Abbey loses ^Nullius^ status;
Cathedral now Abbey Church
February. 1977 - ( KOSSROADS - Page Three
Belmont Abbey has lost its long-standing
historical status of “nullius.”
Belmont Abbey had been a separate diocese in
North Carolina since it was founded over one
hundred years ago. However, as of January 1,
1977, Belmont Abbey Nullius ceased to exist and
has been incorporated in to the Diocese of
Charlotte.
In its former status Belmont Abbey was a
diocese in itself, administered over by the local
ordinary. He had jurisdiction over all the Abbey
property. Abbots were able to control their area
like a bishop, except the only difference between
himself and a bishop was that the Abbot did not
have the power to ordain priests.
The status, however, was no longer deemed
necessary when Abbot Jude Cleary, O.S.B., was
installed. The title Abbey Nullius was more of a
traditional, historical name, and in actuality the
status had evolved into insignificance.
In the beginning. Abbot Leo Haid, O.S.B., the
first Abbot of Belmont Abbey when it was called
Mary, Help of Christians Abbey, was both abbot
and bishop for the entire state of North Carolina.
He was the first and at the time the only bishop in
this state.
The Raleigh diocese was formed in 1924
covering the eastern half of the state. Therefore,
when Abbot Vincent Taylor succeeded Abbot
Haid, he was the ordinary for the Abbey property
and several surrounding counties. When Abbot
Walter Coggin became abbot in 1960, his territory
was reduced to the grounds of the college. The
Diocese of Charlotte was founded in 1972.
Through the years, the status was losing its
purpose. When Abbot Edmund McCafferey was
elected, there were doubts if the status would be
continued. It was, however, and upon the con
firmation of Abbot Jude, the Church authorities
relinquished the status, and he was approved
“abbot normal.”
The nullius status was allowed to be continued
until the end of the Abbey’s centenniel year.
The abbot now has no territorial jurisdiction.
The Catholic students on campus are now under
Bishop Michael Begley and the Diocesa of
Charlotte.
Abbot Jude remains the personal superior of the
monks who are exempt from the direct authority
of the bishop. The change will not affect th6 daily
lives of the monks.
One marked change that will be difficult to
adjust to is that the Abbey Cathedral is no longer
called a cathedral. Now that the seat of the local
ordinary has been removed, it should be properly
referred to as the Abbey Church. It is not a parish
church, but a church attached to a religious
community.
All Catholic students on campus are in actuality
part of the parish of Queen of Apostles in Belmont,
and any marriage rites or baptisms must be
processed through the pastor there.
/J
THE ABBEY CHURCH stands here in the cold
afternoon. When the Abbey lost its nullius status,
the former cathedral also lost its name.
‘Lion in Winter’ will be
presented, March 11-15
“The Lion In Winter,” a
dramatic production written by
James Goldman, will be
presented March 11-15 at St.
Leo’s Little Theater at Belmont
Abbey College.
Bro. Simon Donoghue, O.S.B.
is director of the first of two
planned spring productions by
the Abbey Players.
The seven-member cast is
composed of Chuck Downing, a
Junior, as King Henry II of
England, Amanda Cleveland as
Eleanor of Quitaine, and Tim
Dwyer, Beth Bunker, Chris
Whalen, Paul Veltri, and Bro.
Robert Hagan, O.S.B.
The story of political intrigue
begins on Christmas Eve, 1183,
when Henry II and Eleanor
meet with their children to
decide who the next king of
England will be. Henry II and
Eleanor each favor a different
son, and the play deals with the
conflicts that result.
The witty, black comedy will
be the third Abbey Players
production of 1976-77. Ad
mission for students is $1.00,
others, $2.00.
Parents Weekend set for
second weekend in March
Belmont Abbey College is
formulating plans for a
“Parents’ Weekend” March Il
ls.
The weekend will include
festivities intended to
familiarize students’ parents
with campus activities. It will
also allow parents an op
portunity to visit their son or
daughter on campus.
Planners Dean Landrum
Cross and a student committee
under the direction of Mary
Jane Forster, a senior, are
hoping for a successful
weekend.
Tentatively, registration will
begin Friday, March 11 at the
Holiday Inn on Little Rock
Road, Charlotte, where the
college, has reserved a block of
rooms for parents. That
evening, a cocktail party and
dinner are planned to take place
at the Holiday Inn.
On Saturday morning,
parents, school officials, and
faculty will meet to discuss
curricula and other matters. At
1 p.m. a buffet luncheon will be
served in the Maurus Dining
Hall. Saturday afternoon is
unstructured to allow parents
free time to tour the campus or
visit with the students.
All campus facilities such as
the pool and tennis courts will
be open for use.
On Saturday evening plans
call for a school play and a
semiformal dance in the Haid.
The dance will be open to all
students, parents, and invited
guests. A band will be provided
by the College Union.
On Sunday morning plans
include breakfast in the dining
hall and Mass in the Abbey
Cathedral. Letters of invitation
are currently being sent to all
parents of Abbey students.
Cost for the weekend will be
$15 for parents and $12 per
student. Tickets will be sold at
the Holiday Inn or through the
Dean’s office. For further in
formation, contact Dean Cross
or Mary Jane Forster.
Self-Study prepares for
Southern Assoc, review
Every 10 years all members of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools are reviewed
for reaccreditation.
In October, Belmont Abbey College will be
visited by a committee that will evaluate this
institution before reaffirmation of accreditation.
In preparation for this visit from the Southern
Association, all schools must establish an In
stitutional Self-Study Program. The purpose of
the Self-Study is to “improve educational ef
fectiveness in institutions of higher learning.”
The procedures will help the college “rea§sess ...
objectives, measure success ..., explore ways and
means by which educational efficiency may be
improved and prepare for the ever-increasing
demands by society (Manual for Self-Study,
Southern Association, 1974).”
The Self-Study is supervised by a steering
committee that is responsible for overseeing the
Self-Study, organizing all findings and gathering
those facts into a report which will be presented to
the Southern Association for review.
Dr. George Herndl, Chairman and Professor,
Department of English, is Director of the self-
study and Fr. James Solari, O.S.B., is Chairman of
the Steering Committee.
There are eight other committees in the Self-
Study: Goals and Purposes; Organization and
Administration; Educational Program; Financial
Resources; Faculty; Library; Student
Development; and Physical Plant.
All full-time faculty and administrators are on
one of these eight standard committees that look
into questions that the Southern Association wants
answered.
Three separate questionnaires are being utilized
by the committees to obtain some of their in
formation. An alumni questionnaire was sent to a
stratified sampling of 400 alumni based on their
graduation year, sex and academic major.
Returns have been higher and faster than ex
pected.
“This just proves something Dr. Gil Farley told
us long ago. If you put stamps on envelopes, you
get a much higher percentage of return,” Dr.
Hemdl said, regarding this welcomed response.
Information solicited on Ihese questionnaires is
very thorough and specific. The students are
asked about everything from (heir academic
advisors, placement services and residence life to
extra-curricular activities, the Student Union and
what they feel must be improved. The library,
admissions procedures, and academic programs
are among the topics listed on the faculty and
administration questionnaire, along with
evaluation of the faculty and administration
questionnaire, along with evaluation of the faculty
and teaching methods. The alumni are asked
about their experiences as an Abbey student, the
library facilities and about their careers following
graduation. There are a multitude of other areas
into which these comprehensive questionnaires
delve.
The information gathered in these surveys will
be used in part by most of the eight slandard
committees. Faculty and student returns have
begun to come in. Responses are also solicited
from a stratified sampling of 25 percent of the
student body. So far, of the 180 students asked to
complete the questionnaires, almost half have
replied.
Once the committees gather and compile the
data, a final self-study report will be compiled by
the middle of September. With this report as a
guide and source, the visiting committee from the
Southern Association will spend three days on
campus interviewing students, faculty, and ad
ministrators; examining records of the academic
dean, financial aid and admissions offices, ana
observing the campus.
“The main purpose of a Self-Study like this,”
stated Dr. Hemdl, “is to inform us about us and to
plan and decide about the college. It forces us to
ask questions and forces us to think about things
that ordinarily we would be too busy to think
about. The (the Southern Association) require it
for us not them.”
Requiring all colleges be reviewed before
reaccreditation helps “to see if they are violating
the accepted norms of ethics or academics in the
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