The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) has launched a new document, Philippine Catholic Schools Standards (PCSS) for Higher Education, an expansive and robust collection of 24 standards to provide Catholic Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines with the opportunity to undertake self-assessment on their mission and identity. PCSS is a tool, a standard, a mission, and a vision towards continued improvement as Catholic institutions of learning.  Among the standards that emphasize faith formation and moral guidance, Standard 16.1 affirms nonviolence as part of the curriculum of a Catholic higher educational institution:

Standard 16. An excellent CHEI (Catholic higher educational institution), inspired by its vision and mission and informed by evidence gained from research, prophetically and proactively engages in the advocacy for justice and peace, ecological integrity, engaged citizenship, poverty eradication, gender equality, and youth empowerment (JEEPGY).

16.1 The CHEI formulates and implements research-informed programs that provide opportunities for the community to develop nonviolent perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors and to advocate for peace, justice, tolerance, and social transformation.

16.2 The CHEI formulates and implements research-informed programs that engage the community in learning experiences towards transforming beliefs and attitudes that bring about ecological conversion manifested in actions for the protection and sustainability of God’s creation.

16.3 The CHEI formulates and implements research-informed programs that provide opportunities for the community to actively participate in dialogues, movements, campaigns, and public actions that uphold the sanctity of life, truth, justice, human rights, and the rule of law.

16.4 The CHEI formulates and implements programs aimed at empowering those at the margins of society and campaigns for policies and initiates other activities that ensure inclusive sustainable economic growth, eradication of poverty, respect for the rights and freedoms of the poor, and a fair and just distribution of resources.

16.5 The CHEI formulates and implements programs that help promote equal rights of and equal access to opportunities and resources for all persons.

16.6 The CHEI formulates and implements programs that build the capacities of the youth to become agents of evangelization and societal transformation.

One of the most effective ways to integrate nonviolence into the life and identity of the Catholic Church is to teach the beauty and gift of nonviolence to students at every stage of learning. CNI encourages all Catholic school systems to incorporate nonviolence into their programs and curricula.

To receive a copy of CEAP’s standards for higher education, contact CNI at nonviolence@paxchristi.net.