than 125 faculty and staff members signed a statement of support for the banned employees |
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What You'll Learn
- The Madison Catholic Diocese banned two Edgewood College employees from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches
- The Bishop of the Madison Diocese has pastoral responsibility for all Catholic institutions in the diocese, including Edgewood College
- The Catholic Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality condemns discrimination against people who are gay, but says that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered
- LGBTQ students at Edgewood College in Madison have their own space on campus
- Edgewood College is a Catholic college in the Dominican tradition
The Madison Catholic Diocese banned two Edgewood College employees from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches
Edgewood College is a Catholic college in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,053 undergraduate students. The college is located next to Lake Wingra and is known for its inquisitive minds and inclusive spirits. It is affiliated with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, a community that affirms its Catholic heritage and respect for other religious traditions.
In December 2012, Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino banned two Edgewood College employees, Sister Maureen McDonnell and Paula Hirschboeck, from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. More than 125 faculty and staff members at Edgewood College signed a statement of support for the two former colleagues. The statement praised Sister Maureen McDonnell for embodying "Edgewood's guiding values of community, partnership, truth, justice, and compassion." It also commended Paula Hirschboeck for her "invaluable" contributions to human rights work and interfaith community building.
The two women were connected to Wisdom's Well, an interfaith spirituality center in Madison. Bishop Morlino alleged that they, along with two others, Beth O'Brien and Sister Lynn Lisbeth, strayed too far from Catholic doctrine. In a memo to priests, he instructed that the four women should not be allowed to preach, lead prayers, hold workshops, or provide spiritual guidance on parish property in the 11-county Madison Diocese. The memo did not cite specific examples of statements or actions by the women that contradicted Catholic doctrine.
The relationship between Edgewood College and the Madison Diocese is marked by ongoing dialogue. The college's spokesman, Ed Taylor, acknowledged the bishop's "pastoral responsibility" for all Catholic institutions in the diocese, including the college.
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The Bishop of the Madison Diocese has pastoral responsibility for all Catholic institutions in the diocese, including Edgewood College
In 2012, more than 125 faculty and staff members at Edgewood College signed a statement of support for two former colleagues, Sister Maureen McDonnell and Paula Hirschboeck, who had been banned by Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. The statement praised Sister Maureen McDonnell for embodying "Edgewood's guiding values of community, partnership, truth, justice and compassion." It also commended Paula Hirschboeck for her contributions to human rights work and interfaith community building.
In 2019, LGBTQ students at Edgewood College in Madison also secured a space of their own on campus after years of lobbying. This development came after the students had previously lost their informal meeting space in the Women and Gender Studies Office about a decade earlier. The Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality condemns discrimination against LGBTQ individuals but characterises "homosexual acts" as "intrinsically disordered." The late Bishop Robert Morlino, former head of the Diocese of Madison, was known for his conservative stance on homosexuality, even linking it to pedophilia in response to the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandals.
In summary, while Edgewood College is a Catholic institution under the pastoral responsibility of the Bishop of the Madison Diocese, it has also been a site of tension and controversy regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ students and the expression of diverse spiritual and religious perspectives.
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The Catholic Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality condemns discrimination against people who are gay, but says that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered
Edgewood College is a Catholic college in Madison, Wisconsin. It is in the Dominican tradition, which emphasizes teaching, listening, prayer, reflection, and dialogue. The college is committed to creating a caring and inclusive community.
In 2012, more than 125 faculty and staff members at Edgewood College signed a statement of support for two former colleagues—a nun and a retired professor of philosophy—who had been banned by Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. The two women were allegedly banned for straying too far from Catholic doctrine.
Madison Catholic Diocese Bishop Robert Morlino has been criticized for his comments on homosexuality. In 2017, an online petition seeking to remove him as bishop garnered over 6,600 signatures. The petition was started by Amelia Royko Maurer, who said that Morlino's attitudes towards the LGBTQ community were bigoted and intolerant. The petition was in response to a newsletter approved by Morlino, which stated that funeral rites "may be denied for manifest sinners" if they would cause "public scandal of the faithful." One of the issues that should be considered, according to the newsletter, was whether "the deceased...was a 'promoter of the gay lifestyle.'".
Following the backlash, the Catholic Diocese of Madison released a series of tweets clarifying its position. One of the tweets stated that "a person's sexual orientation is not, nor are the specific sins we have committed (in and of themselves), a barrier to a Church funeral!" The Diocese of Madison has also established a local chapter of EnCourage, a ministry within the Courage Apostolate, which provides pastoral support for those who experience same-sex attraction through spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and Christian fellowship.
Therefore, while the Catholic Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality may not explicitly condemn discrimination against people who are gay, it does appear to take steps to include and support LGBTQ individuals within the Church. However, it also maintains that homosexual acts are contrary to Catholic doctrine and go against the Church's teachings on homosexuality.
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LGBTQ students at Edgewood College in Madison have their own space on campus
Edgewood College is a Catholic college in the Dominican tradition, located in Madison, Wisconsin. The college is committed to creating a caring and inclusive community for its students. This commitment to inclusivity is reflected in the college's celebration of National Coming Out Day in 2021, which included a Pride Walk and a Pride Picnic.
While I cannot find specific information about a dedicated space for LGBTQ students on campus, Edgewood College's focus on inclusivity and its recognition of the benefits of pets for students' wellbeing suggest that the college strives to create a supportive environment for all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ.
The college's Office of Mission emphasises the importance of interfaith learning experiences, and the college is located in an area that provides a conducive climate for conversation and exploration with people from a variety of spiritual and religious perspectives. The college is also committed to pursuing truth in the service of developing engaged citizens who recognise their calling to create a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world.
Edgewood College's values include truth, compassion, justice, partnership, and community, with a recognition of interdependence with one another and with the world. The college encourages students to become leaders who embrace and reflect the diverse world around them and engage in a lifelong search for truth, both personally and professionally.
The college's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is further demonstrated by its appointment of Dr Milton Javier Bravo as the Vice President for Mission, Values, and Inclusion. In this role, Dr Bravo oversees all institutional efforts that express the Dominican Catholic mission and values of Edgewood College, including ongoing work towards dismantling racism through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Edgewood College is a Catholic college in the Dominican tradition
As a Catholic college in the Dominican tradition, Edgewood College emphasizes the Dominican intellectual tradition, which includes listening, prayer, informed reflection, and engaged dialogue. The college community is committed to values such as truth, compassion, justice, partnership, and community. These values reflect an understanding of interdependence with one another and the world, challenging individuals to build a community where reflection leads to action. The college's St. Joseph Chapel in Regina Hall offers a sacred space for reflection and prayer for all.
The college's educational model reflects a community of learners, attracting faculty and staff who encourage the joy of learning and making connections. The college's mission is to develop engaged citizens who recognize their role in creating a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world. This is achieved through a vigorous study of various disciplines, including the sciences, arts, and humanities, connecting compassionately with others, and engaging with diverse perspectives.
While Edgewood College embraces its Catholic identity, it has faced some challenges regarding the relationship between the college and the Madison Diocese. In 2012, more than 125 faculty and staff members signed a statement of support for two former colleagues who were banned by Bishop Morlino from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. The statement highlighted the individuals' contributions to areas such as human rights work and interfaith community building. Despite this tension, the college spokesperson, Ed Taylor, affirmed that the relationship between the college and the diocese continues to be marked by respectful and meaningful dialogue.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Edgewood College is a private Catholic college located in Madison, Wisconsin. It is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa and follows the Catholic Dominican Tradition.
The Catholic Diocese of Madison has been known to disagree with Edgewood College on certain issues. In 2012, the Bishop of Madison banned two former Edgewood College employees from holding workshops or providing spiritual direction at Catholic churches in the diocese. More recently, the Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality has also been at odds with the college, which now has an LGBTQ+ centre on campus.
The Bishop of the Madison Diocese has "pastoral responsibility" for all Catholic institutions in the diocese, including Edgewood College. While there have been disagreements, a spokesman for the college has stated that the relationship between the college and the diocese continues to be marked by "respectful, meaningful dialogue".
After years of lobbying, LGBTQ+ students at Edgewood College now have their own space on campus. The Diocese of Madison's guidance on homosexuality condemns discrimination against people who are gay, but it also says that "homosexual acts" are "intrinsically disordered".
