Catholic Professors Face Required ‘Loyalty Oaths’

The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops plan to finish what critics deride as a loyalty oath for theology professors at a meeting in Atlanta on Friday.

The policy, tailored to Vatican specifications, will require a Catholic teacher to get the local bishop to sign a document recognizing the instructor’s commitment “to teach authentic Catholic doctrine and to refrain from putting forth as Catholic teaching anything contrary to” official teaching.

The professors are required to receive the approval by June 1, 2002, although some have said they won’t apply. It’s uncertain what penalties those without the approval might face.