asaris...heh, I think that's probably likely perhaps. I've found that a lot of times two people who essentially agree can "get into it" over the medium of the internet due to the lack of real-time communication and lack of non-verbal communication tainting the understanding of the words one uses. Cool to hear you're at Notre Dame - although I think "most important" is too subjective a title to lay on anything
Perhaps part of the difference in emphasis lies in the order which runs our respective universities. DePaul is Vincentian, although I don't know what Notre Dame is run by. However, I've always found it interesting whenever I went further north in the city and visit Loyola University - which is Jesuit - how completely different the religious environment is there. The two schools are rooted in the same belief system, yet there's such a drastic difference. So, perhaps something similar is the source of difference here. Anyway...yeah
I think a lot of times people can take the statement that one must first and foremost seek God and try to do what is right in His view and that what religion you partake in is, in many ways, secondary to that, as saying that it's "easy" to be united with God. But, truth be told, it means just the opposite. The fact is many (most?) Christians don't truly seek God, and most PEOPLE don't truly seek God. That's not to say that I'm on some pedestal - I don't know if I'd say I'm much better off than the average person in the world. We all have our vices. So, to say that one needn't NECESSARILY (meaning, it's not an end all or be all, but also meaning that it does help) be a part of Catholicism or a Christian religion for that matter isn't saying it's EASY by any means. It can be much more difficult outside of Christianity for many people, and that's precisely why we do have the gift of this religion to assist us. But, all it is saying is that it's POSSIBLE (but not necessarily probable).