Bishop Rhoades Voices Strong Opposition to Notre Dame's Appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann Over Pro-Abortion Advocacy
Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend has publicly expressed strong opposition to the University of Notre Dame's appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann as the director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. The controversy centers on Ostermann's vocal pro-abortion advocacy and her public statements linking the pro-life movement to misogyny and white supremacy. Bishop Rhoades contends that these views fundamentally contradict Notre Dame's Catholic identity and mission, potentially causing scandal among the faithful. Consequently, the bishop has urged the university administration to rescind the appointment unless Professor Ostermann publicly retracts her controversial advocacy.
22 days ago
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend issued a statement on February 11 expressing "dismay" and "strong opposition" to the University of Notre Dame's appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.1 2 3 4
He argued her pro-abortion advocacy and criticism of pro-life advocates create scandal and contradict Notre Dame's Catholic mission.1 3
Rhoades cited Ex Corde Ecclesiae, urging the university to rescind the appointment before its July 1 effective date.1 3 6
Notre Dame announced Ostermann's appointment on January 8, naming the global affairs professor to lead the Liu Institute within the Keough School.1 3 6
Ostermann specializes in regulatory compliance and South Asia politics.3 6
The decision sparked controversy due to her public pro-abortion stance, drawing criticism from pro-life students and Catholic advocates.1 5 6
Ostermann has co-authored op-eds calling abortion restrictions rooted in "white supremacy and racism" and linking them to misogyny.1 3 6
She argued Catholic "integral human development" supports abortion for women's flourishing and described early abortions as not involving "babies."3 6
She consults for the Population Council, which promotes abortion globally, including ties to China's policies.3
Notre Dame defended Ostermann as a "highly regarded political scientist" qualified for the role, stating leaders must align decisions with its Catholic mission.1 2 5
The university reaffirmed its 2010 commitment to life's sanctity from conception to natural death.6
As of February 8, it had not changed its position despite backlash.5
Two scholars resigned from the Liu Institute: Robert Gimello called association "unconscionable," and Diane Desierto cut ties.1 2
Notre Dame Right to Life students, including a China adoptee, demanded rescission, citing real-life impacts.5 6
Ostermann stated she respects the university's pro-life position and focuses on research support.5
Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila called the appointment a tarnish on Notre Dame's Catholic identity.5
Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert Barron endorsed Rhoades, noting Ostermann's sharp attacks on pro-life views.5
Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson supported Rhoades' pastoral role and urged reconsideration.5
Rhoades invoked papal teachings, including Pope Francis on false compassion and Pope Leo XIV on life's primacy.3
He distinguished academic freedom from leadership roles impacting Catholic witness.3 6
While no mandatum is required for non-theologians, Ex Corde Ecclesiae affirms bishops' duty to safeguard university Catholic identity.6
Catholic universities must safeguard doctrine when appointing leaders
Catholic universities play a vital role in the Church's mission of evangelization and the pursuit of truth, but this mission demands unwavering fidelity to Catholic doctrine, especially in the appointment of leaders such as rectors, presidents, and key administrators. Church teachings, from the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae to the Code of Canon Law, mandate that these institutions maintain their Catholic identity through rigorous standards for those in leadership, ensuring they exemplify doctrinal integrity and moral probity. Bishops bear particular responsibility for oversight, intervening when necessary to preserve this character amid contemporary challenges.
At the core of a Catholic university's mission is its communion with the universal Church and the Holy See, as well as close ties to the local Church and its bishops. Ex Corde Ecclesiae articulates that every Catholic university must contribute to the Church's evangelization while preserving its Catholic character. This identity is not optional but essential, requiring leaders who actively uphold it. Pope John Paul II emphasized that bishops have a "particular responsibility to promote Catholic Universities, and especially to promote and assist in the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic identity." Leaders appointed without regard for this could undermine the institution's purpose, turning it into a secular entity rather than a beacon of Christian wisdom.
The norms extend to governance: universities established or approved by ecclesiastical authority must incorporate these principles into their statutes, submitting them for approval. For leaders, this means selection processes that prioritize not only academic excellence but alignment with the faith, as failure to do so risks diluting the "institutional commitment to the word of God as proclaimed by the Catholic Church."
The Code of Canon Law provides clear directives for safeguarding doctrine in higher education. Canon 810 §1 stipulates that the competent authority—typically the university's governing board or statutes-defined body—must ensure teachers (and by extension, leaders who oversee teaching) are appointed only if they possess "scientific and pedagogical qualifications" alongside "integrity of doctrine and probity of life," with removal if these falter. Conferences of bishops and diocesan bishops hold the "duty and right of being watchful" to ensure Catholic doctrine is faithfully observed.
This vigilance applies directly to leadership appointments, as leaders shape hiring, curriculum, and institutional ethos. Canon 809 urges bishops' conferences to foster universities where disciplines are taught "in light of Catholic doctrine," preserving academic autonomy while subordinating it to faith. Non-compliance invites episcopal intervention, aligning with Ex Corde Ecclesiae's call for bishops to resolve issues concerning Catholic character "working with the competent university authorities... and, if necessary, with the help of the Holy See."
Bishops are not external overseers but integral participants in Catholic university life. Pope John Paul II repeatedly stressed their "grave responsibility" to strengthen Catholic identity, sometimes through direct governance or indirectly via religious and lay collaborators. In addresses to U.S. bishops, he warned against "false dichotomies between... academic freedom and the demands of Catholic identity," insisting the entire academic community—including leaders—embrace Church teaching in scholarship, conduct, and student formation.
This oversight ensures leaders model "intellectual integrity and principled conduct," countering risks where doctrinal lapses could erode evangelization. Periodic reporting to bishops reinforces accountability. Recent papal reflection from Pope Leo XIV echoes this, portraying Catholic education as a "laboratory of discernment" faithful to the Gospel amid modern crises like digital fragmentation.
Popes have consistently linked leadership fidelity to the university's broader service. In 1998, John Paul II told the Congregation for Catholic Education that bishops must guide universities in their "ecclesial nature," ensuring leaders foster not just technical skills but "human fulfilment and... witness to the Gospel." He reiterated the challenge of preserving Catholic character as paramount.
Even ecclesiastical universities, under Sapientia Christiana, demand unified standards for degrees and doctrine, allowing local adaptations but not compromising essentials. Pope Leo XIV's address at the Pontifical Lateran University highlights historic papal bonds ensuring formation aligns with Petrine authority. Collectively, these affirm that appointing doctrinally sound leaders is non-negotiable for fulfilling the Church's educational mandate.
While sources affirm these principles, implementation varies by region, with episcopal conferences adapting norms locally. Controversies arise when civil laws or internal pressures challenge Catholic identity, yet bishops' role prevails, as in Ex Corde Ecclesiae's call for civil protection of these rights. Pope John Paul II urged U.S. bishops to offer "fraternal correction" when needed. Today, amid secularization, leaders must navigate hyper-digitalization and relational crises without diluting doctrine, as Pope Leo XIV urges "choreographers of hope" prioritizing relationships and Gospel fidelity.
In summary, Catholic universities must rigorously safeguard doctrine in appointing leaders through statutory rigor, episcopal vigilance, and fidelity to canon law and papal norms. This ensures they remain vital to the Church's mission, forming minds and hearts for the New Evangelization. Failure risks institutional drift, but faithful adherence promises enduring witness.