Eric Langborgh

     Central to the concerns of traditionalists at the school is how the appointment of Vanderhooft to the position of Director of Undergraduate Studies may violate America’s Catholic Bishops’ overwhelming decision last year to enforce the papal directive Ex Corde Ecclesiae. The encyclical implores Catholic institutions of higher learning to stay true to their roots and calls for, among other things, local Bishops to have input into who teaches Catholic theology. There is no evidence that the local archdiocese was consulted on this matter, though Boston College officials deny that the post they say serves only in an "advisory" capacity comes under the encyclical’s umbrella. "Ex Corde Ecclesiae never said anything about non-Catholic professors," asserted BC official spokesman John Dunn.

     "Director of Undergraduate Studies is a position that advises students about courses, how to complete their course requirements in their major," Dunn informed Campus Report. "The controversy that was alleged is simply not a controversy here."

     Theology professor Margaret Schatkin disagrees. As a tenured professor in good standing since 1975 and a devout Lutheran, Schatkin warns, "If you put in the Director of Undergraduate Theology a non-Christian you have legally de-Christianized the school."

     "I care because I’m a Christian," she added, saying that "even a Lutheran shouldn’t be in charge of Catholic theology; a Catholic theologian should direct BC’s undergrads."

     Dunn, though, disputes the claim that Vanderhooft is what Schatkin termed a "functional atheist." "He has informed me that he was baptized in the Christian Reformed Church and that he is still a member," Dunn stated.

     The facts, though, show otherwise, with Vanderhooft’s curriculum vitae being the first clue. Prominently displayed on the resume he submitted to the Theology Department faculty prior to their April 26, 2000 meeting to vote him in as Director of Undergraduate Studies was "Religious Education Instructor at Follen Community Church, Lexington for eighth grade biblical studies class (fall 1997, 1998; winter 1999-2000)." Follen Community Church is a Unitarian-Universalist church in Lexington, Massachusetts.

     Dunn argued that simply teaching a course at a church doesn’t mean you are a member there. Nevertheless, a phone call to Follen Community Church proved that not only does Vanderhoft teach there, but he and his family are listed in the church directory as "part of the congregation" and he is considered a "friend of the church." Furthermore, all Sunday School teachers there "must have approval of the director or minister of religious education," the church receptionist told Campus Report, and they must subscribe to church doctrine.

     Contrary to both the Reformed and Catholic creeds, Unitarian-Universalists are not trinitarians (i.e. they deny the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), they deny the divine and infallible inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and they hold to universal salvation, that is, that anybody can go to heaven and that there are "many valid paths to spirituality." Many same-sex "marriages" have been performed at Follen Community Church since Vanderhooft has been a part of the congregation. Members of the sect don’t necessarily believe in God.

     Vanderhooft has allegedly trashed the Trinity at his first tenure review and characterized the Bible as a human document that had nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. He has refused to answer several calls asking for an explanation.

     According to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, "the objective of a Catholic University is to assure in an institutional manner a Christian presence in the university world confronting society and culture." Among the characteristics a Catholic institution must possess is "Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church."

     Critics contend that a person directing students into theology courses must be faithful to that Catholic message, or else this mission will be neglected and may in fact be actively obstructed. Said Anthony Zisa, a 1998 Boston College graduate in Theology and Psychology, "All of the questions regarding courses and curriculum are referred to the Director." He continued, "the Director plays a major role in the direction the courses that most undergraduate majors take. Many times students get bad advice to take classes with professors who simply were teaching things totally antithetical to the Catholic faith, under the guise that they were giving Catholic teaching."

     Theology professor Lisa Cahill nonetheless sides with the administration. "We do have a lot of people in our department who are not Christians, and what if one of them served for two years [the length of the term] as Director of the undergraduate program? What would be the problem with that?" queried Cahill. "It’s not as if they personally are teaching all the undergraduates or forming the curriculum, or deciding what other people would teach in their class."

     "Quite the contrary," rebutted Schatkin, "it is a very important position with broad, vague, undefined powers. Among the powers are directing the studies of 80 theology majors, most of whom are Roman Catholic."

     Many students agreed. "If I went to a Jewish university to study theology, I would seek the advice of a department head who knows the Hebrew faith forward and backward—someone who’s excited about the ancient and living Torah," concluded David Nix, a former student of Vanderhooft’s and a graduate of Boston College’s Theology program. "I think BC theology owes her students a certain fervency and wisdom surrounding the Catholic faith.  Now, Dr. Vanderhooft is one of the most outstanding professors I’ve had at BC, but he’s definitely not fervent about the Church. I don’t blame him for taking the job; I blame the theology department for consistently being ashamed of the Gospel."