Cathal BarryVatican watchdog surveyed the college on its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
The Vice President of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth has rejected a Vatican watchdog’s claim that the college is perceived to be too “clerical”. Prof. Michael Mullaney also denied a claim that the Irish bishops, as the university’s trustees, appeared to have little interest in its mission apart from its service to the seminary.
Prof. Mullaney’s comments come after the publication of a report by AVEPRO, the Holy See’s Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties.
As part of the review, nine full-time faculty members were surveyed about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats concerning the faculty of theology. The report acknowledged that the university was a “rich resource” for the mission of the Church in Ireland and an academic institution of “high quality” theological education that can play a “leading role” in culture and society.
However, the report also outlined a number of the universities “weaknesses” as identified by the faculty. Rejecting the observation in the report that there was “no active interest” among college’s trustees “in the broader mission of the faculty and place of theology in Ireland and third level”, Prof. Mullaney insisted that the trustees get “very regular updates” and are “very interested” in the life of both sides of the college.
“That might be an observation of some but I would be satisfied that the trustees are up to date and interested in the life of the college, not only the seminary but also the Pontifical University,” he said, adding that some bishops very often help the college authorities fundraise abroad.
The review panel also reported “problems in governance” and a “perception, internally and externally” that the university is too “clerical”, with a small number of fulltime lay and female lecturers. Prof. Mullaney, however, said he didn’t “fully share” such an observation.
“I wouldn’t see that as a problem in any way at all. It could be a case that people just aren’t aware of the complexity or variety that’s in place. Maynooth is synonymous with the national seminary and the training of priests and that’s a positive and I wouldn’t apologise for that. That’s one of our strengths,” he said.