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rhmom
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Even so, I didn’t fall into any of those categories, so I was basically told I didn’t exist. All I am saying is that instead of specific numbers and races, I think these decisions should be based on the particular parish’s issues, and the individual asking for help. Not only because of thier race.
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lynx
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Well then it sounds like you’re doing your all. Keep up the good fight.
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JReducation
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I agree that help should be given to those who need it, regardless of ethnicity. The actual mandate of the Church is to always make a preferential option for the poor. It does not say the poor of a specific ethnic group. That being said, with the exception of Miami, most Hispanics in the USA are very poor.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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dixieagle
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It’s very sad if you were unable to send your Catholic children to Catholic school due to finances, and there was no help available, no matter what your race or ethnic background. Here, non-Catholic students must pay full tuition, with registered Catholic parents getting a big tuition break.
(My daughter and SIL are living in Oakland for a couple years. She works with homeless families in San Francisco; clearly there are poor people outside of Oakland in the Bay area!!!)
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dixieagle
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Boy, is this true!!! Here, there is a whole group of upper-income Catholic parents who pull their kids out of Catholic school at middle-school age so they can attend high school at either the upscale Episcopal or independent private school that are considered more socially acceptable. This is despite the fact that there is a fantastic Catholic high school. Makes me want to scream.
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dixieagle
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I think you missed her point. I believe she is saying that many well-to-do Catholic parents who COULD and should send their children to Catholic schools, don’t.
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JReducation
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But are there really that many Catholic schools that serve the wealthy? I know that dioceses have such schools. I’m wondering if there are enough resources to run schools in wealthy and poor neighborhoods. These two populations do not live side by side and the Church has an obligation to make a preferential option for the poor, if the resources are short.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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rhmom
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I don’t know about any where else than where I have lived - in about 4 different diocese, and there were many, many Catholic schools all over the place in every community. They are also not run by diocesan funds, they are run by the parish. Diocesan money becomes involved when someone gets a scholorship, or in other limited ways. Also, does the church’s obligation to the poor supercede thier obligation to Catholics? Because in my case, almost all the money was going to Baptists. (This was a long time ago)But are there really that many Catholic schools that serve the wealthy? I know that dioceses have such schools. I’m wondering if there are enough resources to run schools in wealthy and poor neighborhoods. These two populations do not live side by side and the Church has an obligation to make a preferential option for the poor, if the resources are short.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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JReducation
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OK, now I understand better. These are parrochial schools, not diocesan or religious schools.
In answer to your question about the poor, yes the obligation to the poor supercedes even Catholics. It’s a matter of justice. Justice is not based on religious affiliation, but on need. If you have a none Catholic with a great need than a Catholic, then you take care of the person with the greater need. You always serve from the bottom up.
There are certain things that Catholics have a right to get from the Church, but material assistance is not one of those. When giving material assistance you always serve the poorest, regardless of their beliefs. Sometimes the poorest can be Catholic and other times he may be Baptist or Communist.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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rhmom
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ok,
but doesn’t the church have an obligation to protect thier members faith before the preferential obligation. When my mother was growing up, the church required all Catholic children who had a local Catholic school to go there. Of course at the time, there was no reason why someone would have a difficult time financially doing that, since it was basically free. Was the church wrong?
but doesn’t the church have an obligation to protect thier members faith before the preferential obligation. When my mother was growing up, the church required all Catholic children who had a local Catholic school to go there. Of course at the time, there was no reason why someone would have a difficult time financially doing that, since it was basically free. Was the church wrong?
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rhmom
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and…what if you just gave the poor food and clothes, etc., would that be enough - or where does the obligation stop? Do you have to give the poorest group everything you possibly could?
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JReducation
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No, the Church was not wrong. This was not a Church practice. This was an American Catholic practice. No other country had the mandatory Catholic education that we had in the USA. The local bishops did that to protect the immigrant children, because public schools were very anti-Catholic. The kids would either be abused or they would be converted to Protestantism. You see, at that time, the Catholics were the poor. Yes, have to try to do both, care for the body and the soul.
Today this is not the case. Most Catholics in the USA have been middle class for a long time. Now we are getting a new influx of Catholic immigrants from Latin America and Haiti. These are usually very poor.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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rhmom
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I’m still trying to understand, so can you answer this question brother, thanks.
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JReducation
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I’m sorry, I thought I had addressed this. Yes, the Church has an obligation to give to the poorest of the poor everything that she can possibly give. She cannot give what she does not own. This is often confusing to some people.
It’s interesting that were talking about schools. I ran Catholic schools for 14 years before we realized that we were out of compliance with the rule of our order and had to close down all of our schools. But I loved the school system and I became very interested in its history.
I learned that even though there were some Catholic schools run by certain religiuos orders that served the rich and middle class, they were independent. The Catholic school system itself, what we call parrochial and diocesan schools, was founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Mother Seton’s schools were for the poor, Catholic and Protestant alike. She did not educate the children of the middle class or higher. These kids had to go to private Catholic schools.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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rhmom
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Can you give me a place I can read about this - can’t find anything.Mother Seton’s schools were for the poor, Catholic and Protestant alike. She did not educate the children of the middle class or higher. These kids had to go to private Catholic schools.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Just to remind you again, I wasn’t talking about a middle class or rich person - I was talking about myself - very poor (at the time) raising 3 children by myself - on welfare and housing assistance.
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JReducation
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I have a book called The Seton Years. It is the story of Mother Seton from her birth to her death. But it also provides the story of the Sisters of Charity that she founded and their work. It was put together by the Daughters of Charity. If I’m not mistaken it was for her canonization. If you can find it, her life story is wonderful for any single parent who is struggling. She was poor, mother of five and widow.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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rhmom
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ok, cool - but I think the diocese here is going to far saying that they will only help people in Oakland, and not helping me because I didn’t live there. And, thanks for your help
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JReducation
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archangel04
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I agree with that point that she made and sorry I did not apply it to my comment, but you said it yourself Catholic parents who COULD and should send their children to Catholic schools, don’t this is a choice they make. One of the major reasons many Hispanics are Catholic is because they bring that tradition from their native lands, unfortunately many and I mean MANY protestant churches and evangelicals do a lot to convert them, this includes affordable schooling for them and other social help. The evangelicals have succeeded in converting many Hispanic Catholic families and it’s sad, but with the lack of Catholic education of them, it’s going to continue.
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