Notre Dame's Personnel Hiring Practices Undermine Its Catholic Identity
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "Why Notre Dame Can’t Stop Stumbling on Abortion | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." March 7, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
Notre Dame keeps getting into trouble for hiring people who don't share Catholic beliefs about abortion and other moral issues. Until they start hiring people who actually believe in Catholic teaching, they'll keep facing these embarrassing controversies.
Conclusion
The University of Notre Dame will continue to face controversies that contradict Catholic teaching until it addresses its fundamental personnel problem of hiring faculty and staff who don't fully embrace Catholic doctrine on life issues
Premises
- Notre Dame repeatedly makes headlines for actions that contradict its Catholic identity, following a predictable pattern
- The Ostermann appointment controversy was resolved only after significant external pressure from bishops, faculty resignations, and student protests
- Previous controversies (Obama 2009, Biden 2016) show the administration only responds to public pressure, not moral principle
- The university reached the right outcome with minimal moral courage, suggesting they lack genuine commitment to Catholic teaching
- Notre Dame continues to hire faculty and staff who view abortion as a matter of scholarly debate rather than a fundamental life-and-death moral issue
- This personnel problem has significantly damaged Notre Dame's public reputation, especially among Catholics who support the university
Assumptions
- Catholic universities should hire personnel who fully embrace Catholic teaching on moral issues
- A university's Catholic identity should be reflected in its hiring decisions and leadership appointments
- Faculty who view abortion as debatable rather than morally wrong are incompatible with authentic Catholic education
- External pressure should not be necessary for a Catholic institution to make decisions aligned with Catholic teaching
- Personnel decisions are the primary driver of institutional culture and public perception