WANTED: Catholic social teaching

Catholic Social Teaching at Seton Hill University may or may not be appreciated by the students or faculty. Seeing how SHU is a Catholic University, having Catholic Social
Teaching would be expected. However, not everybody seems to find them helpful at all.
Some people may find Catholic Social Teaching helpful in classes dealing with religion, while others may find it helpful in classes and majors. Personally, I believe Catholic Social Teachings are helpful in all majors, even my art therapy major. With Catholic Social Teachings we are able to learn from a broader perspective,” said sophomore Lauren Mayer.

By Shellie Polly

Staff Writer

Catholic Social Teaching at Seton Hill University may or may not be appreciated by the students or faculty. Seeing how SHU is a Catholic University, having Catholic Social
Teaching would be expected. However, not everybody seems to find them helpful at all.
Some people may find Catholic Social Teaching helpful in classes dealing with religion, while others may find it helpful in classes and majors. Personally, I believe Catholic Social Teachings are helpful in all majors, even my art therapy major. With Catholic Social Teachings we are able to learn from a broader perspective,” said sophomore Lauren Mayer.

“I don’t [believe] religion classes should be required unless it has something to do with your major. However, I could understand if it was encouraged as an elective. Catholic Social Teaching classes are creating a bias for everyone to become catholic,” said sophomore Dan Grosso.

Catholic Social Teaching encompass the aspects of the Catholic religion relating to matters dealing with the collective welfare of humanity. Some people believe that in a Catholic school, the professors should be required to bring Catholic Social Teaching into the class room. Others argue that it is not fair to everyone to have to learn that way, especially when Catholic is not their religion. But that leads to the ultimate question, why did they decide to come to a Catholic school?

“I think Catholic Social Teaching is helpful in all classes and all majors. It is based on principles that work, whether you are Catholic or another religion. We all need principles that work, something to follow when we don’t know which way to go,” said sophomore Juliana Cox.

“I think everyone should get an even dose of different religions so that people can make their own decisions about their own religion. Catholic Social Teaching definitely does not apply to every major. I am a math major and I have no idea what religion is brought into the environment, or how it would help me with what I do, major included,” said Grosso.
Some professors find Catholic Social Teaching to be very helpful in any line of work.

“Catholic Social Teaching provides the moral and intellectual justification for placing environmentalism at a center at Seton Hill’s mission,” said Michael Atherton, professor of philosophy and honors program director.

“Catholic Social Teaching can be helpful to some people, and some professors may prefer to use them especially since Seton Hill is a Catholic school. I don’t think Catholic Social Teaching applies to every major necessarily. When I think Catholic Social Teaching I think religion and religion classes are required here, therefore it seems to be forced on us no matter what our religion is,” said senior Matthew Johnson.

Whether you believe in the Catholic faith or are preferably with another religion, SHU is a Catholic University. You aren’t required to be Catholic to be accepted at Seton Hill, however going to a Catholic school suggests some exposure to the Catholic faith.