President Minnis Brings Catholic Concerns to White House

Sunday, December 15, 2019

President Stephen Minnis speaks from the podium

Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis participated in a briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, December 16.

The president of the college in Atchison, Kansas, and other Catholic leaders brought their policy concerns and asked questions about federal action on issues of importance to Catholics.

“Congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas invited me to participate in this important meeting,” Minnis said. “He indicated that I should come prepared to discuss issues that Catholics — and in my case, Catholics in higher education — care about. Naturally, life issues and religious liberty are top of mind for us.”

Minnis said he focused on three points, and left behind information on each.

First: “Catholics need the freedom to create strong public-service institutions.”

“The Church has built an incredible network of educational, healthcare and social institutions which provide important services to our cities, states and nation,” Minnis said. “But regulations requiring those who serve in the public square to violate their consciences on the right to life and the sanctity of marriage are threatening this important work.”

Second: “Catholic colleges need the freedom to strengthen our communities.”

He said he was particularly concerned that “free college” plans for a government grab of the higher education sector would undermine and ultimately destroy many private faith-based institutions:

  • Students would lose the option of learning within a community of faith.
  • The costs of millions of students would be pushed into the public sector.
  • Many small towns across the country which depend on these schools would be devastated.

Last, Minnis said “Catholics need the right not just to worship but the ‘free exercise of religion,’ allowing us to prepare students for all walks of life. Too often, aggressive secularization and overreach by government and quasi-governmental bodies make it impossible for Catholics to contribute fully.”

This is not the first time President Minnis has been tapped to represent Catholic higher education. He was invited to participate in the U.S. bishops’ Ex Corde Ecclesiae working group and the Vatican’s “Church in America” conference.

“I am honored to be invited but I know that they aren’t inviting me as much as they are acknowledging the national reputation Benedictine College has for our commitment to the faith and to Catholic higher education,” said Minnis. “That Benedictine College is included in opportunities like this is due to our strong faculty, administration and board of directors.”

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is proud to have been named in the Top 10 in the Midwest of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, the best private college in Kansas by The Wall Street Journal, and one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. It has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.

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