Opinion ID: 2350429
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Georgetown's Secular Educational Role

Text: Despite its historical identification with the Roman Catholic Church, Georgetown University's professed intention is to provide a secular education, albeit one that is informed by Christian values. Its founder, John Carroll, insisted from the very beginning that the college be open to students of every religious persuasion. Religious belief plays no role in admissions, graduation, class attendance, participation in sports or other student activities, or eligibility for financial aid, placement facilities, awards or honors programs. The Undergraduate Bulletin declares that Georgetown imposes no religious creed on any faculty member or any student, but it expects them to respect the religious convictions of each person. Id. at 1. The University motto is Making of One  Jew and Gentile. Although undergraduate students must attend two courses in the Theology Department, neither need be taught from the Catholic perspective. Faculty members are not required to be Catholic, nor are they asked to propagate the Catholic faith or indoctrinate students with Catholic philosophy.