Should Catholic colleges become more secular

I was raised Roman Catholic all my life, but I do not consider myself a religious person. During my college search, I did not seek out Catholic colleges, but rather ones that were small and had amazing communication departments.

I went to public school. In my experience, when people my age asked me where I was looking to go to school and I mentioned Cabrini, they were instantly turned off because of it being a religious institution.

There is a stigma that Catholic colleges force religion down students’ throats and that everyone who goes to one is a “Bible thumper.” However, that is not the case. Here at Cabrini, it is required to take a religious studies course because of the Catholic roots the college has. Even having to take one class on religion can be enough to send prospective students elsewhere.

People also think that they have to be Catholic in order to go to a Catholic college, which is false. Twenty percent of the student body at Cabrini does not identify with a religion.

There is also the stereotype that religious schools are strict. This varies from institution to institution. Cabrini is a relatively young school, which I think makes it less strict than other religious schools when it come to rules that deal with visitation and curfews. Eastern University, our neighbor, is more strict when it comes to their policies. For example, if someone of the opposite sex is over in your room, your feet have to be touching the floor and the door has to be open. The students also have a curfew, unlike Cabrini students.

What people do not know is that everyone who goes to a religious school is not necessarily religious. It is rare that I meet someone who is either majoring or minoring in religious studies. Not everyone on campus goes to mass either.

Personally, I think Catholic colleges are better off slowly moving away, but not totally cutting ties, with their religious roots if they want to continue to grow. Regardless of how much you advertise religious diversity on campus, people will see the religious affiliation and look for a secular school.