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

[Anonymous]

My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

Cost and academics. That was my main reason for looking at them. I found a huge range in the Catholics from very welcoming to we will convert your child. Having the basics like textbooks and a real curriculum is always helpful. None hide it but they all had very different reactions to us being not Christian/Catholic. Sadly, there are not a lot of other choices in that price range. If there were a lot of us would gladly sign up. Its basically either Catholics or $40-50K schools.

Just as was posted above.

Non-Catholics are interested in Catholic schools because they don’t want to send them to public schools with all their problems and they cannot afford or don’t want to spend the money a secular private would cost.

They see them as sort of a discount private school.

That is NOT the primary reason why Catholics send their children to Catholic schools. It’s a family tradition, they want to see their faith reinforced and they want to continue to build the community that surrounds the parish. They hope to prepare their children to attend a Catholic high school.

In the more affluent areas, the schools are predominantly Catholic. A few non-Catholic families aren’t going to upset anyone, just as long as the school stays away from some sort of “tipping point” that would cause the parishioners to complain.

Its much easier as Christian to send your child to Catholic school. We looked due to the curriculum and structure. The school staff seemed welcoming but it was the other parents I worried about as we were not Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, seriously you just wrote that you want your kids to attend Catholic school because it’s close to your house?

It is a religion. The people that run those schools, participate in the parish life, give and fund the school in part, all the teachers, are there to raise and teach ALL the children the Catholic faith.

You’re okay with your child doing “prayer hands” every time they walk down the hall? Kneeling and praying and placing a flower at Mary’s statue on her day? Your child being “sprinkled” with holy water on some feast days as the priest chants a prayer? Lighting candles and placing them at the altar to honor all the children who have died in abortions? These are just examples off the top of my head from my kids school. K , 3 and 7.

It is not a public school where they go to a religion class like an art class and your ignorance of this is what is making us Catholics a little crazy here.

Classic case of Catholic intolerance of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, seriously you just wrote that you want your kids to attend Catholic school because it’s close to your house?

It is a religion. The people that run those schools, participate in the parish life, give and fund the school in part, all the teachers, are there to raise and teach ALL the children the Catholic faith.

You’re okay with your child doing “prayer hands” every time they walk down the hall? Kneeling and praying and placing a flower at Mary’s statue on her day? Your child being “sprinkled” with holy water on some feast days as the priest chants a prayer? Lighting candles and placing them at the altar to honor all the children who have died in abortions? These are just examples off the top of my head from my kids school. K , 3 and 7.

It is not a public school where they go to a religion class like an art class and your ignorance of this is what is making us Catholics a little crazy here.

Classic case of Catholic intolerance of others.

Classic of intolerance, but nobody has established that “intolerance” is a catholic value. If anything, I am reassured by the very tolerant sounding catholic parents I’m reading about on this board. Those are the parents that I think best represent the church and it’s values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, seriously you just wrote that you want your kids to attend Catholic school because it’s close to your house?

It is a religion. The people that run those schools, participate in the parish life, give and fund the school in part, all the teachers, are there to raise and teach ALL the children the Catholic faith.

You’re okay with your child doing “prayer hands” every time they walk down the hall? Kneeling and praying and placing a flower at Mary’s statue on her day? Your child being “sprinkled” with holy water on some feast days as the priest chants a prayer? Lighting candles and placing them at the altar to honor all the children who have died in abortions? These are just examples off the top of my head from my kids school. K , 3 and 7.

It is not a public school where they go to a religion class like an art class and your ignorance of this is what is making us Catholics a little crazy here.

Classic case of Catholic intolerance of others.

I am Catholic and think PP is nuts. All are welcomed at our school. I hope everyone would feel comfortable. I understand why some would not want to attend because the religion aspect is woven in to all parts of school. But a huge part of the reason I am sending my children to Catholic school is to learn how to be good people and the virtues that are reinforced in the school. I hope my kids come out of the school very tolerant of other religions, because that is certainly how I feel.

[Anonymous]

My family immigrated from a Muslim country and many of them attended Catholic schools as children (this was in the 1950s and 1960s). It was no big deal over there and I can’t understand why it would be a big deal here in our great “melting pot” of a nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, seriously you just wrote that you want your kids to attend Catholic school because it’s close to your house?

It is a religion. The people that run those schools, participate in the parish life, give and fund the school in part, all the teachers, are there to raise and teach ALL the children the Catholic faith.

You’re okay with your child doing “prayer hands” every time they walk down the hall? Kneeling and praying and placing a flower at Mary’s statue on her day? Your child being “sprinkled” with holy water on some feast days as the priest chants a prayer? Lighting candles and placing them at the altar to honor all the children who have died in abortions? These are just examples off the top of my head from my kids school. K , 3 and 7.

It is not a public school where they go to a religion class like an art class and your ignorance of this is what is making us Catholics a little crazy here.

Classic case of Catholic intolerance of others.

I am Catholic and think PP is nuts. All are welcomed at our school. I hope everyone would feel comfortable. I understand why some would not want to attend because the religion aspect is woven in to all parts of school. But a huge part of the reason I am sending my children to Catholic school is to learn how to be good people and the virtues that are reinforced in the school. I hope my kids come out of the school very tolerant of other religions, because that is certainly how I feel.

+1 There is one unstable poster on this thread (and there is no guarantee that that poster is even Catholic -- sure doesn't sound Catholic to me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family immigrated from a Muslim country and many of them attended Catholic schools as children (this was in the 1950s and 1960s). It was no big deal over there and I can’t understand why it would be a big deal here in our great “melting pot” of a nation.

It isn't a big deal (except to one anonymous person who is trying to stir the pot on DCUM).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family immigrated from a Muslim country and many of them attended Catholic schools as children (this was in the 1950s and 1960s). It was no big deal over there and I can’t understand why it would be a big deal here in our great “melting pot” of a nation.

It isn't a big deal (except to one anonymous person who is trying to stir the pot on DCUM).

One anonymous bigot. It's like Texas in the 1960s all over again on this Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

Thanks for this!! - OP

[Anonymous]

This is amazing. Instead of reflecting on missteps and how to be a better neighbor to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the response on this thread is to lash out at people outside the Cagholic neighbor.

Not a very Christian attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

What exactly do you mean by the bolded, i.e., all is well again? Is this to imply thank goodness they realize you aren't Catholic as if you would be embarrassed to be thought of that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

You don’t get how “forgetting” it is a catholic school and your kids “not being phased” by an important ritual of our religion is so disrespectful? For generations upon generations of us working to instill the Catholic faith for the next, you “forget “ and are “unphased” by it.

Can you imagine the reaction you would get it you said you totally forgot it was a Muslim temple and just stood whatever way you wanted, no big deal, taught your kids to be unphased and just hang out like it’s a middle school dance ?
Come on now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

What exactly do you mean by the bolded, i.e., all is well again? Is this to imply thank goodness they realize you aren't Catholic as if you would be embarrassed to be thought of that way.

Goodness. Calm down. I’m that previous poster and all I meant is that it’s simply “not a thing”. I meant “all is well again” in that as soon as I explain that we aren’t catholic but the school was the best fit for our family and kids, nobody (literally nobody!!) has ever asked a follow up question about why my non Catholic family goes to a Catholic school.

I assume everyone who sees the school magnet on my car, who hears us talks about the school, or who sees us in school clothing assumes we are Catholic. And I think that’s a fair assumption and I could care less that people make it! If they ask, I explain. We are very proud of our school and happy to support it. It’s bizarre that you’d even suggest that someone would send their child (paying for it to boot) somewhere that “embarrassed” them.

I was trying to give OP some very honest feedback about my family’s experience as it seems like hers might be in a similar situation and there are so many people on this thread weighing in on a topic they do not have first hand experience on. I was trying to help. No more no less. Always assume positive intent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My biggest takeaway from this thread is how bigoted and intolerant many of you are.

OP, I’m the mom of two kids in a Catholic school, 5th grade and 8th grade. We are also not catholic and we came to our school also because of location! Our public has a good reputation for academics, but we hate its size and our Catholic school is about 8 minutes from our house. We could have made a private work but we also wanted our kids to be in a “neighborhood” school so friends and activities would be part of our community.

I often forget the school is Catholic or even religious, ignoring that I drive past the church on its grounds daily and the school name as Saint in its name. Homework is rarely about anything related to religion. Our 5th grader recently did a project on saints. It wasn’t a “Catholic” project - our Christian faith also believes in saints. None of the parents have ever said anything to us about our faith. I think some know, kind of in the way you just happen to learn things about people over time. Certainly nobody from the school had ever made it an issue. My kids have never minded the weekly masses. The homily lessons have seemingly really been on a kid’s level - how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to do the right thing even when it is hard to do, how to forgive other people. I don’t think those are Catholic ideals per se but will let the righteous on this board tell me if I am wrong. I’m sure my kids got holy water sprinkled on them at some point. It hasn’t phased them. the priest certainly must know that some of the children are non Catholic. Doesn’t seem like it bothered him either.

The only times it has really been apparent are the sacrament years (second and eighth at our school) when kids do some projects (workbooks, reflections) focused on those sacraments. They do the work in religious class because otherwise the kids would be doing it in Sunday school. And sometimes, we will be out and about after school when the kids are still in their uniforms and will run into a friend or neighbor who will say “oh I didn’t realize you are catholic!” I explain that we just go to the school and all is well again. (As an aside, uniforms are AMAZING)

If you can live with all of that, you’ll be fine. As others have said, it really is not a thing about who is what religion or who goes to mass. The people on this thread claiming it is a thing are not living it daily. I am, and can tell you we remain very happy with our decision in the school.

You don’t get how “forgetting” it is a catholic school and your kids “not being phased” by an important ritual of our religion is so disrespectful? For generations upon generations of us working to instill the Catholic faith for the next, you “forget “ and are “unphased” by it.

Can you imagine the reaction you would get it you said you totally forgot it was a Muslim temple and just stood whatever way you wanted, no big deal, taught your kids to be unphased and just hang out like it’s a middle school dance ?
Come on now

I’m going to assume you are the 14:46 poster from yesterday.

But nope, I do not get it. I will share that the two priests at our school’s parish have been incredibly welcoming to us, as have the principal, front office staff, and my kids teachers. They all know we are Lutheran and they all seem to care a million percent less than you do. I assume that if it were an issue for them (maybe most importantly the priests?) they would raise it with us. My point was that my kids understand the environment they are in and they are respectful of it. They support their friends. Our entire family was happy to be invited (by the parish coordinator for the sacraments) to attend the first penance and first communions for their classmates. We attended (so did a few of the other non Catholic families) and were proud to celebrate their friends on big milestones in their lives. I helped coordinate the reception for one of the first communions because I knew I was in a position to help and my kid felt connected to the event. This is what part of being a community looks like.

I may not be able to help sort your thoughts on this topic, but I’d suggest talking to your own priest about why they allow non-Catholics at the school. I feel like if priests are welcoming to all, parishioners should appreciate that we aren’t doing anything “wrong” and are also valued members of the school community.