Viewpoint: The treason of the clerks: "The treason of the clerks
Church leaders and Catholic educators are killing Catholic schools
By ANDREW GREELEY"
Have your read Andrew Greeley’s column in the April 8, 2005 issue of the National Catholic Reporter? It’s worth reading. He has some strong words to say about the lack of support for Catholic Schools.
Greeley says, “Why don’t these clergy or quasi clergy want to accept good news about either the priests or the schools?”
“Another reason,” Greeley says, “is that the schools belong to the pre-Vatican II church. They have to go, just like everything else—the Mother of Jesus, saints, holy water, the rosary, the souls in purgatory, angels, all that kind of junk. Then we can really build a new church around the liturgy and the catechumenate and religious education.” Strong words may be an understatement.
He continues saying, “Don’t they understand that the combination of the neighborhood parish and the parochial school is one of the most ingenious community-building mechanisms that humankind has ever devised?”
“God forgive”, Greeley concludes saying, “those who are permitting Catholic schools to slip under the waves.”
Greeley’s reflections provide some additional information for us as we dialogue with Peter Steinfels at the Annual Meeting. I wonder what part I’ve played in catechizing about Catholic traditions, practices and rituals and is my own ministry based on a to narrow vision of Catholic life.
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As I read this article, I realized that so much of our own approach towards Catholic schools has come from our "competitive" or "territorial" paradigm coming from competing for funds or attention at the parish.
Except for two years at a public university, my entire educational life has been spent in one form of catholic school or another. If we get beyond the competitive language - we have to realize that we all envy the opportunity catholic schools have to have those whom they are forming for such an extended time with multiple opportunities for word, worship, community and service! When the partnership between the family and the school is strong and that is what I think Greeley is referring to here - it's a hard combination to beat. Don’t we hope the same for our Faith Formation programs?
Honestly in my archdiocese much of what Greeley says isn't being done IS BEING DONE. Through corporate and community partnerships much has been done to strengthen all of our schools with special effort on the inner city. I have to agree with Greeley that it is tragic when opportunities are lost. I know what the Catholic schools in Washington DC meant to the black catholic community there.
The reality is that many can simply not afford the school. Wasn't the origin of CCD from the national dialogue about what to do about "everyone else" who was seeking opportunity to grown in the Faith but who could not afford a school? Do we have to compete or do we simply have different audiences? Should we rejoice when a successful approach and there is plenty data to prove that Catholic schools are successful - is failing? Do we really believe that we can compete with such a comprehensive approach to formation as found in a successful catholic school that does use good catechetical method and embrace their catholic identity? I would think we should be learning from those who are successful and thinking about what is possible to duplicate - such as stronger home-program relationships and strong formation of "faculty/catechist" and uncompromisingly professional leadership. Are we not each forming disciples and persons committed to the same church? Is our envy of the resources, blinding us to those aspects of Catholic schools that are good for our church? As someone who has direct responsibility for religion in the schools as well as parish programs I believe we have to encourage excellence in both and move beyond the competitive stance. We also need to find new ways to network all of those who are in formation ministry so that we work together and share resources that truly belong to the community we serve and form. I believe we can benefit from what has been best in each approach to formation. We have much to add to the school catholic identity discussions from the catechetical documents and they have much to teach us about partnering with the family to name a few.
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