The dominant animus in Joe Kennedy's life was his Irish Catholic identity.
As he often tells students: "We need to bring the Catholic identity into the 21st century".
In all these challenges, Professor Gillis said, "Catholic identity is at stake, in some ways".
But the cross controversy's reaffirmation of conservative Catholic identity was met by an opposing force.
Some schools, like Manhattanville College and Marist College, have surrendered their Catholic identity.
His message laid out what he considered to be foundational elements of Roman Catholic identity.
No wonder that Notre Dame, a venerable symbol of American Catholic identity, has become the battleground.
The absolute claims to religious superiority that have long been part of Catholic identity are being mitigated, if not dismantled.
The schools have also had to be careful not to jeopardize their Catholic identity, to avoid alienating their traditional core.
The cinematic light that permeates Malick's film is one that issues from a monumental capital of Catholic identity.
The petition calls on the archbishop to better regulate the university or strip it of its Catholic identity, an unlikely but technically possible outcome.
