本文研究的主要目的有二：其一，天主教與教育的關係如何？其二，天主教會為何興辦大學？天主教大學的使命及特徵為何？天主教大學的教學方法、教學內容有何特別之處？而探討的範圍，則集中在梵蒂岡第二屆大公會議以後發展的情形。 研究發現，教會傳福音就是一種廣義的教育，天主教會自古即興辦學校，大學產生於中古世紀後期，教會對其誕生前之孕育、誕生後之保護、引導、設立，幫助極大，而大學對教會教義之闡揚，亦貢獻良多。 本研究所得結果如下： 一、天主教會與教育之關係：天主教會自古迄今，藉著學校教育不停從事濟世救人的服務事業，透過愛對人生尊嚴及完整人格教育之宗旨，普遍辦各類各級學校培育人才。 二、天主教大學之本質與政府和教會之關係：天主教大學之本質尊重與維護大學的本質同時，也必須遵造教會福傳使命的領導。 三、天主教大學在天主教會內的地位：天主教大學雖然完全配合當地政府的教育制度，但也在各天主教大學設立梵蒂岡教育部之督導室而被指導。大學章程及主要政策必須由教廷教育部核准。 四、天主教大學之目的及使命：天主教大學工作所追求的目標為：(一)知識的整合(二)信仰與理性的對話(三)倫理道德的關注(四)神學方面的展望。天主教大學的使命為：(一)為教會與社會服務(二)牧靈職務(三)文化的交談(四)福傳工作 五、天主教大學教學方法的特徵：(一)注重神學，神學的研究即為神學的科學化的研究。(二)倫理道德的關注方面，則認為大學的階段為不斷追求人生意義及價值觀。 六、宗教與學術，信仰與理性的衝突方面：自創辦大學以來天主教為維護學術自由不曾間斷，教會和大學的目標互補而不相衝突。 天主教大學教育於世界文化貢獻至偉，其所本理念所採政策，因有基督愛與宗教使命作基礎，適應力特強，於學校所在地國家、社會、人民之利益，於教會本身之發展，於全人類之幸福前途軍有積極價值。 / The purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: First, what is the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Education? Second, why does the Roman Catholic Church has established the universities? Third, what are the missions and the charcateristics of the Roman Catholic Universities? Finally, in terms of the methods and the contents of the teaching and learning, what kind of things make the Roman Catholic Universities so different from the other universities? The results of this study are: The Church's evangelization work, in a sense, is one kind of education. The universities came out during the late Medieval Ages, and their reformation and thereafter development got much aids from the Church, and Church's doctrines got reasonable reorganization and advancement from them. I.The relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Education: The Roman Catholic has been undertaking services that helps people, the society and establishing schools of all levels to cultivate people with the aim of love toward human dignity and holistic education. II.The relationship between the nature of the Roman Catholic Universities and the government: The nature of the Roman Catholic Universities is to respect and maintain the nature of the universities; at the same time, these universities try to follow the guiding of the church in the mission of evangelization. III.The Status of the Roman Catholic Universities in the Roman Catholic Church: The Roman Catholic Universities cooperate with the educational systems of the local governments, but they are supervised by the Education Department of the Vatican. IV.The purposes and missions of the Roman Catholic Universities: The overall purposes of establishing the Roman Catholic Universities are :(1)The integration of knowledge;(2)the dialogues between religion and rationality;(3)the concern of ethics and morality; and (4)the vision of theology. The mission of the Roman Catholic Universities are :(1)The services for the church are the society;(2)the pastoral ministries;(3)the dialogue other cultures; and (4)the evangilical works. V.The characteristics of the methods of teaching and learning of the Roman Catholic Universities are the emphasis of the theology and the concerns of ethic and morality. VI.The conflicts between the religions and the academy, between faith and rationality: The Roman Catholic Church never cease defending the academic freedom since the setting-up of the Catholic universities. The aims of the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Universities are complementary and not conflictiong. Historical facts testify that it's true the Roman Catholic University Education has made much advantage to the world. Its capacity has filled with religious charity and mission work, so its adjustment ability is such strong that the host country, community and people, even the local church's own development can get much help from it.