Yale Faculty Urges Universities to Embrace Surging Gen Z Catholic Interest
Sergio Infante, a Yale history professor, argues that universities must actively engage the growing number of Gen Z Catholic students by offering rigorous, diverse courses on Catholic intellectual history. He notes that Yale's 'Catholic Intellectual Tradition' course recently became the most popular history class, drawing 85 students, a stark contrast to the 13 who took it in 2014. Infante contends that elite institutions have neglected religious studies, ceding ground to traditionalist Catholic colleges, and must now provide complex, inclusive curricula that connect faith to contemporary issues.
Key points
- Yale's 'Catholic Intellectual Tradition' course became the most popular history class in spring 2026, enrolling 85 students, compared to just 13 in 2014.
- Sergio Infante, a Yale professor of Latin American and global history, states that Gen Z Catholics are increasingly attending pews and Catholic student organizations, a trend that has surprised many faculty members.
- Infante argues that top universities have avoided hiring scholars of religious life in the past decade, allowing traditionalist Catholic colleges to attract students who might otherwise engage with faith through academic inquiry.
- The professor advocates for curricula that include women's voices, such as Julian of Norwich and Dorothy Day, and explore the intersection of Catholicism with queer history and global contexts in Africa and Latin America.
- Infante suggests that engaging with the complexity and paradoxes of Catholic thought can strengthen students' moral imaginations and connect their faith to current events, such as debates over just war theory and migration.
Background
This development follows broader trends in higher education where religious studies have often been marginalized in favor of postcolonial and gender studies. The archive contains no relevant background on this specific topic, as the only available earlier article concerns fantasy sports prospects.
Why it matters
The surge in Gen Z Catholic engagement signals a shift in student demographics and interests that elite universities must address to remain relevant. By neglecting religious studies, major institutions risk alienating a significant portion of their student body and failing to provide the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate complex moral and social issues. Infante's call for inclusive, rigorous Catholic studies suggests a potential renaissance in religious academia that could reshape how faith is understood in higher education.
What to watch
Universities may need to revise hiring practices and curricula to include more scholars of religious life and Catholic studies. There could be increased demand for courses that connect historical Catholic thought to contemporary issues, such as migration, war, and social justice. Additionally, the growth of traditionalist Catholic colleges may continue if elite universities fail to provide adequate academic engagement for religious students.
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