The Catholic University of America is truly unique insofar as it is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only such institution founded by the United States Bishops. It should exercise a leadership role within Catholic higher education. At the same time, however, all institutions that claim a Catholic character, mission and purpose should validate their claim by the manner in which they exist and fulfill their academic responsibilities.
Academic freedom is essential to Catholic universities.
The Holy Father has recognized that as have the Bishops and those who constitute the Catholic academic community. But every freedom has a corresponding, even logically prior responsibility. Academic freedom is no exception. Freedom is not license to do and to say anything one wants. It is the university's responsibility to demonstrate that intelligibility and a Catholic university's responsibility to do that in the context of the faith by which it is identified as Catholic.