James Joyner has opened the proverbial can of worms in relation to a Northern Virginia college (Patrick Henry College) that caters to home schooled students. In clarifying his position he reopens the debate.

As a graduate of a Catholic university I was curious to see how the Christian charter of PHC differed from traditional Catholic universities.

I went to my alma matter, University of San Diego, to see how they define the relationship between The Catholic Church and the Univerity:

Academic freedom requires that the governance of a Catholic university remain autonomous so that the institution may function effectively. As part of this fundamental commitment to academic freedom there is a responsibility to recognize that the University of San Diego is a Catholic university committed therefore to Catholic principles and values. This places no obligation on faculty, administration, or staff members with regard to their personal beliefs or religious practices, nor does it prevent the statement of personal views which may differ from those held by the Catholic Church. All are, however, in their capacity as University employees, expected to respect Catholicism, just as the University respects the religious traditions, the freedom of conscience, and the religious liberty of each member of its academic community.

As is true of most Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, the University of San Diego campus community includes many administrators, faculty, and staff from varied religious traditions. Catholics and non-Catholics alike have made and continue to make significant and valuable contributions to fostering the identity and mission of the University. Those members of the academic community whose traditions are rooted in the Book of Mormon, Qur'an, New Testament and/or the Hebrew Scriptures, find areas of emphasis which are familiar to them and with which they agree. Moreover, those who profess other religions or no particular faith also have found areas of agreement. Experience has shown that in a Catholic university people can share educational ideals and values without necessarily sharing religious beliefs. What the University of San Diego seeks in faculty, administrators, and staff who form its academic community is that all bear the professional responsibility to recognize and respect its Catholic identity, and to understand and foster its mission and goals.

The College is, and shall always remain, a Christian institution dedicated to bringing honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ in all of its activities. Each Trustee, officer, faculty member and student of the College, as well as such other employees and agents of the College as may be specified by resolution of the Board of Trustees, shall fully and enthusiastically subscribe to the following Statement of Faith:

There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is God come in the flesh.

The Bible in its entirety (all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the inspired word of God, inerrant in its original autographs, and the only infallible and sufficient authority for faith and Christian living.

Man is by nature sinful and is inherently in need of salvation, which is exclusively found by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His shed blood.

Christ's death provides substitutionary atonement for our sins.

Personal salvation comes to mankind by grace through faith.

Jesus Christ literally rose bodily from the dead.

Jesus Christ literally will come to earth again in the Second Advent.

Satan exists as a personal, malevolent being who acts as tempter and accuser, for whom Hell, the place of eternal punishment, was prepared, where all who die outside of Christ shall be confined in conscious torment for eternity.

Creation. Any biology, Bible or other courses at PHC dealing with creation will teach creation from the understanding of Scripture that God's creative work, as described in Genesis 1:1-31, was completed in six twenty-four hour days. All faculty for such courses will be chosen on the basis of their personal adherence to this view. PHC expects its faculty in these courses, as in all courses, to expose students to alternate theories and the data, if any, which support those theories. In this context, PHC in particular expects its biology faculty to provide a full exposition of the claims of the theory of Darwinian evolution, intelligent design and other major theories while, in the end, teach creation as both biblically true and as the best fit to observed data.