Forum Index
»
Private & Independent Schools
Are you a non-Catholic family at a Catholic school?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
My objection is the church and school attempting to control the actions of the parents, not just the child enrolled in the school and not just during the school day. It seems very heavy handed to me. Taking children to mass is of course expected at a Catholic school, as is teaching them religion. But do you not see a difference between teaching the child enrolled, and requiring the parents to act in a certain way? Even parents who may not themselves be Catholic (i.e. a Catholic married to a non catholic??) |
Anonymous
|
But children don't enroll themselves. Either the non-catholic parent has agreed to raise the child Catholic or not. If there is indecision, a religious school obviously isn't the best fit. These are schools that by their very mission go beyond strictly academic education. In theory everything about them is colored by religion - art projects and music are religious, sports teams will pray at games, and learning Roman Catholic theology is required content. That's simply the way it is. Why would you want that for your child if you don't support it?
It says: I understand and acknowledge (doesn't say practice) the Roman Catholic religious nature of the school. I don't publicly (doesn't specify privately) repudiate the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. I respect and support (doesn't say believe) the unique identity that the school derives from its Catholic faith. I will not act in ways that contradict the Catholic nature of the school (basically the same as the public repudiation line) and shall cooperate fully with the school (because as a parent I have chosen this school and I respect the work they are doing) I agree to act in ways that promote the best interests of the church and school (because again, this has been my free choice) and will comply with the policies of the Archdiocese of Washington. I don't see it as controlling a person's actions. If a person accepts the Catholic faith, they act in a way that follows this anyway. If a person doesn't accept it, I would assume common courtesy would say that you don't opt in to something you deny only to mock those who do believe by publicly flouting opposing views. |
Anonymous
No, I don't see a difference. It is the parents, not the child, who made the choice to put the child in Catholic school. It isn't some covert cult activity being forced upon unknowing adults. Did they somehow miss the fact the school is Catholic? |
Anonymous
Yes there are families with 10-15+ kids at these private schools. |
Anonymous
Actually, the Church supports the use of Natural Family Planning as a means of managing the size of your family. It's taught at pre-Cana, the marriage workshop for all couples planning to be married in the Catholic Church. And, if you're going to be obtuse about the difference between contraception and a lesbian relationship, here's the difference. On its face in front of the other families, no one knows if DH and I practice NFP, if I'm on the pill, or if I have fertility issues and the reason I have only one child is IVF. On the other hand, the same-sex couple is apparent in-person, regardless of what happens behind closed doors in their home. |
Anonymous
| IVF is not sanctioned by the church. do catholic schools accept IVF babies? |
Anonymous
At our small Catholic school we had several families with 5-15 kids. |
Anonymous
| I am Catholic, but my views differ enough from those of the Church that it was clear that sending my DC to a Catholic school wouldn't be a good fit. I think that if you're going to send your DC to a school, you need to consider everything the scbool is offering and not expect the school to change its entire structure or way of being to suit your needs. Simply find a better fit. You certainly wouldn't be walking into a Jewish school and expect your child to be exempt from Hebrew classes because he or she is Lutheran, for instance, right? You just aren't looking at Jewish schools because it simply doesn't make sense. I understand the desire for the "less expensive than private" option, but if you take it, realize that there are other things that naturally come with it. The Catholic scoops have a mission too, and people who choose them because they want them for the real reasons they're there (not just because they're less expensive) have a right to have them left alone and not watered down and turned into PC versions for folks who are simply looking for cheap alternatives. Sorry, but that's not what they're there for. Don't take offense, just find a better fit for you and your family. It really isn't about you. |
Anonymous
| Hear Hear!! To each his or her own: including lesbians and Catholics! |
Anonymous
| We are non-catholic and sending out child to a parish school will they really be excluded? Will we as parents be excluded? We plan to join in all the activities but will not be converting. To the poster who wrote about being excluded could you please mention the school? TIA |
Anonymous
| OP is so wrong for starting this thread. She knows the kind of anti-Catholic sentiment that exists with these DCUM women and yet she asks one of the most asinine questions ever. Yes religious schools exist to INCLUDE said religion in educational instruction. Full stop. Take it or leave it. If you aren't Catholic and are not familiar or dont agree with the teachings don't send your kid to a Catholic school. Move, and find a suitable public school option. End. Of. Thread. |
Anonymous
Who died and made you Queen? |
Anonymous
Actually, many people who consider themselves Catholics nevertheless do not agree 100% lock-stock-and-barrel with all Church doctrine. And, they may agree that their child be taught catholic doctrine in school (logical) but they may wish to retain their right to question and even criticize Church teachings in private and even in public. Think of all the ways that a person could be accused of repudiating Church teachings publicly, or of failing to support the church and school, nowadays. 1) I could write a letter to the editor of our town newspaper supporting a bill promoting gay marriage. 2) I could post a comment on Facebook that is critical of the church's decision not to ordain women as priests. (Assume several or many of my child's classmate's parents are my facebook friends so this is not considered private, right?) 3) I could write a blog and in doing so, post an opinion critical of the church or school's decision regarding how they dealt with a pregnant,m out of wedlock teacher or student. 4) I could write an article for a newspaper detailing why I support the death penalty for a particular crime that happened to my family. In all of these instances, I'd be asserting my own personal opinion, not the opinion; not the opinion of my child. And even though I hold an opinion that differs with the decision of the church or with church dogma, that doesn't necessarily mean I wish to quit the church or remove my child from school. |
Anonymous
PP -- just go into it eyes wide open. Are you comfortable signing the statement you are being asked to sign? If you are then I wouldn't worry too much about being excluded.. As long as you agree to all Church teachings, you'll be fine and your child will be, too. |
Anonymous
Non-catholic children in an ADW parochial Catholic school are at an inherent disadvantage. On a regular basis, (First Confession and Communion, Confirmation, etc.) the non-Catholics are identified and marginalized as being different from their Catholic classmates. At the end of 8th grade, the most outstanding non-Catholic students are not promoted to the best Catholic high schools simply because they are not part of the Catholic culture. -Voice of Experience of a parent of non-Catholic children who attended an ADW parochial Catholic school |