Are religiously affiliated law schools obsolete in America? The view of an outsider looking in

St. John's Law Review, Summer 2000 by Lee, Randy

Second, Saul failed because he allowed the self-interests of others to influence his vision of his mission from God. Saul justified his behavior to Samuel by explaining: "In my fear of the people, I did what they said."58 The religiously affiliated law school today might balk at its mission as well, were it to ask: "What will employers, alumni, students, applicants, or even other law schools say?" Yet, such balking can serve religiously affiliated law schools no better than it served Saul. Such schools are not called to see as men see, but as God sees.59 This does not mean that the views of the various constituencies of a religiously affiliated law school do not matter. Certainly, Dean Shaffer has explained persuasively the value of Christians, for example, meeting together to determine God's will.60 The important distinction is that we must listen to these constituencies to help us hear God, rather than listening to them in place of listening to Him. Thus, religiously affiliated law schools must have the courage to seek their mission in the pleasure of God rather than in the pleasure of men.

What then does an outsider have to say about religiously affiliated law schools realizing their mission:

(1) that such schools must be more than kind and accommodating;

(2) that such schools must inspire within their students the recognition of the strength of religious community and the need to be ever growing in such community;

(3) that such schools must remain humble;

(4) that such schools must seek their mission in God's will and not in their own; and

(5) that such schools must take courage in God's grace and not succumb to influences and pressures of this world.

After a moment's reflection on this list, one might well conclude that this outsider has very little to offer on the subject. At best, he is nothing more than the preacher for a traveling salvation show who rolls into town, whips the locals into a religious frenzy, and then leaves them on their own to cope with the realities of daily life. It is one thing to talk faith community and the ignoring of earthly pressures; it is quite another to have to live it and still pay the bills. Yet, if I have learned anything in all my musings on this topic, I have learned this: that we are no more outsiders and insiders than the early Church was made up of "Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [and] free."61 Rather, we are all together children of God.62 What I offer here, I offer not as an outsider really, but as a brother called to a different mission, but still a brother who will suffer when you suffer and rejoice when you rejoice.63 As you seek to realize your mission, I will pray for you, as much as I hope you will pray for me as I seek to realize mine.

1 See Thomas L. Shaffer, The Catholic Tradition, 22 VAL. U. L. REV. 669, 670 (1988).

2 See Robert J. Araujo, S.J., Legal Education and Jesuit Universities: Mission and Ministry of the Society of Jesus?, 37 Loy. L. REV. 245, 249 (1991) (referring to Georgetown's clinical programs).