May 2, 2003

'Absurd' Analysis of Catholic Education

To the Editor:

I was startled to read "Catholic Colleges Fail to Impart Church's Teachings, Study's Author Says" (March 21). Patrick J. Reilly's analysis is so patently absurd that for The Chronicle to recognize it seems irresponsible.

Among other things, to gauge undergraduate students' being "closer to Christ" by survey responses to hot-button pelvic issues is unwarranted. At least the story preserved the inherent problem of the inferences drawn from the surveys, noting that