<p>Tim,</p>
<p>There are many “liberal” branches of the Catholic Church, as there are also “conservative” branches. The only reason we hear so much about the Jesuits is that they are the largest order within the Catholic Church and probably run more than half of the Catholic colleges in the US.</p>
<p>Regardless, here is a partial list of few other Catholic Colleges that are non-Jesuit and their associated orders:</p>
<p>Mercyhurst ¶ - Sisters of Mercy
University of Detroit - Mercy - Jesuit and Sisters of Mercy
Villanova - Augustinian
Providence College - Dominican
Stonehill - Congregation of the Holy Cross (the same as ND)
Catholic University of America - Catholic Bishops of the US
Salve Regina (RI) - Sisters of Mercy
Ave Maria (MI) - no order stated but adheres to Ex Corde Ecclesiae
Benedictine - Benedictine
Anna Maria College (MA) - Catholic, founded by the Sisters of Saint Anne
Saint Mary’s College (IN) - Sisters of the Holy Cross</p>
<p>For a more complete list check here:
<a href=“http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/regions.html[/url]”>http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/regions.html</a></p>
<p>Anyway, I guess my point is that the Jesuit/non-Jesuit distinction as liberal or conservative is a distinction without merit as there are many within the church that are more liberal than the Jesuits and many more conservative too. The split is more accurately characterized by whether they follow Ex Corde Ecclesiae or not. Most US Catholic colleges do not.</p>