Catholic School Hiding Statues

[Brownginger]

California Catholic school hiding statues because there are so few Catholic students and so many non-Catholics.

foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25/california-catholic-school-under-fire-for-removing-and-relocating-alienating-religious-statues.html

Apparently the non-Catholics are offended by Catholic traditions and teachings. Is the origin of the problem that Catholics are having fewer children, that they choose not to have the ones they have educated in Catholic schools, or that they cannot afford Catholic schools? Sad.

 

[venite_adoremus]

Perhaps a better reason is vandalism avoidance. Consider the source.

 

[giuseppe96]

It is incredibly sad that Catholic parents don’t enroll their children in parochial schools anymore. Incidentally, you shouldn’t send your children to a Catholic school if you disagree with their teachings. Can you imagine if a Catholic sent their child to a Jewish or Muslim school and wanted them to make changes because their teachings “offend” them?

 

[Usige]

California Catholic school hiding statues because there are so few Catholic students and so many non-Catholics.

foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25/california-catholic-school-under-fire-for-removing-and-relocating-alienating-religious-statues.html

Apparently the non-Catholics are offended by Catholic traditions and teachings. Is the origin of the problem that Catholics are having fewer children, that they choose not to have the ones they have educated in Catholic schools, or that they cannot afford Catholic schools? Sad.

Probably a combination of things. I have 7 kids, but even with a very good income I could not afford to send them all to any of the local Catholic schools. Even at that, they would not accept my two oldest children because they had learning disabilities and did not meet their “academic acceptance” criteria. I wasn’t about to say “sorry guys you aren’t good enough, but your siblings are so different schools for you.”

Many, if not most, Catholic schools in my area are more like George Town or Notre Dame. They might have a thread of Catholicism in them, but they are essentially private academies where academic success is the focus and Catholicism is okay (as long it doesn’t get in the way).

I think the challenge for many Catholic schools is that many used to be staffed by priests and religious who lived in one or two dormitories owned by the church or religious congregation. Because of that, costs were fairly minimal to run the school so tuition was also lower. In talking to my pastor he said that his parents sent him and his brother and sister to catholic high school for less than I’d pay for one of my kids to go to elementary school; not in absolute dollars either, but adjusted for inflation. It also discounts that many Catholics do not give as much as they used to (or have simply left the faith) so there is not the community as a whole that is supporting the school in many cases.

After the Second Vatican Council, many of the religious teaching orders returned to their foundations to teach the poor. What that often left was suburban schools with no staff. In most cases the choice came down to closing the school or opening it to people that might be willing to pay more to hire secular teachers. Of course, secular teachers had higher salaries since they weren’t all sharing a house or taking vows of poverty. To make the increased cost justifiable, many schools started to focus on and advertise their academic excellence. This is what then leads to entrance exams et cetera. If you have marginal students that pull down your scores then you have to explain why you are charging 4 or 5,0000 a year for your kids to have the same scores as the public schools that are free.

Long and short is that once a school is focused on good scores over good Catholics then they might as well sell the building and let non-Catholics run it. In many cases that is what is already happening and often the diocese or parish is supplementing the education of the very people that want to hide anything Catholic. I would rather see them take the money and use it as an endowment to fund the education of those that need it rather than to reduce the tuition of people that want a college prep academy.

 

[Exiled_Child]

It is incredibly sad that Catholic parents don’t enroll their children in parochial schools anymore. Incidentally, you shouldn’t send your children to a Catholic school if you disagree with their teachings. Can you imagine if a Catholic sent their child to a Jewish or Muslim school and wanted them to make changes because their teachings “offend” them?

I absolutely, unreservedly agree with this. +1.

 

[phil19034]

1. this is NOT a parochial school. It’s an independent Catholic school, run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael – sanrafaelop.org. This school is NOT part of the Diocese or a local parish. The school’s website is: sandomenico.org/
2. According this local news organization, the statues were removed to make the school more inclusive to non-Catholics: marinij.com/social-affairs/20170824/san-anselmos-san-domenico-school-creates-stir-by-removing-catholic-statues

So it looks like the Statues are being removed so they are not offensive to non-Catholics.

This came from the article that I linked above:

*In an email to the school’s board of directors, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael and the head of school, Shannon Fitzpatrick objected to the removal of the statues and other steps the school has taken in an effort to make the school more inclusive.

“Articulating an inclusive foundation appears to mean letting go of San Domenico’s 167-year tradition as a Dominican Catholic school and being both afraid and ashamed to celebrate one’s heritage and beliefs,” wrote Fitzpatrick, whose 8-year-old son attends the school.

She added, “In our time here, the word ‘Catholic’ has been removed from the mission statement, sacraments were removed from the curriculum, the lower school curriculum was changed to world religions, the logo and colors were changed to be ‘less Catholic,’ and the uniform was changed to be less Catholic.”*

 

[EIF5A]

1. this is NOT a parochial school. It’s an independent Catholic school, run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael – sanrafaelop.org. This school is NOT part of the Diocese or a local parish. The school’s website is: sandomenico.org/
2. According this local news organization, the statues were removed to make the school more inclusive to non-Catholics: marinij.com/social-affairs/20170824/san-anselmos-san-domenico-school-creates-stir-by-removing-catholic-statues

So it looks like the Statues are being removed so they are not offensive to non-Catholics.

This came from the article that I linked above:

*In an email to the school’s board of directors, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael and the head of school, Shannon Fitzpatrick objected to the removal of the statues and other steps the school has taken in an effort to make the school more inclusive.

“Articulating an inclusive foundation appears to mean letting go of San Domenico’s 167-year tradition as a Dominican Catholic school and being both afraid and ashamed to celebrate one’s heritage and beliefs,” wrote Fitzpatrick, whose 8-year-old son attends the school.

She added, “In our time here, the word ‘Catholic’ has been removed from the mission statement, sacraments were removed from the curriculum, the lower school curriculum was changed to world religions, the logo and colors were changed to be ‘less Catholic,’ and the uniform was changed to be less Catholic.”*

Why does a Catholic school have to be inclusive for non-Catholics?

Trading the faith for modern philosophy of “tolerance”?

I guess we have only ourselves to blame for indifference to our own religious faith and tradition. At least radical leftists put in energy (though wrong and violent) to obtain what they want…

 

[phil19034]

here are a few other news articles regarding this

washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/25/calif-catholic-school-removes-alienating-religious/

freebeacon.com/culture/california-catholic-school-removes-statues-jesus-mary/

I also think the tuition should tell you a little bit about this school too… it’s obvious that they are more interested in being an elite boarding school than a Catholic school

sandomenico.org/admissions/tuition

$29,850 for Kindergarten
$42,825 for High School (commuters)
$58,350 for High School (boarders)

 

[phil19034]

Why does a Catholic school have to be inclusive for non-Catholics?

Trading the faith for modern philosophy of “tolerance”?

I guess we have only ourselves to blame for indifference to our own religious faith and tradition. At least radical leftists put in energy (though wrong and violent) to obtain what they want…

Here’s a quote from the Head of the School

San Domenico is both a Catholic school and an independent school,” said Head of School Cecily Stock, “but what we were finding after doing some research is that in the broader community we are known as being a Catholic school and are not necessarily known as an independent school. We want to make sure that prospective families are aware that we are an independent school.”

Sounds like they are in the process of no longer being a Catholic School. Apparently, last year they stopped offering first communion classes for their 2nd graders, tell parents that their kids would need to start attending CCD.

Their new Strategic Plan shows that they are moving away from a Catholic identity: sandomenico.org/about/strategicplan

*With SD2021 our community has come together to establish a solid and exciting vision for the future of San Domenico. Key areas of focus include commitments to:

1. Provide an increasingly vibrant educational experience by ensuring our core values of study, reflection, community, and service inform all of our programs.

2) Strengthen San Domenico’s identity as an Independent School and clearly articulate our inclusive spiritual foundation.

1. Create a cohesive educational experience across all grades, inspiring families to remain at San Domenico through high school graduation.
2. Attract, develop, and retain exceptional faculty who embody and support the mission and vision of San Domenico.
3. Ensure San Domenico’s long-term success through inspired governance and leadership, prudent financial management, dynamic student recruitment, bold philanthropic initiatives, and investment in facilities.*

 

[Usige]

here are a few other news articles regarding this

washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/25/calif-catholic-school-removes-alienating-religious/

freebeacon.com/culture/california-catholic-school-removes-statues-jesus-mary/

I also think the tuition should tell you a little bit about this school too… it’s obvious that they are more interested in being an elite boarding school than a Catholic school

sandomenico.org/admissions/tuition

$29,850 for Kindergarten
$42,825 for High School (commuters)
$58,350 for High School (boarders)

Wow and I balked at the 4-22k tuitions in my area.I think it’s a little laughable that the last link says “Tuition and Affordability” and yet no where in the body of the page is there mention of anything smelling of affordability.

These factors on granting assistance follow along with my statement that many “catholic” schools really don’t care about being catholic. From their page the factors are:

• Strength of a candidate’s academic credentials
• Quality of extracurricular involvement
• Strength of recommendations
• Potential to make a meaningful contribution to the school
• Diversity she or he will bring to the campus community
• Amount of need

I notice “need” is one of the last things listed, but all the others are hallmarks of elite prep schools. I also notice nothing about being a practicing Catholic being a consideration which the local schools here at least give some weight to.

This isn’t a Catholic school hiding statues. It’s a prep school where the Catholics forgot to take the statues with them when they left.

 

[phil19034]

Wow and I balked at the 4-22k tuitions in my area.I think it’s a little laughable that the last link says “Tuition and Affordability” and yet no where in the body of the page is there mention of anything smelling of affordability.

The non-refundable $1500 enrollment fee doesn’t sound very affordable either!

 

[truetofaith]

California Catholic school hiding statues because there are so few Catholic students and so many non-Catholics.

foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25/california-catholic-school-under-fire-for-removing-and-relocating-alienating-religious-statues.html

Apparently the non-Catholics are offended by Catholic traditions and teachings. Is the origin of the problem that Catholics are having fewer children, that they choose not to have the ones they have educated in Catholic schools, or that they cannot afford Catholic schools? Sad.

If they are offended by the religious statues…then they should go to a public school!

 

[ARSpade]

1. this is NOT a parochial school. It’s an independent Catholic school, run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael – sanrafaelop.org. This school is NOT part of the Diocese or a local parish. The school’s website is: sandomenico.org/

I read the article and thought “I bet there’s no habits” and, lo, I was right.

Also, it looks like in about 10 years there won’t be any Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, so it’s probably a good idea to turn the school over to anybody who will take it at this point.

 

[HCTC]

I have to say that I am impressed with the research done by those commenting on this thread who have taken the trouble to find out details about San Domenico School.
My children went to a parochial school in Marin County; but I have several friends who sent their children to San Domenico, and I had occasion to be on the campus - though not for about six or seven years now.

When I was last on the campus, Sister Gervaise was head of school. The current head of school Cecily Stock writes of Sr, Gervaise: “Sr. Gervaise’s far-thinking mind, gentle spirit and intelligence give us a legacy that is ever-giving. She has lived on campus and dedicated her life to SD and her students for 50 years.”

The day that I met Sr. Gervaise I ran into her in the Upper School dining hall during a short school break so it was quiet on campus - only international boarding students were in the hall that day. My husband and I were there with a group doing a bird survey. I was looking for a restroom. Upon finding out that we were birding, Sister launched into an enthusiastic description of the school’s sustainability program. She was amazing - captivating really.

I think that what is wonderful about SD is demonstrated on this web page titled:
Institutional Sustainability at San Domenico School
Exploring the relationship of Ecology & Spirituality

earthlight.org/sandomenico23.html

An excerpt:

San Domenico’s head of school, Sister Gervaise Valpey, O.P., and the faculty and staff have earnestly begun the difficult and essential work of transforming San Domenico into a sustainable institution. As a Dominican, Sister Gervaise finds strong support for such work within her order’s eight centuries of experience in developing self-reliant monastic communities. Furthermore, the school’s value-based mission statement celebrates the diversity of life and recognizes “what it means to be human in a global community and respond with integrity to the needs and challenges of our time.”

For many years, Sister Gervaise has been deeply inspired by the life and work of Dominican Sister Miriam Therese MacGillis, founder of Genesis Farm, and Father Thomas Berry, the Catholic “geologian” and author of The Dream of the Earth. MacGillis, Berry, and many other contemporary religious thinkers have begun to articulate a theology of continuity between the human community and the interpenetrating natural communities upon which it is entirely dependent. This continuity - or sacred ecology - has profound implications for our economic, political, religious, and educational institutions.

In 1994, Sister Gervaise, working with Sim Van der Ryn of the Ecological Design Institute, was able to secure a one-year grant from her religious community to launch the Sustainable San Domenico Project. From the beginning, the Project has had a twofold purpose: to introduce sustainability into the curriculum at all grade levels and across all disciplines; and to make the school’s operations, maintenance, buying practices, and buildings reflect the principles of sustainability. Underlying both efforts is the notion of ecological design, a comprehensive strategy for minimizing negative environmental impacts.

 

[Rau]

Why does a Catholic school have to be inclusive for non-Catholics?

Asking the question another way - why does a school placing such a high priority on “inclusiveness” choose to call itself Catholic?

 

[jc4751]

Asking the question another way - why does a school placing such a high priority on “inclusiveness” choose to call itself Catholic?

Probably because people generally associate Catholic education with being a quality education. Maybe a little like the trend of adding an “e” on the end of a name (i.e. “Old Towne”, etc) to give it an air of elegance.

 

[ARSpade]

sandomenico.org/admissions/tuition

Tuition there, for Kindergarten, costs more than a year of college did for me. $29k a year. That must be some awesome finger painting.

 

[abucs]

I am assuming that these nuns are not of the ‘rigidly Catholic’ persuasion.

Please take note Holy Father.