Ex Corde Ecclesiae II

to be applied concretely at the local and regional levels by Episcopal Conferences and other Assemblies of Catholic Hierarchy

A Catholic University, like every university, is a community of scholars representing various branches of human knowledge. It is dedicated to research, to teaching, and to various kinds of service in accordance with its cultural mission.

A Catholic University, as Catholic, informs and carries out its research, teaching, and all other activities with Catholic ideals, principles and attitudes. It is linked with the Church either by a formal, constitutive and statutory bond or by reason of an institutional commitment made by those responsible for it.

Every Catholic University is to make known its Catholic identity, either in a mission statement or in some other appropriate public document, unless authorized otherwise by the competent ecclesiastical Authority.

4. Catholic teaching and discipline are to influence all university activities, while the freedom of conscience of each person is to be fully respected(46). Any official action or commitment of the University is to be in accord with its Catholic identity.

Freedom in research and teaching is recognized and respected according to the principles and methods of each individual discipline, so long as the rights of the individual and of the community are preserved within the confines of the truth and the common good

. The responsibility for maintaining and strengthening the Catholic identity of the University rests primarily with the University itself.

The identity of a Catholic University is essentially linked to the quality of its teachers and to respect for Catholic doctrine.

All teachers and all administrators, at the time of their appointment, are to be informed about the Catholic identity of the Institution and its implications, and about their responsibility to promote, or at least to respect, that identity.

all Catholic teachers are to be faithful to, and all other teachers are to respect, Catholic doctrine and morals in their research and teaching.

the number of non-Catholic teachers should not be allowed to constitute a majority within the Institution, which is and must remain Catholic.

The education of students is to combine academic and professional development with formation in moral and religious principles and the social teachings of the Church; the programme of studies for each of the various professions is to include an appropriate ethical formation in that profession. Courses in Catholic doctrine are to be made available to all students

In ways consistent with its nature as a University, a Catholic University will contribute to the Church's work of evangelization.

If problems should arise concerning this Catholic character, the local Bishop is to take the initiatives necessary to resolve the matter,

promote the pastoral care of all members of the university community, and to be especially attentive to the spiritual development of those who are Catholics... in order to unite intellectual learning with the religious dimension of life.

All members of the university community are to be invited to assist the work of pastoral ministry, and to collaborate in its activities.

(Cooperation)

Conclusion
a cultural and religious meaning of vital importance because it concerns the very future of humanity.

the task of bringing the message of Christ to man, to society, to the various cultures:

The salvific action of the Church on cultures is achieved, first of all, by means of persons, families and educators... Jesus Christ, our Saviour, offers his light and his hope to all those who promote the sciences, the arts, letters and the numerous fields developed by modem culture.

The Church and the world have great need of your witness and of your capable, free, and responsible contribution.