Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, expressed his pleasure at the overwhelming passage of Ex Corde Ecclesiae (From the heart of the Church), proposed norms for Catholic higher education in the United States. Catholic bishops voted 223 to 31 (one absention) to approve the document at the 58th general meeting of the National Conference of Cathplic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC) meeting in Washington, DC. The document will now go to the Vatican for approval by Pope John Paul II.

Cardinal Bevilacqua, who chaired a Sub-Committee of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Implementation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, said "This is a win-win situation for everyone: for our Catholic colleges and universities, for our Catholic students and their parents, and for the Church. This is a teaching document which will enhance all Catholic colleges and universities."

"It provides for relationship, but not intrusion," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "The document helps to solidify and strengthen the relationship between Catholic universities and colleges and their local bishops. It says that theologians teaching at Catholic colleges and universities must be in unity with Catholic Church teaching. It supports true academic freedom for teachers of theology. They can still express personal opinions, but must clearly qualify them as such. Ultimately, Ex Corde will assist the Catholic colleges and universities in their mission of promoting their Catholic identity."

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Editor's note: More information on the Bishops' Conference and the text of the document can be found on the NCCB/USCC web site at www.nccb/uscc.org.

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