Catholic Institute of Technology

Looks like a new school has opened in Rome, Italy, with a connection to Massachusetts, USA:

The Catholic Institute of Technology

https://catholic.tech/

From their website:

“An American university located in the scenic Alban Hills of Castel Gandolfo, CatholicTech is a leading institution for scientific research and technical education.”

 

Has a few clergy involved supposedly but I didn't see any particular endorsements by the Catholic Church for such a lofty venture, only found this:

https://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/catholic-colleges-universities/member.html?id=2020

 

I also wonder about that address. Seems unlikely the university is on Papal property: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Via+Santa+Caterina,+2,+00040+Castel+Gandolfo+RM,+Italy/@41.7451596,12.6446175,14z/data=!4m14!1m8!3m7!1s0x13258597cde16bf3:0x55e22d569957c7cb!2sVia+Santa+Caterina,+2,+00040+Castel+Gandolfo+RM,+Italy!3b1!8m2!3d41.7451278!4d12.6446544!10e5!3m4!1s0x13258597cde16bf3:0x55e22d569957c7cb!8m2!3d41.7451278!4d12.6446544?entry=ttu

 

And this cancelled event:

https://web.cvent.com/event/4b958d5f-16ee-4d73-a8f3-be2a3e9c49f6/summary

 

It looks like a mock off CalTech.

 

If they had any such endorsements, we'd see them - plainly. They'd make sure of that.
But they talk a good line... this, direct from the site.

"We aspire to be a community of saints, scholars, and scientists who are equipped to serve the Church and society through research and work that is informed by faith, reason, and virtue.

As we uphold the undeniable compatibility between reason and revelation, we remain faithful to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church and to Our Lord, who is Truth Himself."

"We aspire to be a community of saints?" That's an extremely forward-looking statement, no?

 

Actually, I do not believe one can set up a "Catholic" institution of higher learning presumably abutting or on Vatican property without some sort of patronage from the Catholic hierarchy. For example:

For example The Catholic University of the Americas:

"Our university was founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States, with a charter from then Pope Leo XIII, to be the national university of the Catholic Church in America."

So it would be very odd for Catholic Tech to have no Vatican, Archodiocese or Order sponsoring it.

This is true of even upstart Ave Maria University:

"In 2003, by decree of Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, AMU became the first new Catholic university since 1963"

 

Well, here's at least SOMEthing akin to Church approval. The President of Catholic Institute of Technology is Bishop Arthur Kennedy. I got that from here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-institute-of-technology. Will that do? Being an atheist, myself, I'm not too conversant with the rules.

More on Bishop Kennedy here. The Pope accepted his resignation as auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, due to age, (75) in 2017.
https://www.thebostonpilot.com/articleprint.asp?id=179681

 

No mention of accreditation? Does using the word "catholic" and appointing a former Bishop as president give them a pass?

 

Definitely not. Would you believe I saw the "Catholic" and didn't even look for accreditation. I think that's what they're hoping for. I can hardly believe I fell for it. Thanks, Jon, for pointing it out.

EDIT. I just saw the tuition. $47K a year. That's high for an accredited school, which this doesn't seem to be. I think new schools have to be in operation 2 years before they can apply for accreditation - but I feel ALL should at least state whether or not they are accredited. Not a word either way, anywhere on the site.

 

This school says flat-out it's an American University. Then it should have, or plan to seek, American Accreditation. I don't see any (thanks again, @jonlevy ) I'm thinking maybe they've got a license as a private university in Italy - which would give their degrees legality but not anything significant in the way of standing or recognition. I'm not asking by email - I don't want to ask this type of question and be on their enemy list forever.

 

Massachusetts (the school's US location) is NOT a Religious exemption State. I don't think the Church would allow use of the exemption even if it were available. This is really fishy.

And they're talking many STEM degrees and serious research. That's a MAJOR investment of money. How?

 

WHOIS: Privacy screen. Not a good sign. No info on who set it up. Date was 5/23/23.

No contact names. Mailing address is simply "Southern Ontario." - Coincidence - that's where I live. And 12.78 million others.

This is totally bogus. Thanks for the red flag, Jon.

 

So just to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together in a single sentence: we have an American university in Rome, virtually operated out of Southern Ontario?

I think we should throw in a Spanish, Nicaraguan, Czech, or Slovak connection for good measure. Or maybe even find a UN treaty to turn this into an intergovernmental university!

 

I'm guessing Southern Ontario is where the domain service provider who provides their privacy screen operates, and that part is innocuous. The project has published street addresses and published names of real people involved.

 

So, in your opinion, Jonathan - is this an honest-and-above-board educational enterprise? One that has the demonstrable approval of the Roman Catholic Church? Do you see any evidence?

 

I'm beginning to wonder if these people are aware of that. And it's easy to publish the street address of a mail-drop. Sometimes these street addresses of "schools" lead to post-boxes, some to farmhouses, some to file-drawers of incorporation documents in a lawyer's office, a small broom-closet size "office" -- one I remember in Seborga led to a wine cellar!

"It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." (Shakespeare's Macbeth.)

 

It's a new startup, and some approvals take time. Is it a legitimate new startup or not? I'm reserving judgment pending more information.

 

I'm thinking it might because Magisterium AI is located in Toronto. That firm appears to be associated in some way with this University. An Italian cleric who is an AI researcher and a Professor at a Pontifical University has been contributing to Catholic Tech's Research Ethics committee.

No more detective work. No Scotch bottle in the drawer for twenty years. Wore out my pork-pie hat. Turned in the .32 in an "amnesty" program. It's 8:10 am - Jimmy Smith's "The Cat" is on the jazz station and I'm feelin' good. Enjoy your day.

@Jonathan Whatley - I hope I'm totally wrong on this and they turn out to be a wonder-school! Good luck.