Going to a Catholic school if you're not Catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, we are Protestant and are not opposed to our child receiving some religious teachings nor attending certain church events. I was mostly concerned about if all the other families would be at Mass every week or not, whcih it sounds like many are not? In terms of the tuition it seems like it would all wash out, since if you become a member of a parish you're required to have a financial pledge which I would assume seeks to make up that difference?

? You just have to be a registered Catholic, or for some schools a member of the specific parish, to get the discount. In extreme cases they may require you provide proof of mass attendance, but I have never heard a case in which a financial pledge has been required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, we are Protestant and are not opposed to our child receiving some religious teachings nor attending certain church events. I was mostly concerned about if all the other families would be at Mass every week or not, whcih it sounds like many are not? In terms of the tuition it seems like it would all wash out, since if you become a member of a parish you're required to have a financial pledge which I would assume seeks to make up that difference?

? You just have to be a registered Catholic, or for some schools a member of the specific parish, to get the discount. In extreme cases they may require you provide proof of mass attendance, but I have never heard a case in which a financial pledge has been required.

Wait, OP. You are Protestant, but will join a Catholic church to get a discount in your tuition? Are you serious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, we are Protestant and are not opposed to our child receiving some religious teachings nor attending certain church events. I was mostly concerned about if all the other families would be at Mass every week or not, whcih it sounds like many are not? In terms of the tuition it seems like it would all wash out, since if you become a member of a parish you're required to have a financial pledge which I would assume seeks to make up that difference?

? You just have to be a registered Catholic, or for some schools a member of the specific parish, to get the discount. In extreme cases they may require you provide proof of mass attendance, but I have never heard a case in which a financial pledge has been required.

Wait, OP. You are Protestant, but will join a Catholic church to get a discount in your tuition? Are you serious?

Where has OP said that. She said that the discount you get for being a parishioner is probably about equal to what a family who is a parishioner would pledge. so all families are paying pretty equally. She doesn't say that she would go to the church.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We're a non-Catholic family in our second year at a Catholic k-8. The kids have religion class and they go to Mass on Fridays. There are prayers during the day. We've never felt any pressure or weirdness from families that are members of the parish. There are many other kids at the school that aren't Catholic, so they all learn from each other. We've taught them to approach religion class like any other subject and it's taught them a lot about critical thinking and free speech. They've also blossomed since we left MCPS, so it's definitely been a trade-off that's well worth it.

Can I ask how you feel about having a child that you do not raise Catholic nor take part in the Catholic faith yourself reciting Catholic prayers daily?
And taking part in a religious mass? I disagree that learning and practicing a religion is like math class.

I can’t imagine sending my kids to an Arabic school and having them face the sun, bow and pray, any more than I would wrap a Sheihk turban on their head and tell them “it’s just a hat”

DP: They are observing the faith in practice, not practicing it. They are learning about it, and maybe one day it will become their faith, just as the Catholics kids are learning about it and may one day abandon it.

The non-Catholic P here. Exactly what the DP above said. We talk about their experiences every day. They know that we don't believe in Catholicism but we need to respect that lots of other people do. My partner was raised Catholic and HATES the church, but he sees the value the kids get from their school and he rolls with it. And Mass is actually a really good way for kids to learn how to be quiet and sit still for an hour. One DD enjoys the homilies because they're "good stories."

And respectfully, an Islamic hijab or a Sikh dastar is not a Sheikh turban.

I disagree. They are going to mass. They are saying prayers. These are the very foundations of the Catholic faith and not for show, or to say without meaning it, like you are reciting a poem. It’s completely disrespectful to me and though the example of praying with Muslims or wearing a Sikh distar was glossed over, it’s no different than sending a child into Catholic mass/school though nobody would send their child to a Muslim school in a hijab and say “oh it’s just a pretty dress, free speech!” and not be deemed incredibly offensive, nor wearing a Sikh dastar and saying it’s a hat. A plaid skirt and blouse is a more acceptable wear, that’s it. But that’s exactly what you are doing.

Especially when families who truly believe are offsetting your child’s tuition with their support of the church.

I'm sorry, but you are just not understanding. Think of a non-Catholic guest at a Catholic wedding. They participate, may read the prayers, may sing the songs, but they aren't becoming Catholic, and they won't take Communion. But they are welcome guests, not disrespectful interlopers, and they are learning something through their participation and observation. Similarly, non-Catholic children are welcome at Catholic schools. They are not "being Catholic" anymore than the guest at the wedding, and their participation also is not disrespectful.

You seem to feel that Catholic school should be reserved for Catholic children only. You are entitled to your opinion; but the Church and its schools disagree with you, which is why they admit non-Catholic students to the schools.

You are attempting to conflate attending a Catholic wedding as a guest with attending a Catholic school?
Wow, you must reeaaaallly need that private school badge without the funds to attend a real private school not paid for in part by actual Catholics. You keep digging deeper and deeper holes for yourself PP.

There are multiple posters on this thread. I am Catholic. Please speak to your priest about the role of Catholic schools in educating non-Catholic children. It may help with your misplaced anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We're a non-Catholic family in our second year at a Catholic k-8. The kids have religion class and they go to Mass on Fridays. There are prayers during the day. We've never felt any pressure or weirdness from families that are members of the parish. There are many other kids at the school that aren't Catholic, so they all learn from each other. We've taught them to approach religion class like any other subject and it's taught them a lot about critical thinking and free speech. They've also blossomed since we left MCPS, so it's definitely been a trade-off that's well worth it.

Can I ask how you feel about having a child that you do not raise Catholic nor take part in the Catholic faith yourself reciting Catholic prayers daily?
And taking part in a religious mass? I disagree that learning and practicing a religion is like math class.

I can’t imagine sending my kids to an Arabic school and having them face the sun, bow and pray, any more than I would wrap a Sheihk turban on their head and tell them “it’s just a hat”

DP: They are observing the faith in practice, not practicing it. They are learning about it, and maybe one day it will become their faith, just as the Catholics kids are learning about it and may one day abandon it.

The non-Catholic P here. Exactly what the DP above said. We talk about their experiences every day. They know that we don't believe in Catholicism but we need to respect that lots of other people do. My partner was raised Catholic and HATES the church, but he sees the value the kids get from their school and he rolls with it. And Mass is actually a really good way for kids to learn how to be quiet and sit still for an hour. One DD enjoys the homilies because they're "good stories."

And respectfully, an Islamic hijab or a Sikh dastar is not a Sheikh turban.

I disagree. They are going to mass. They are saying prayers. These are the very foundations of the Catholic faith and not for show, or to say without meaning it, like you are reciting a poem. It’s completely disrespectful to me and though the example of praying with Muslims or wearing a Sikh distar was glossed over, it’s no different than sending a child into Catholic mass/school though nobody would send their child to a Muslim school in a hijab and say “oh it’s just a pretty dress, free speech!” and not be deemed incredibly offensive, nor wearing a Sikh dastar and saying it’s a hat. A plaid skirt and blouse is a more acceptable wear, that’s it. But that’s exactly what you are doing.

Especially when families who truly believe are offsetting your child’s tuition with their support of the church.

I'm sorry, but you are just not understanding. Think of a non-Catholic guest at a Catholic wedding. They participate, may read the prayers, may sing the songs, but they aren't becoming Catholic, and they won't take Communion. But they are welcome guests, not disrespectful interlopers, and they are learning something through their participation and observation. Similarly, non-Catholic children are welcome at Catholic schools. They are not "being Catholic" anymore than the guest at the wedding, and their participation also is not disrespectful.

You seem to feel that Catholic school should be reserved for Catholic children only. You are entitled to your opinion; but the Church and its schools disagree with you, which is why they admit non-Catholic students to the schools.

Wow, you are out of your mind if you think that having your (young impressionable) child attend a school propagating the Catholic faith every weekday for years on end is the same as attending a wedding of a different faith. No one is saying that Non-Catholic children should not be welcomed at Catholic schools, but rather that it is disrespectful for parents to try to pretend that it isn’t an integral part of the curriculum and a key reason why many families are sending their children there. Speaking as a Catholic school attendee who ended up converting to Catholicism in high school (to the chagrin of my parents) if this is an outcome you would have a problem with you should look elsewhere.

I'm the PP you are responding to, and I'm Catholic (15 years of Catholic schools), and my kids are confirmed. And, yes, the PP is expressing unwelcome sentiments and said it is disrespectful to her if the nonCatholic students don't believe the prayers they are taught. She is wrong.

[Anonymous]

There are actual many PP’s expressing the same sentiment that the OP and others breezing through prayers, uniform and religious teachings as “the same as any other class” and not responding to how this is different than something they wouldn’t do, such as having a child wear a Hijab and calling it “no different than a bathroom” is offense and disrespectful.

And refusing to admit the Catholic Church is indeed paying for the catholic schools.

Mind blowing to many of us posters how obtuse people are acting. At least own what you’re doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You are attempting to conflate attending a Catholic wedding as a guest with attending a Catholic school?
Wow, you must reeaaaallly need that private school badge without the funds to attend a real private school not paid for in part by actual Catholics. You keep digging deeper and deeper holes for yourself PP.

There are independent Catholic schools. Independent, by definition, means self governing and self supporting. Georgetown Visitation, St. Anselm’s, SJC, Washington Jesuit Academy, Holy across, Mater Dei, Connelly, Stone Ridge, Georgetown Prep, and Woods are some examples in the DC area.

As for parish schools, they are welcome to close their doors to non-parish members. Yet, they don’t. If you read the “about us” sections on their websites, they are clear in their messages about serving God and providing a moral education. Yet, you won’t find messages of exclusion or about only serving parishioners. The above poster is applying a standard that the schools themselves do not apply.

[Anonymous]

A quick search of the Archdiocese of Washington DC financial report shows a line item of Catholic education as $6,625,092 for the year 2018-2019.

Yes folks, 6 million dollars to the schools that fall under the Archdiocese of Washington DC.

Facts, data, not what you hope to be true here.

Interestingly enough, since someone made an example of it, St. Anselm’s specifically says under their tenets of 12 things that make them a Benedictine school is “ PARTICIPATION in the Benedictine liturgy, and personal prayer to grow mindful of God’s presence..”

Hardly “just like gym class!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A quick search of the Archdiocese of Washington DC financial report shows a line item of Catholic education as $6,625,092 for the year 2018-2019.

Yes folks, 6 million dollars to the schools that fall under the Archdiocese of Washington DC.

Facts, data, not what you hope to be true here.

Interestingly enough, since someone made an example of it, St. Anselm’s specifically says under their tenets of 12 things that make them a Benedictine school is “ PARTICIPATION in the Benedictine liturgy, and personal prayer to grow mindful of God’s presence..”

Hardly “just like gym class!”

Ok, 10-year enrollment in local Catholic schools is down 7 percent (http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2015-2016-Data-Book-DIGITAL-FINAL-1.12.2016.pdf).

You can be big mad that non-Catholics are taking up resources. OR you can get comfortable with schools having to shrink and close. I suppose the Archdiocese could invest more than 15 percent of its budget into schools so as to increase scholarships to Catholics who don’t currently have their children enrolled in Catholic school, but that’s a riskier strategy.

[Anonymous]

“We don’t teach them because THEY are Catholic; we teach them because WE are!”
former Archbishop of Washington, James Cardinal Hickey

[Anonymous]

When I was at Catholic school (ages ago), it was refreshing to have non-Catholic kids at the school.

[Anonymous]

Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just know that there are many schools that bus the 8th graders to the March for Life in DC every year. The kids are taught that abortion is a sin (which it is by the way) and that the laws need to change. If you are not comfortable with that, keep walking.

Who are you to judge what is a sin for others?

My daughter is catholic, I am not Christian. She was very uncomfortable with the level of Catholicism in classes when she visited a diocesan high school (she noted that they taught evolution in science) and decided that if she went there (safety school) she would wear a NARAL shirt. She was more comfortable at a Salesian school that she visited but ultimately preferred Episcopalian or non-denominational. She is thriving and comfortable at the Episcopalian school that she chose and so am I.

Choosing Catholic school for a non-Catholic kindergartner is asking for problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a terrible idea? We toured a Catholic school down the street, and while we are not Catholic we did like the school. I am worried about my kid feelign left out since we won't be attending Mass every week like many of the other families. Looking for experiences of others who have done this?

If you're in the ADW, they publish their stats for how many kids are Catholic at a particular school (maybe Arlington does the same). Overall, K-8, 65% of kids in parochial schools are Catholic and 43% in independent Catholic schools. It's possible that this school will have lots of non-Catholic kids.

https://adwcatholicschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018-2019-Strategic-Data-Portfolio-FINAL.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just know that there are many schools that bus the 8th graders to the March for Life in DC every year. The kids are taught that abortion is a sin (which it is by the way) and that the laws need to change. If you are not comfortable with that, keep walking.

Who are you to judge what is a sin for others?

My daughter is catholic, I am not Christian. She was very uncomfortable with the level of Catholicism in classes when she visited a diocesan high school (she noted that they taught evolution in science) and decided that if she went there (safety school) she would wear a NARAL shirt. She was more comfortable at a Salesian school that she visited but ultimately preferred Episcopalian or non-denominational. She is thriving and comfortable at the Episcopalian school that she chose and so am I.

Choosing Catholic school for a non-Catholic kindergartner is asking for problems.

Why are you attacking me? I don't care what you think. I am trying to help the OP. I know many have chimed in and said that only a few go to the march, but in my daughter's school, the entire class (or most) go to the march, so not going is going to make you stand out. It's fine if the OP is fine with that. I really don't care what you or you daughter think about the Catholic schools lol.