The problem lies in two specific documents, however, that have directly cast the American Catholic education system into direct conflict with Rome.

The first is the Land O’Lakes statement of 1967 in which the heads of Catholic universities (in the so-called “Spirit of Vatican II and academic freedom”) essentially committed to the position that any Catholic school head can and should be able to tell his/her local bishop to get stuffed. In clear violation of canon law (teaching authority of the bishops and the Magisterium), these administrators destroyed the authentic Catholic identity of American Catholic Universities (including Notre Dame).

Pope John Paul II responded to this during his papacy in Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990). Ex Corde says, in effect, that Land O’Lakes has no basis in Catholic tradition, doctrine, or canon law. In theory any Catholic administrator pulling this kind of garbage should be removed by his local bishop, but the bishops have been very, very gun-shy about invoking this given that it would result in a massive legal battle.

The best hope for Catholic parents is to check out some of the college guides published by the Cardinal Newman Society or EWTN or another reputable Catholic source. A very few Catholic universities are still authentically Catholic; you owe it to your kids to check them out. Here’s a freebie: University of Dallas.

“But that would be putting the clock back,” gasped the governor. “Have you no idea of progress, of development?”

“I have seen them both in an egg,” said Caspian. “We call it ‘Going Bad’ in Narnia.”

Eight of my nieces and nephews attend the Catholic school in a D.C. suburb which I and my many siblings attended in the 60s and 70s. It was a middle-class neighborhood back then but is a very affluent, upscale area now. Lots of late-model SUVs and BMWs in the parking lot now (my mom’s dented Pontiac station wagon would never blend.) Recently the principal there sent a broadcast cell phone message to school families explaining how important it was to tune in to “President Obama’s Inspiring Speech on Education.” She continues to remind the children to honor Dear Leader Obama on a regular basis. The pastor says nothing.

A word of warning to any non-Catholics who may be considering the writings of the first and second century “Early Church Fathers” like Clement of Rome, Mathetes, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, or Ambrose… to become familiar with these writings is to become Catholic.

“Winning” a game, only to lose one’s soul, renders that win meaningless in the long run.