The character and mission of Catholic institutions of higher education are discussed in nine articles. Questions that are posed include: what issues of the Catholic tradition need to be further examined; what additional reading of the Vatican II texts are appropriate; how is one to understand the American context within which the Catolic mission is to be carried out; and how can Catholic colleges and universities respond to current challenges. Titles and authors are as follows: "Remarks on Behalf of the Ministry of Catholic Higher Education in America" (Francis J. Kerins); "Address to Leaders of Catholic Higher Education" (Pope John Paul II); "How Is the University Catholic?" (J. Patout Burns); "Some Dissent about Dissent within the Catholic Church in the Context of Catholic Universities" (Paul J. Goda); "Catholic Colleges Need Academic Freedom" (Quentin L. Quade); "The Need for Open Inquiry at Mount Saint Mary's" (Robert Ducharme); "American Pluralism and Catholic Identity in Higher Education" (Alice Gallin); "The American Catholic University: Pluralism and Identity" (Joseph A. O'Hare); and "Beyond Tolerance: Pluralism and Catholic Higher Education" (William M. Shea). (SW)