The publication of the apostolic letter Ex Corde Ecclesiae on August 15, 1990, began a new chapter in American Catholic higher education. During the decade from 1991 to 2001, the Implementation Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops worked to apply the apostolic letter to the educational circumstances of the United States. The committee of bishops was assisted by the participation of eight presidents of Catholic colleges or universities and several other resource persons. In addition, theologians, canon lawyers, leaders of religious communities, and leaders of Catholic learned societies were asked to respond, year after year, on the issues and on various drafts of the "Application." Alice Gallin, O.S.U., a leader in American Catholic higher education, served as a resource person on the committee and attended nearly all of its meetings. In this book she presents a documentary history of the committee: a set of the principal documents produced by the committee or presented to it as significant material for its deliberations. Gallin's introductory essay provides a measured description of the events in the life of the committee as it moved through the long and complex process. The documents relevant to that process are found in this reference volume.
