Michael Brooks
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. In 1969, due to the college's rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State, ownership was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees. However, the college's status remained unclear, with the college retaining some Marist Brothers on its faculty and staff, offering a Catholic Studies minor, and sponsoring lectures by prominent Catholics. In 2003, the Catholic Church officially declared Marist College a secular institution, emphasizing its independence and separation from the Catholic Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Marist College stopped being Catholic | 2003 |
| Who declared Marist College secular | The Catholic Church |
| Marist College's current status | Independent, liberal arts college |
| Year Marist College became independent | 1969 |
| Reason for Marist College's independence | Rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State |
| Marist College's current president | Kevin Weinman |
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What You'll Learn
Marist College's independence was emphasised in 2003
Marist College was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The college was established to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. In 1969, due to the college's rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State, ownership of the college was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees.
However, Marist College's independence was not emphasised until 2003. This was when the college invited New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class. This decision led to protests from the Cardinal Newman Society, an organisation that works to ensure Catholic colleges remain faithful to their Catholic identity. In response to the complaints, then-president Murray assured the Archdiocese of New York that "Marist College is truly independent, and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way." Subsequently, Cardinal Edward Egan stated that Marist "is no longer a Catholic institution" and therefore not under the Church's jurisdiction.
The Catholic Church's declaration of Marist as a secular institution was significant because, according to a 1990 document, local bishops have the responsibility of determining whether colleges can be labelled as Catholic. Colleges established before 1990 that were historically Catholic are considered Catholic until a bishop declares otherwise. Despite the college's shift towards independence and secularism, it retained a few Marist brothers on its faculty and staff, offered a Catholic Studies minor, and sponsored lectures by prominent Catholics.
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The college's Catholic identity
Marist College was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers, a Catholic society founded in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in 1816. The college was established to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. In 1969, due to the college's rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State, ownership of the college was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees. This was done by most religious colleges in New York at the time to ensure state and federal aid.
In 2003, the Catholic Church declared Marist a secular institution. This was emphasized when the college invited New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class. In response to complaints, then-president Murray assured the Archdiocese of New York that "Marist College is truly independent, and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way." Subsequently, the Archdiocese of New York declared that Marist "is no longer a Catholic institution" and therefore not under the Church's jurisdiction.
Despite this, the college retains a few Marist brothers on its faculty and staff, offers a Catholic Studies minor, and sponsors lectures by prominent Catholics. The college's core values of excellence in education, a sense of community, and a commitment to service also remain.
While Marist College has evolved into a nationally and internationally renowned leader in higher education, its Catholic identity has been an integral part of its history and development. The college's independence and secular status reflect the changing landscape of education and the need to adapt to modern times.
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Marist College's status as a secular institution
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The college was established to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. However, in 1969, due to the college's rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State, ownership of the college was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees. This move towards independence was further emphasised in 2003 when the college invited New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class. This decision led to protests from the Cardinal Newman Society, an organisation that works to ensure Catholic colleges remain faithful to their Catholic identity.
In response to the controversy, then-president Murray asserted the college's independence from the Catholic Church, stating that "Marist College is truly independent and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way." This declaration was significant, as it invoked Pope John Paul II's decree Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which states that all colleges claiming to be Catholic before 1991 would be considered Catholic until declared otherwise by a bishop. As a result, Cardinal Edward Egan affirmed that Marist College was "no longer a Catholic institution" and therefore outside the Church's jurisdiction.
While the college has retained some ties to the Catholic Church, such as offering a Catholic Studies minor and sponsoring lectures by prominent Catholics, its promotional materials and website now describe it as an "independent, liberal arts college." This shift reflects the college's desire to distance itself from its Catholic roots and embrace a more secular identity.
Today, Marist College is a private, independent, four-year institution known for its comprehensive educational approach that blends liberal arts with pre-professional studies. With its main campus in Poughkeepsie, New York, and a branch campus in Florence, Italy, Marist offers its students a unique educational experience that combines the resources and opportunities of a large university with the personalised attention of a small college.
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The Catholic Church's declaration
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The college was established as a seminary and maintained its Catholic identity for several years. However, in 1969, due to rapid expansion and laws regulating federal aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions in New York State, ownership of the college was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation, with an independent, predominantly lay board of trustees.
Despite this change, the college's status remained unclear, as college officials refrained from creating too much distance between the college and the Catholic Church. In 2003, the Catholic Church officially declared Marist College a secular institution, ending the confusion surrounding its religious affiliation. This declaration came in response to protests against the college's invitation to New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class.
Following the protests, then-president Dr. Dennis Murray assured the Archdiocese of New York that "Marist College is truly independent and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way." Subsequently, Cardinal Edward Egan confirmed this stance, stating that Marist College "is no longer a Catholic institution" and is therefore outside the Church's jurisdiction. This clarification marked a significant shift for the college, which had been associated with the Catholic Church since its founding.
While the college has evolved independently, it still retains some connections to its Catholic roots. For instance, the college continues to offer a Catholic Studies minor and sponsors lectures by prominent Catholics. Additionally, several sources, including the Official Catholic Directory and websites of Catholic educational organizations, still identified Marist College as a Catholic institution prior to the Church's declaration in 2003. Nonetheless, with the Church's official statement, Marist College's transition to a secular institution was confirmed, reflecting its independence from religious affiliation.
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The college's promotional materials and website
The colleges promotional materials and website:
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, was founded in 1946 by the Catholic order of Marist Brothers. The college's promotional materials and website now claim it is an "independent, liberal arts college". This change in identity occurred in 2003 when the Catholic Church declared Marist a secular institution.
The college's independence was emphasised in 2003 when it invited New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class. This led to protests and complaints from the Archdiocese of New York, to which the then-president of Marist, Dr Dennis Murray, responded:
> Marist College is truly independent, and does not identify itself as a Catholic college in any way.
The promotional materials can also emphasise the college's beautiful and modern campus, which is located on the banks of the Hudson River and includes a branch campus in Florence, Italy. The website invites prospective students to experience our beautiful, riverfront campus firsthand at one of the Fall Open Houses. It also mentions the tremendous experience of its faculty, many of whom are still active in their respective fields.
Overall, the colleges' promotional materials and website can present Marist as a comprehensive, independent, four-year institution that offers a unique blend of liberal arts and pre-professional studies, with a focus on experiential learning and a commitment to academic excellence. While acknowledging its history and core values, the college can emphasise its independence from the Catholic Church and its inclusive nature, welcoming students and faculty of all faiths.
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Frequently asked questions
Marist College became independent in 1969 when ownership was transferred from the Marist Brothers to the Marist College Educational Corporation.
Although Marist College became independent in 1969, it was still considered Catholic until 2003 when the Catholic Church declared it a secular institution.
Marist College invited New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a public supporter of abortion rights, to deliver the commencement address for the graduating class in 2003. This led to protests and complaints, which resulted in the Archdiocese of New York declaring that the college was "no longer a Catholic institution."
