Have you been watching the news? It’s hard to tell, in the last month, whether to weep or rejoice.
On one hand, every drive down the road, with its bedraggled array of mud-spattered campaign signs, is a dreary reminder of our damp and dismal choices for the next four years. We can’t remember the last time there was a candidate to vote for, rather than an opponent to triangulate against.
On the other hand, the Obama administration’s new unconstitutional insurance mandate seems to be jolting weary and jaded voters into action. Those who had given up on the political system and weren’t planning to vote, even with a clothespin on their noses—they’re suddenly realizing that it’s imperative to get this power-mad grand inquisitor out of office, no matter who replaces him.
On one hand, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards called 2011 “the most difficult year in our history.” They’re finally being investigated by Congress for their long record of outrageous corruption and fraud, and even Susan G. Komen has severed ties from them (apparently because they want their money to go to clinics which provide mammograms, unlike Planned Parenthood). I picture second grade, as the pretty girl in a pink dress wrenches her hand away in disgust from the Gross Kid, because everyone knows where that hand has been. Planned Parenthood has cooties, and everybody knows it!
On the other hand, I still regularly get comments from people who fully believe, deep in their hearts, that there is something inherently disgusting about the family. They’d feel right at home in Huxley’s World State circa 632 A.F., where fetuses are chemically conditioned in decanting bottles for their predetermined caste, and the word “mother” is an embarrassing profanity. Planned Parenthood may be sweating over its next paycheck, but its perverted gospel of barrenness has thoroughly permeated the culture.
On one hand, the Church in America is being threatened in a way that few people alive can remember. I don’t want to be persecuted, and I hardly dare to think how this new era will actually play out in the lives of innocent people.
But on the other hand—damn, it feels good to see the bishops doing their jobs. As Marcel LeJeune quipped, “It took Obama’s Administration to get 100% of the US Bishops to agree. Even the Pope can’t do that.” It feels good to talk about why we believe what we believe, and to think about how much we’re willing to suffer for it.
I was talking to my twelve-year-old daughter yesterday, to let her know that . . . well, I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen. I’m writing my letters to the editor, signing the petition, and praying for the bishops—but the HHS mandate surely isn’t some rogue, isolated incident of anti-religious sentiment. It’s the sign of things to come, no matter who wins this particular Constitutional battle or this particular presidential election.
“I hope it doesn’t get like when Miguel Pro was around,” my daughter said worriedly.
“I hope not, honey,” I answered. “We haven’t gotten to that point yet. But you know, great civilizations don’t last forever. They get corrupt, and eventually they fall—it always happens that way.”
Before I could launch into a lecture about Greece and Rome, she said, “Wait, civilizations? You mean the country, right? Not the Church?”
“Oh! Yes, just the country. The Church isn’t going anywhere. ‘On this Rock,’ and so on. You don’t need to worry about the Church disappearing.”
“Well, I know that,” she said, rolling her big, brown eyes. “I just wanted to make sure you remembered.”
Yup. As Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof: There is no other hand.
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Once again, you’re speaking words to me, that I have swirling around in my own mind, but haven’t had the coffee yet to articulate.
God Bless us all, we need it! I’m torn as well, desperate for peace in our GREAT land, and yet I feel a great sense of loss, and what I’m losing is my cool.
I really wish the evil one was better at being scary, and less good at being seductive!
Let’s keep on, shall we, praying for this country of ours!!
Well, it can’t get worst than murder can it, like our brothers and sisters in the Middle East? Hmmm… I wonder if prison would be fun!
Like you I am mobilizing my heart and soul for a challenging world ahead. Honestly - we have had it pretty soft if the biggest thing thus far in our faith has been a hand-wringing over rogue female priests.
This is NOT to discount the reality of abortion and its ongoing fight but for most of us in the pews we haven’t been this worried - ever.
In light of the Komen break with PP - the headlines are talking about the last 24 hours where PP got literally thousands of dollars in donations from folks who don’t mind a heavy case of cooties.
We MUST do better than that. I just did my first ever donation to Komen this morning after reading the headline. I’ve always turned my back on them because of PP and now that they have shown real courage in leaving them alone - I have to do something to back up my words with some real $$$.
While the media will surely turn its back on Komen as punishment for doing the right thing - as they have done to the Catholic Churtch - we cannot!
Like you I am mobilizing my heart and soul for a challenging world ahead. Honestly - we have had it pretty soft if the biggest thing thus far in our faith has been a hand-wringing over rogue female priests.
This is NOT to discount the reality of abortion and its ongoing fight and other issues but for most of us in the pews we haven’t been this worried - ever.
In light of the Komen break with PP - the headlines are talking about the last 24 hours where PP got literally thousands of dollars in donations from folks who don’t mind a heavy case of cooties.
We MUST do better than that. I just did my first ever donation to Komen this morning after reading the headline. I’ve always turned my back on them because of PP and now that they have shown real courage in leaving them alone - I have to do something to back up my words with some real money.
While the media will surely turn its back on Komen as punishment for doing the right thing - as they have done to the Catholic Churtch - we cannot!
Simcah, this is excellent. I’m not Catholic, but I was thrilled to hear about the bishops taking a stand. I pray that all people, especially Christians, who value freedom of conscience, will stand with you.
It’s great to see the US bishops all coming together in opposition to the HHS contraception mandate. And it’s great to see the laity joining with them and making their voices heard.
If folks haven’t done so already, remember to write your representative in the House, as well as your senators, to ask that they support H.R. 1179 and S. 1467, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act.
Also, go to the White House website and sign the online petition requesting the Administration to rescind the HHS rule. There are more than 11,000 signatures already. More are needed. Here is the link:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/rescind-hhs-dept-mandate-requiring-catholic-employers-provide-contraceptivesabortifacients-their/lBxr7SdP
Or
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petitions
We can’t let up on this!
Persevere. There is an era of transformation coming.
I wish I believed Mitt Romney would stop this bigoted health care bill from passage, but I just can’t. I’m praying the Supreme Court strikes the bill down as unconstitutional.
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I’m sick of our Church’s relationship with the government. Here in Philly, Abp. Chaput is touting vouchers - give the parents a choice! - while on the other hand - parish schools are closing and kids are being reassigned to schools 45 minutes away - only the archdiocese won’t let the parents have the choice to send their kids to the 4 or 5 parishes they might pass along the way to their child’s newly assigned school. I know, waaaaaay off topic.
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But honest to God I wish these bishops would stop seeking government money to fund their ministries. I doubt we’d even be talking about socialized medicine if it weren’t for the cooperation and support of the bishops over many, many years.
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Hindsight’s 20/20, but let’s all agree going forward we’re never going to build a Christian Utopia with a secular government and start fixing our own ministries without government aid. Because if vouchers pass, it won’t be long until the government starts telling parish schools they can’t mandate religion class or refuse admission to atheists.
You know what’s going through my head now after reading this? That scene from Office Space where they destroy the copier. Complete with the music. In fact, that music might be my theme song for the upcoming years.
Simcha, this petition’s a good one to sign, too. It targets Congress (whereas the other one is received and handled directly by White House staff): http://nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292
Thank you for the reminder that the Church is immovable, I’ve lost sight of that in the worry of the last few weeks. Thank God for 12 year old girls and their honesty :)
On a smaller but also important note, this makes me think what a good job you’ve done with that sweet, smart 12 year old. :)
Not so fast on donating to Komen yet! You better read this first: Bestselling author Teresa Tomeo suggests that pro-lifers across the country take the news with a grain of salt – for now.
“While pro-lifers should be thanking the Komen foundation for at least temporarily halting its Planned Parenthood funding, it is too soon to be lacing up the Reeboks and the Sketchers for several reasons,” Tomeo said. “Firstly, a Komen spokeswoman told Fox News on Jan. 31 that ‘we want to maintain a positive relationship with them.’ Komen also said any future grants to Planned Parenthood depend on the outcome of the Congressional investigation currently being conducted. This means that if pro-life citizens and organizations begin supporting Komen now, it could come back to haunt us in the future. The spokeswoman also told Fox that Komen was ‘not making any judgment’ on Planned Parenthood. In other words, they have yet to look at the many problems with the overall agenda of Planned Parenthood.
“Even more importantly,” Tomeo added, “Komen has yet to come clean on the well-documented connection between oral contraceptives and increased breast cancer risks as well as the abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link. We should educate before we donate – and take the opportunity to share important information with Komen.”
The December issue of First Things has a really fantastic essay by George Weigel called “The Evangelical Reform of Catholic Advocacy”. (On the cover as “A Better Catholic Witness”)
Not only is it prescient and relevant—written before the latest move but surely in light of the possibility—but it was utterly inspiring. It proposes a shift in the way that Catholicism (as “Church”) engages with the political realm. His critiques are good and his message gave birth to a lot of ideas in me, about how to engage with my own parish.
I am a little behind on my reading and just got to it this week while sitting waiting to be called at jury duty. I highly recommend that everyone who is interested in the upcoming demands on Catholics as political agents:
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/11/the-evangelical-reform-of-catholic-advocacy
Oops, meant that last sentence to say: I highly recommend that all who are interested in engaging politically read it. And read it right away, because now is the time.
Not so fast on donating to Komen, please! Prominent Catholic Teresa Tomeo has this to say: “While pro-lifers should be thanking the Komen foundation for at least temporarily halting its Planned Parenthood funding, it is too soon to be lacing up the Reeboiks and Sketchers for several reasons. Firstly a Koman spokeswoman told Fox News on Jan. 31 that ‘we want to maintain a positive relationship with them.’ Komen also said any future grants to Planned Parenthood depend on the outcome of the Congressional investigation currently being conducted. This means that if pro-life citizens and organizations begin supporting Komen now, it could come back to haunt us in the future. The spokeswoman also told Fox that Komen was ‘not making any judgement’ on Planned Parenthood. In other words, they have yet to look at the many problems with the overall agenda of Planned Parenthood. Even more importantly,” Tomeo continued on, “Komen has yet to come clean on the well-documented connection between oral contraceptives and increased breast cancer risks as well as the abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link. We should educate before we donate—and take the opportunity to share important information with Komen.”
so don’t be so quick to jump on their badnwagon
Beautifully said, Simca, thank you, for every word, and for sharing your daughter’s beautiful witness to faith, that I pray will be with her for time eternal.
Christ’s peace!
Judy
St. Louis
@Joseph—I, for one, don’t want to let the best be the enemy of the good. If/when Komen makes their no money to PP policy PERMANENT, I will give them something. Waiting until they do the full 180—acknowledging the roles of abortion and the BCP in breast cancer—is not realistic. I don’t think the right way to say thank you is to add, “But that’s not nearly enough for us picky pro-lifers.”
Simcha,
You are a “fisher” of all, and it’s breathtakingly refreshing to know there are still some very astute twelve year old’s out there. God bless you and yours.
Simca/Simcah/Simcha (your readers are ardent, but poor typists :-) ):
There is an alternative to Four-Year-Madness: “Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
AND the speaker was another Jewish Christian!
The government proposed there by Our Lord is full of wisdom, justice, power, and love, and will be permanent, according to “Daniel the prophet” at Dan 2:44. Why should a Christian put his allegiance and faith on anything less?
(All quotes newadvent.org Douay)
Doug
Why should a Christian have to settle for anything less than the best?
“Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This government is full of perfect wisdom, justice, power, and love. And it’s permanent, per “Daniel the prophet” at Dan 2:44.
AND it was spoken of by another Jewish Christian!
(quotes from newadvent.org Douay)
Doug
Not donating to Komen yet… When I checked the Komen Denver FB page - it indicated that the Denver PP Affiliate was granted an exception. I’d like to know how many OTHER PP affiliates got exceptions!
Remember that officially, Komen is withdrawing their donations *due to the organization being under investigation* and that is apparently a policy of theirs. This is not, according to them, about abortion at all. So we shouldn’t laud them for doing something that only accidentally agrees with what we like to see happen.
Just a couple things about Komen. First, I read that some of the offices have contracts with PP through 2012. Second, that the main reason they are not dealing with them anymore, is that half of their time is dealing with the issue of PP being PP, and not doing what they want to do. Here is a link:http://www.jillstanek.com/2012/02/inside-story-on-komen-split-from-planned-parenthood/ Hope it helps
Simcha,
Thanks for the link to the whitehouse.gov. petition…didn’t know there was one. Signed & done! Now for some prayer & fasting.
I’m concerned the absence of “Fiddler on the Roof” in my movie viewing history is creating a real hole in our relationship.
I just wanted to mention how short people’s memories are… The concept of the individual health insurance mandate originated in 1989 at the conservative Heritage Foundation. In 1993, Republicans twice introduced health care bills that contained an individual health insurance mandate. Advocates for those bills included prominent Republicans who today oppose the mandate including Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Robert Bennett (R-UT), and Christopher Bond (R-MO). In 2007, Democrats and Republicans introduced a bi-partisan bill containing the mandate.
I personally don’t think that health insurance is the answer, people need health care, not health insurance… but this is a little 1984 for me!
Oh, my bad guys, I jumped before realizing which mandate we were discussing… I agree, that this requirement for Catholic institutions to provide birth control is totally lame. It *isn’t* healthcare….
Holy Mass and Rosary. When I’m placing these pressing intentions on the paten at daily mass and offering them like incense with the holy Rosary, I feel at peace again, because I know that they are powerful, raining graces on all of us like the dew fall. Minds and hearts are enlightened everywhere. Activism IS important, but pales in comparison to this.
Some in my family get angry when President Obama or his Administration are criticized. The critiques are called arbitrary or dogmatic opinion. Of course, can’t be said universally among his detractors, though extremists go too far. Besides, many of his supporters are no less dogmatic: Religious conviction is dismissed and disparaged as being, not reasoned assent to solid religious articles of faith; rather, they are caricatured as any of the value-dark following: racist, homophobe, zombie, bigot, hater, and that beat goes on.
In any case, as you so eloquently say, there is also hope. The old maxim tells us “God writes straight with crooked lines.” The stirrings of persecutions against freedom of religion (most pointedly aimed at the Catholic Church) look to be some of the crooked lines Our Lord will use to set matters straight. If we suffer yet more in the way of Miguel Pro, we must pray for his courage and love of Christ’s Cross.
“dismal choices for the next four years.”
“We can’t remember the last time there was a candidate to vote for,”
Considering all the Santorum family has had to put up with, isn’t it a little much when their friends, give them grief? You obviously aren’t writing a political piece, but rather noting the clash between the Church and the government but I found this painful to read and tried to skip over these sad words.
I decided that you just need a friendly note. Keep smiling and say a prayer for Rick Santorum and his family who are really in the front lines battling for us.
If the majority of Catholics in the pews on Sunday don’t believe the Church’s teaching on Contraceptives, will there be enough people to fight this thing down? I know it’s really about respecting our consciences, but since the issue just happens to revolve around a religious belief that most Catholics would be happy to see the Bishops change their teaching on…will the people of America be outraged enough to stand against it? Are there any poll numbers yet to show how many people are against the mandate? I haven’t been following the news to closely. My family is doing all we can on our end: prayer, fasting, and action!
I’m praying that the Church’s fight against the HHS mandate will get Catholics talking about birth control. The Church hasn’t made it clear enough to people that this isn’t an optional rule, and that using birth control and sterilization is worth your soul. They also haven’t made enough effort to get the beautiful arguments in favor of NFP out to the people. I learned about NFP from EWTN and online, because I sought out the info. It was barely addressed at my pre-cana and never once mentioned in CCD. I know that the 90% of Catholics taking birth control aren’t thinking “I’m commiting a mortal sin, but what the heck?” They’re probably thinking it’s just a suggestion, or an outdated rule that will change someday, or they’re not thinking about it at all. Maybe we need this push to get us back on track.
Simcha, The Komen site was hacked. If the link says ww5.komen.org, it is the hacked site, like this one “they want their money to go to clinics which provide mammograms,”
This morning, Gather figured out how the hackers did it. They redirected users to the address “ww5.komen.org” instead of the normal “www.komen.org.” Even large search engines sent users in the wrong direction and, aside from the message, the websites were identical.
God bless you, Jenni. This notion that many Catholics have that, because a majority consensus (they claim) wants artificial contraception, the bishops must and will change their teachings. As you say, these Catholics have a fundamental misconception regarding the teachings. They fail to understand that the teachings fall under the larger doctrines of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person, not to mention the sacred teaching that God, is the author of all life; that God, not man determines when life will or will not be created. The Teaching Office of the Church has zero authority to change any of these teachings.
Many Catholics mistakenly think that NFP is “just a fancy name for the antiquated Rhythm Method.”. They haven’t a clue as to the beauty and efficacy of NFP. More to it, they either don’t know or care that artificial contraceptives can also act as abortifacients, which clearly runs against unchangeable teaching.
When will we learn that, in the real. Of faith and morals, consensus is in no way the determinant of truth, dogmatic or otherwise?
God bless you, Jenni. This notion that many Catholics have that, because a majority consensus (they claim) wants artificial contraception, the bishops must and will change their teachings. As you say, these Catholics have a fundamental misconception regarding the teachings. They fail to understand that the teachings fall under the larger doctrines of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person, not to mention the sacred teaching that God, is the author of all life; that God, not man determines when life will or will not be created. The Teaching Office of the Church has zero authority to change any of these doctrines.
Many Catholics mistakenly think that NFP is “just a fancy name for the antiquated Rhythm Method.”. They haven’t a clue as to the beauty and efficacy of NFP. More to it, they either don’t know or care that artificial contraceptives can also act as abortifacients, which clearly runs against unchangeable teaching.
When will we learn that, in the realm of faith and morals, consensus is in no way the determinant of truth, dogmatic or otherwise?
Jenni, I agree with you completely. I hope priests start talking about this in their homilies. I know mine doesn’t. Please Holy Spirit, give priests everywhere the courage to start this soul-saving discussion!!!
How do know just what we need to hear?? Are you friends with the Holy Spirit perhaps?
Obama has awoken the sleeping giant. Namely the Catholic Bishops who have been, up till now, supportive of Democratic politicians to further their
social justice and illegal immigration and help for the poor and homeless
agendas, while pro-life and important issues like marriage between a man and a woman got pushed to background. This has been going on ever since the sixties when the Kennedy family gathered Catholic professors and theologians together to find out how they can get catholics to vote for pro-choice Democrates without violating their conscience. Now it has come back to haunt them. I wonder if Obama will be invited back to Notre Dame anytime soon? I sent my state senator, who was supposed to be a pro-life Catholic and the only Democrate I ever voted for, till I found out he voted to fund Planned Parenthood. I wrote him and told him what I thought of his vote and he told me how much they do for womans health. So I sent him a video taken undercover at a PP clinic that showed the Planned Parenthood people advising illegal underage prostitutes how to get Government funding for abortions and venereal disease. Never heard back from him. I did notify the Newmann Society when I found out that he was actually invited to give a commencement speech at a Catholic collge and they followed up with a story on it. This was a state senator that several Catholic leaders openly supported. Bottom line, when you lay down with snakes, your gonna get bit. Now of course,you are talking about not only a religious issue, this is also a constituional issue and Obama has
already made public how he felt towards the constitution. He said, “it gets in his way and prevents him from doing what he would like to do.” Don`t worry though, if anybody knows how to get around it, he does. After all, he taught constitution law, or so he says. Pax
Simcha, Have you seen PP’s and the media’s response to Komen pulling out? http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/planned-parenthood-decision-puts-spotlight-susan-g-komen-200300991.html
It is pretty encouraging to see the bishops taking a stand, hallelujah! Now, what will actually happen? I don’t know but I do worry about you, my american brothers. We just have to belive it will be for the best.
Tom, great points. Too much “social justice”, brought about Liberation Theology, that also has a hold in this country. I know those two words are good, but they, like many other words in our language, have been misused and become hard to hear.
I pray Catholics everywhere wake up, buy a Catechism, learn their faith, and more priests and bishops speak up, talk about the faith, and advise the faithful to buy a Catechism, while at the same time offering more and more to the lay people, by way of classes and seminars, on a local level, so that all may attend.
AND when we may our Mass reverent, as it should be, both in words, hymns, and actions, taking away all that does not raise us vertically, and keeps on on a horizontal, (worldly) plain, faith will truly blossom, and peace will abound in our hearts.
Christ’s peace!
Thank you for writing this
I would like to echo A Mitchell, who posted at 3:18. At the risk of politicizing the discussion, is there some reason why you can’t vote FOR Rick Santorum? Would you really ‘support’ architect of Obamacare Mitt Romney just to triangulate against Obama?
My cousin was born at the beginning of 20th century, peacefully died at age of 103. He endured 3 wars (WWI, WWII, and a very bloody regional one) and lived in 6 states ... although he spent all his life in his hometown. Almost all these states very wildly hostile towards Catholic faith. They fell. Faith survived.
So I guess your daughter is right :-))
Eileen,
About your post on Feb. 2nd and your comment about school vouchers. You
obviously didn`t read ‘Faith in the Future’ off the Archdiocese homepage.
Just to clarify, I agree with your point that the best way to get the Government off your back is to get your hand out of it`s pocket however, school vouchers are NOT a gift to the Church. That money would go to parents in order for them to choose which form of education is best for their children. Vouchers puts the choice back in the hands of it`s citizens. The choice could be a Jewish school, a montessori type school or even a private for profit school that has one on one educational help for advanced students. I think it is important to distinguish this point as it is our money the government is taking to fund a failed educational system. Archbishop Chaput is a wonderful leader and came to Phila. to inherit a multitude of problems of which a financial crisis is only the tip of the iceberg. Pax.
from Bill Foley
Yes, persecution is here in the USA, and it will only get worse. But this should not surprise us because Jesus has told us that the world would hate us also as it did Him.
May I suggest a daily spiritual reading of The Victories of the Martyrs by Saint Alphonsus. Many of the laity gave their lives for Christ and His Church. Saint Perpetua was a young mother, and Saint Felicity actually gave birth in prison. Saint Blandina was a girl of twelve years. Saints Nicander and Daria were one of many married couples who became martyrs. The number of Japanese families who were killed for the faith is astounding—some children were as young as two!
We better be ready, for we have not here a lasting city.
@Tom T, I read Faith in the Future. My previous post is based upon the commission’s recommendations. Right now, for instance, there are several parish schools closing and/or consolidating by me. (Not mine. My own parish school is blessed with a waiting list). One nearby school that’s closing is being asked to merge with a school that is a minimum 45 minute drive during rush hour. That’s insane when there are schools with openings ten to fifteen minutes away.
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What happened to parents knowing what’s best for their kids? Well, apparently the administrators in the archdiocese know better than some parents. Only if a pastor from the current parish (whose school is closing) grants permission for the family to join the other (nearby) parish will those parents be allowed to put their child in the school they choose - otherwise if those parents want a Catholic education for their child they’re forced into a commute of nearly an hour (sometimes more). And that permission is by no means a rubber stamp - depending upon your pastor, it can be quite difficult to obtain.
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I agree Chaput has his hands full. So why then is he worrying about how to get more money from the government coffers under the guise of parental choice? Particularly when his own diocese runs its elementary schools in such a way that denies parents their choice. It’s hypocrisy. And furthermore, as you’ve acknowldedged, it’s setting us up to once again deal with the Devil. Haven’t we learned anything? I have high hopes and many prayers for Abp. Chaput, but is going after taxpayer money in the form of tuition vouchers really the start he wants to get off to here in Philadelphia?
I would only hope that someone would inform our Glorious Leader that he is not
another Moses. It is my understanding that God did not give new moral directives to this man. It was the intent of our forefathers, that no religion, or religious beliefs be forced upon the citizens of this Once Great
County. Take every LEGAL action to remove this cancerous element from our country. VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE.
Eileen,
I am not going to discuss the logistics of individual parishs as that would be to micro-manage a problem that has to be solved on a region wide basis. I am sure transportation arrangements will be worked out to accommodate the students that have to travel. Lets remember, Archbishop Chaput did NOT cause this problem, it was the individual pastor`s mismanagement that caused it and the Archbishop has to solve it on an Archdiocese level for not only now but for the future of the Catholic educational system. Further you still haven`t grasp the concept of school vouchers. The tax money does NOT go to the Archdiocese. It goes to the parents who will then decide where to send their children. There is no hypocrisy here. The financial problems faced by many parishs stems from dropping enrollments and pastors allowing children to be educated even if their parents could not pay the tuition bill. The hugh debt run up by many schools also could be attributed to teacher`s rising salaries and health care benefits as well as utility costs and many other factors beyond the local parish`s control. I would not be so quick to judge the hard work of the many people who made up the ‘Blue Ribbon Commission’as many thoughful hours and accounting work that went into their recommendations, and by the way, the Catholic School system in Phila. is not the only school system that is in deep financial trouble. I just read where a number of public schools are going to be closing and or merging not to mention they have already laid off 2500 staff and teachers with more to come. Maybe when the economy improves things will get better, till then we have to trust our leadership to do what is best for the future. Pax.
Legally….not morally when this goes to court, I know the naive Catholics are not not not prepared for court. I hope they are. HAVE THEY LOOKED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE CONTRACTS THAT EACH DIO SIGNED???? There are cracks in there that the other side is gonna use against us.
They had better be prepared. Many dios and even the USCCB IS NOT.
Also, why are not more people adopting older kids? All talk no action.
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