Are you a non-Catholic family at a Catholic school?

[Anonymous]

Why is it so hard to understand that Catholic schools exist to educate children in the faith of the Catholic Church?

Anyone sending their children to a Catholic school should understand this. If you don't want your children educated in the faith don't send your children to these schools. If you have an overriding reason for sending your children to a school with which you fundamentally disagree then make your peace with the compromises you are making before you send your children to these school. Tell your children what you believe and why you have decided that despite your disagreements with the school's teaching you have chosen to send them there anyway.

It's not that hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Why is it so hard to understand that Catholic schools exist to educate children in the faith of the Catholic Church?

[/quote]

Because for many, many years Catholic schools have also educated children of other faiths.

It's not so hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why is it so hard to understand that Catholic schools exist to educate children in the faith of the Catholic Church?

[/quote]

Because for many, many years Catholic schools have also educated children of other faiths.

It's not so hard to understand.[/quote]

And Catholic schools will continue to educate children of other faiths. But the parents of those children must accept that the education will be in the construct of Catholicism, and can't really object to their children seeing, hearing, and learning about the tenets of that faith. That's the compromise.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]
And Catholic schools will continue to educate children of other faiths. But the parents of those children must accept that the education will be in the construct of Catholicism, and can't really object to their children seeing, hearing, and learning about the tenets of that faith. That's the compromise.[/quote]

My objection on this thread was never about non-Catholics having a problem with their children seeing, hearing, and learning about the tenets of the Catholic faith, or even about the children being required to adhere to those tenets of faith as a part of attending the school.

My objection has been requiring PARENTS to support those tenets -- ALL the tenets, even the ones they might personally have problems with -- publicly, outside of the school setting.

And I don't think it is just me. When I originally asked on this thread if it was true that parents of Catholic school children were asked to sign some kind of form this year saying certain things, several parents quickly posted that they had never heard of such a thing and didn't think it would go over very well with parents of children at their child's school. I know it hasn't gone over very well with parents of kids at my friend's school -- they see it as a very heavy handed way of silencing dissent in the Catholic community.

Of course some people don't mind it, and for them, Catholic schools are a great choice.

[Anonymous]

Your interpretation of the form takes quite a leap --- from parents being asked to refrain from "public" criticism to being asked "to support those tenets -- ALL the tenets, even the ones they might personally have problems with -- publicly, outside of the school setting." I don't think the absence of public criticism equals public support.

[Anonymous]

Like all schools some are a good fit and some are not.

I think if you can not have an intelligentnon-emotional conversation about religion with your children you probably would be a bad fit in a religious school.

If you are too emotional about what tenets you disagree with I think you would confuse your children more than the teachers.

I teach my children to respect all religions. I would have not problem with my kids in a Jewish school if it was a good fit.

We discuss all religions - what is good and what is questionable.

I don't have a real emotional reaction to any religious teaching so it is a good fit for us.

[Anonymous]

"...a very heavy handed way of silencing dissent in the Catholic community."

We aren't talking about parents upset over the color of the uniforms or what was served at lunch. We are talking about the tenets of the faith which don't change via dissent from the community. You are part of the community because of the tenets which you accept.

Again (this isn't a hard concept either) no one has to attend a Catholic school. If parents don't like it (where is this huge uproar?) they don't have to send their children or their money there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the Catholic schools in the area have a great curriculum

I'm coming to this discussion late, but I never hear people talk about curriculum re CSs. Usually, I hear choice mentioned due to community, or class size, or "because I went when I was a child." I am assuming OP that you what you really mean is "a curriculum that is better than public schools." Can someone enlighten me on the strengths of church's curriculum?

[Anonymous]

No one in the Catholic parish school world is tryiing to reinvent the wheel. Catholic parish schools follow the generally accepted guidelines for elementary education. The differences in quality are directly related to the quality of the teachers/administrators. The tenor of the religious education is set by the pastor of the parish and the general guidelines provided by the diocese.

I wouldn't expect a rigorous academic curriculum from a parish school but that doesn't mean that bright children in parish school won't be ready for a vigorous high school curriculum. Despite what many think, as long as a children are happy in school, have learned how to learn in a structured learning environment, have learned how to read and write, and have mastered pre-algebra/algebra then their innate intelligence and self-motivation will be the deciding factors in how they do in high school and beyond.

If you want to escape the public schools but not pay a fortune in tuition and can accept the validity of the moral arguments at play in the religious world, but not necessarily their conclusions, then parish schools are an option for you; if not, strike them off your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

I have never signed this type of document to attend our Catholic School.

I have signed a document saying I will act a certain way at sports events. I don't think they are trying to control my actions. I think they are just trying to stop people from creating a hostile environment.

I have never, ever, ever heard of a parent of a Catholic School child's actions being controlled and I do know Democratic public figures who send their kids to private catholic schools - they have not be told to change their political view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have never signed this type of document to attend our Catholic School.

I have signed a document saying I will act a certain way at sports events. I don't think they are trying to control my actions. I think they are just trying to stop people from creating a hostile environment.

I have never, ever, ever heard of a parent of a Catholic School child's actions being controlled and I do know Democratic public figures who send their kids to private catholic schools - they have not be told to change their political view.

The requirement seems to be new this year to enroll or reenroll your chld at a parish school run by the Archdiscese of Washington. It doesn't seem to be required of independent Catholic schools, which tend to have more leeway.

The document you sign for sprts events actually IS trying to control your behavior -- at the sports event, which makes sense! But not at home, outside of the event. That's a big difference.

[Anonymous]

"We discuss all religions "

ALL religions? How is that possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have never signed this type of document to attend our Catholic School.

I have signed a document saying I will act a certain way at sports events. I don't think they are trying to control my actions. I think they are just trying to stop people from creating a hostile environment.

I have never, ever, ever heard of a parent of a Catholic School child's actions being controlled and I do know Democratic public figures who send their kids to private catholic schools - they have not be told to change their political view.

The requirement seems to be new this year to enroll or reenroll your chld at a parish school run by the Archdiscese of Washington. It doesn't seem to be required of independent Catholic schools, which tend to have more leeway.

The document you sign for sprts events actually IS trying to control your behavior -- at the sports event, which makes sense! But not at home, outside of the event. That's a big difference.

I don't think they are trying to control behavior at the level you suggest.

[Anonymous]

"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. "


The proliferation of ways in which one can publicly declare their views does not make it harder to resist doing so. If you feel so strongly about an issue that you feel that you must publicly declare your opposition to it then don't sign the form or send your children to the school.

BTW: You could write an article on the death penalty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against an unjust aggressor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think they are trying to control behavior at the level you suggest.

It's very vague and open ended, actually. You don't know what will be a problem, until it comes up.

And if this isn't an attempt to enforce greater compliance with Church teaching, outside of school, g by parents of kids enrolled in Catholic school, why the need for the form in the first place?