For the Ambrosian community, the following interview is SAU President Amy Novak’s Q&A session in its entirety in the e-mail exchange with Buzz Reporter George Coin.
In summary, President Novak emphasizes the important role universities play regarding issues of the day:
“At a Catholic university, our role is not to inflame partisan divisions, but neither is it to pretend that sacred symbols, moral authority, and the teachings of the Church are irrelevant. Our task is to help students think carefully, respond charitably, and remain rooted in truth and a commitment to justice. We are shaped by a faith tradition that calls us to honor what is sacred, uphold the dignity of every person, and measure our public life against the values of the Gospel.”
Q: What makes this controversy significant beyond the usual political outrage cycle?
A: “What makes this significant is not simply that it is provocative, but that it touches sacred imagery, moral authority, and the sacred role of religion in the life of our community. When political leaders use explicitly Christian symbols or imagery or religious symbols of any tradition, it raises questions that go beyond ordinary campaign rhetoric. It asks us to consider how faith is being invoked, whether sacred symbols are being used reverently, and how religious language shapes public life. For a Catholic university, those questions matter because our faith tradition teaches us that religious symbols are not merely cultural references. They are connected to truths we hold sacred and to a moral vision grounded in the Gospel.”
Q: How should students think about a political leader using sacred Christian imagery?
A: “Students should begin with both seriousness and charity. In the Christian tradition, sacred imagery is not trivial. It points beyond itself to truths about Christ, sacrifice, redemption, and the dignity of the human person. Because of that, it should not be treated casually. At the same time, students should resist reacting only at the level of outrage. The better question is whether this use of imagery deepens reverence, truth, and humility, or whether it risks turning the sacred into a tool of branding, power, or self-promotion. At a Catholic university, our responsibility is to help students think about these matters in light of both reason and faith.”
Q: In a Catholic university setting, what responsibility does the campus have to address controversies like this?
A: “A Catholic university should not feel obligated to comment on every political controversy. But when an issue touches faith, moral symbolism, human dignity, or the voice of the Church, we do have a responsibility to help students think well. That does not mean issuing partisan judgments. It means creating space for reflection, context, and principled discussion. Our responsibility is educational, but it is also formational. We are not simply preparing students for careers. We are helping form persons who can engage public life with wisdom, conscience, and moral seriousness. That is part of what it means to be faithful to our Catholic mission.”
Q: What does the conflict between Trump and Pope Leo suggest about the relationship between political power and moral authority?
A: “It is a reminder that political power and moral authority are not the same thing. Political leaders wield influence through office, law, and force. The pope exercises a different kind of authority; spiritual and moral authority rooted in the Gospel and the teaching tradition of the Church. When those two forms of authority come into tension, it clarifies an important truth for students: not every important question is a political one. Some questions are moral at their core. As a Catholic university, we take seriously the moral witness of the Church and the ways Catholic social teaching calls us to think about war, peace, justice, and human dignity.”
Q: How can universities encourage discussion of issues like this without turning every conversation into a partisan shouting match?
A: “Universities have to model a better way. That begins by slowing the conversation down. We should ask students to move beyond slogans and reactions and instead consider history, ethics, theology, discourse, and the human consequences of public leadership. We should be clear about our values, especially our commitment to human dignity, truth-seeking, and the Catholic intellectual tradition, while also making room for disagreement handled with maturity. The goal is not to drain controversy from the conversation. The goal is to elevate the conversation and to keep it anchored in respect, honesty, and a genuine search for truth.”
Q: Why does this story matter locally on this campus, rather than just nationally?
A: “It matters locally because Catholic universities are places where students are learning how to connect public life with moral judgment. Questions like this shape how students understand leadership, faith, speech, symbolism, and responsibility. Our campus is not isolated from national life, and our students are already encountering these debates every day. The question is whether they will encounter them only through reaction and division, or whether they will also learn how to discern them through the lens of faith, tradition, and Gospel values. That is why this matters here. It is not only a national story. It is also an opportunity for local formation.”
