Archdiocese of New York tells 31 Catholic schools they face closure, have until January to appeal

[irishpatrick]

There are very few things more important than a Catholic education. Catholics in large numbers do not seem to understand that.

We should be doing everything we can to expand and improve our schools and we should see it as a true painful event whenever a Catholic school closes. It is the one place our kids can be kept somewhat safe from the insane culture we live in.

 

[cyb]

There are very few things more important than a Catholic education. Catholics in large numbers do not seem to understand that.

Agreed. Did you know that the 32 NY schools to be shuttered constitutes the largest # of school closings in the Archdiocese’s history? And this is just this year. There were schools closed last year, and rest assured, there will be more next year. I am putting up the list of schools affected at the end of this post, if anyone is interested.

I don’t care if you’re a childless Catholic, a poverty-stricken Catholic, or a Boise, Idaho Catholic…this depressing situation affects you and your Church.

As for suggestions of what can be done to prevent this sort of thing from continuing, some general ones…

1. Pray for good Bishops and Priests who will make it a priority to reclaim Catholic schools
2. Do some research and find out which Bishops/Priests/Religious are running good, faithful Catholic schools and, if possible, donate to them (no matter what part of the country/world they’re in) instead of donating to something like the CCHD.
3. Write letters of support to those who are running authentic Catholic schools.
4. Write letters of concern to those who neglect their Catholic schools/allow heresy in their schools/shut down their schools en masse.
5. Keep abreast of the situation and stay informed.
6. Pray for inspiration as to what you can do to make the situation better.

The schools are:

Manhattan:

St. Joseph of the Holy Family
All Saints
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Our Lady of Sorrows
Good Shepherd

Bronx:

St. Augustine
St. John Vianney
St. Martin of Tours
St. Dominic
St. Anthony-St. Francis
St. Pius V Girls High School

Staten Island:

St. Margaret Mary
St. Sylvester
St. Roch
St. Mary

Westchester/Putnam:

St. Ann, Ossining
St. Anthony of Padua, West Harrison
Christ the King, Yonkers
St. Bartholomew, Yonkers
St. Mary, Yonkers
St. Joseph, Croton Falls
St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac
Sacred Heart School for the Arts, Mt. Vernon
Sts. Peter and Paul, Mt. Vernon
Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla

Upper Counties:

Sacred Heart, Highland Falls
St. Thomas of Canterbury, Cornwall-on-Hudson
St. Joseph, New Windsor
St. Peter, Poughkeepsie
St. Joseph, Middletown
St. Joseph, Kingston
St. Augustine, Highland

 

[quotidianum]

Let’s talk. First, $12M? You could have it overnight. Tell the CCHD to send it over and start supporting our Church instead of supporting abortion, gay marriage, and prostitution.

Look at all the money that’s been paid out over the sex scandal. Hundreds of millions. There always seems to be money for that. Where do they get it from?

We don’t lack money. We lack Bishops who make it a priority to keep Catholic schools open and keep Catholic schools Catholic.

If we had a strong Catholic educational system in this country, there would be no lack of money. People would be happy to support it.

Yeah, good point. There’s tons of money to cover up for the sex crimes, but not to run the schools. I also agree that if these schools were more Catholic, Catholics would be more willing to send their kids there and support them. There aren’t a lot of difference between some “Catholic” schools and public schools these days: some Catholic schools are even worse! That’s so sad, because kids need direction, and they need the Faith. Its even worse on the college level, of course, with so-called “Catholic” schools like Notre Dame running around blatantly ignoring even the most basic Catholic teachings, and still no one reprimands them. Sad.

If I had kids, I’d do whatever I could to home-school them, because I know there’s no school anywhere near where I live that I would trust to teach them, “Catholic” or not. You don’t even want to know what the teachers are teaching at the “Jesuit” high school here in my city!! Hopefully there will be here soon, as we have a FSSP group that might start up, and that would be a blessing from God, for sure! Get those kids speakin’ Latin, by golly!

 

[Robert_Bay]

Please charitably discuss the issues, not each other

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Sic transit gloria mundi!

 

[curlycool89]

Yeah, good point. There’s tons of money to cover up for the sex crimes, but not to run the schools.

Since no one seems to read anything, I’ll rehash my point. The money for sex abuse is either court ordered or a legal settlement. In both cases, the money must be paid as set out in the settlement or order. There is no choice in the matter, the money is either paid out of there’re more fines/lawsuits (which directs even more money that way). That money is tied up and can’t be touched. There’s no point in complaining about it because there’s nothing we can do about it anymore.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Since no one seems to read anything, I’ll rehash my point. The money for sex abuse is either court ordered or a legal settlement. In both cases, the money must be paid as set out in the settlement or order. There is no choice in the matter, the money is either paid out of there’re more fines/lawsuits (which directs even more money that way). That money is tied up and can’t be touched. There’s no point in complaining about it because there’s nothing we can do about it anymore.

Yes there is that.

Then there is the additional question of subsidizing schools. Should schools that can not support themselves by their enrollment be given money that could be spent on other programs to keep them open?

It is possible that schools could be consolidated so that the enrollment will cover the operation of the school?

These are just a few questions that must be addressed and I trust that the Archbishop addressed these and all the other questions before he chose to do what he felt needs to be done. No one likes schools closing, no bishop likes to close them or to close parishes but in these times they need to be done sometimes.

And as I said, I trust in the Archbishop, after all, the archdiocese is his responsibility and it is his authority to run it.

 

[Truism]

"Small stones on the move make landslides."

This was the quote I heard on a program called “The Church Suffering” on EWTN last night.

For anyone interested in Catholic education, I would like to propose a few small stones and invite anyone else to add some of their own. Hopefully, we will then get the landslide.

1. For all Catholic schools: Contact your local Catholic school and ask if they would accept
   Divine Mercy leaflets for all their students. With Christmas upon us, it would make a great
   gift to the school and for their students and their families. The cost would be nominal.
   Wouldn’t it be great if in every Catholic school the Divine Mercy Chaplet was recited by the
   entire school just before dismissal? (The intention can be for keeping all Catholic schools
   open and for flourishing Catholic education.)
2. For every 7th, 8th, and High School: Michael Voris’ Catechism dvds/his programs on
   the Eucharist/various other programs can be played and discussed. Again, the cost is
   nominal and the effect would be huge. Likewise, parent groups and parish groups could do
   the same.
3. Let everyone in the parish (where there is a school) congratulate the Pastor for keeping it
   open and let him know it’s a great priority.
4. Every Catholic school should publish articles in their local newspapers on a consistent
   basis to keep their community aware of their existence and their contributions, thus keeping
   interest high.
5. Every Catholic school child should be attending Mass with the school at least once a month
   and should go the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month, preferably on First
   Friday.
6. Use the internet/blogs/forums, facebook, twitter, etc. to publicize good Catholic schools,
   and sometimes to ask for help. This will garner attention and support from Catholics around
   the world. Just think how their libraries can be stocked with great books if they put their
   “wish-lists” on the internet. Many people are willing to buy one book about the Saints, etc.
   as well as other books. This takes a great financial burden off each school. Another
   internet campaign might be to give just one dollar to a given necessity. If each person on
   that internet site responds, think of the landslide that can occur.

I would like others to add their stones and perhaps print it out and bring it to your local Catholic school Principal for perusal.

 

[Truism]

Wow! Great News! I just learned that there is a website called Donorschoose.org. Teachers can post what they need. Others can donate and the website delivers the items to the school. Catholic schools should make great use of this site. Imagine the help that could be. Please spread the word to your local Catholic school. It seems to be a legitimate site and was mentioned on today’s Oprah show. I mention this because Oprah would have investigated it and made sure it is legitimate.:

 

[curlycool89]

Truism:

Every Catholic school should publish articles in their local newspapers on a consistent
basis to keep their community aware of their existence and their contributions, thus keeping
interest high.

1. Use the internet/blogs/forums, facebook, twitter, etc. to publicize good Catholic schools,
   and sometimes to ask for help. This will garner attention and support from Catholics around
   the world. Just think how their libraries can be stocked with great books if they put their
   “wish-lists” on the internet. Many people are willing to buy one book about the Saints, etc.
   as well as other books. This takes a great financial burden off each school. Another
   internet campaign might be to give just one dollar to a given necessity. If each person on
   that internet site responds, think of the landslide that can occur.

Sure, why not. It’d probably good, and from a marketing point of view they really should be doing that. Although, it doesn’t really apply to me here in Canada. In Saskatchewan/Alberta, Catholic schools are publicly funded (you either pay the school portion your taxes to the Public board or the Catholic board in your municipality, and the Province chips in the rest), although we still see closings and amalgamations (based on enrolment numbers and facilities, because some neighbourhoods have changed demographics and no longer need a elementary school when there’s one pretty close by. One of the Catholic high schools in my hometown will probably be closed because a newer one opened up nearby and everyone transferred there).

The point is that there’s got to be a reason to have a Catholic school. It’s the theory of social organizations; a SO exists to fulfill a need in society. If no one is going to the school, then there’s no point in having it. Yes, I think Catholic schools are very important, but we can’t force people to use them. At that point, it really only exists to make us feel like we’re doing something. If no one’s using it, then the money can be put to better use (other schools that are used, or parish upkeep, or helping the poor, or crisis pregnancy centres. That list is not wholly inclusive either, there’s many other options).

It’s simple free market economics really, there has to be a demand or else you don’t need to supply anything.