The Catholic identity of such institutions and their participation in the Church's communion is the basis for their relationship with the hierarchy and other Church entities. This relationship is marked by mutual trust, close and consistent cooperation and continuing dialogue. It is not a matter of control, but of the exercise of complementary rights and responsibilities. Catholic colleges and universities enjoy institutional autonomy. While Catholic colleges and universities are to care pastorally for their personnel and students, they are places of higher learning, not centers for prosyletization or religious indoctrination.
Academic freedom is essential to such institutions.
Academic excellence is determined in accordance with the norms and professional standards proper to each discipline. The following are some references to textual language specifically aimed at protecting not only governmental assistance to students but also the federal and state entitlements and benefits that Catholic colleges and universities enjoy as significant participants in U.S. higher education. The relationship of communio. The origin of Catholic universities, freely choosing to incorporate religious values. The chief purpose of the norms.