C
commenter
Guest
Some of the established Catholic schools are very good. The problem is that some schools became an end in themselves, rather than a means to sanctification and evangelization. I have seen parents fanatic about getting their child into the school the parent attended, with no apparent interest in what, if any, religion they learn. Other lay or religious persons used parochial schools as a platform for imposing their religious opinions - which they wouldn’t be allowed to do in a public, or faithful Catholic school.
Parish schools seem to be least affected by deterioration, but even there, the pastor may have influence only at the times he is physically there. Religious order girls schools may have lost almost all their teaching sisters, but in too many cases they selected lay administrators and teachers that strongly push an anti-Magisterium viewpoint. The Church is regarded as an oppressor of women, and laity in general. In many Catholic schools generally, nothing is presented as absolutely true or inherently good; everything is relative. Our diocese has billboards boasting that 98 percent of their graduates go on to college. They show no interest in how many believe Christian dogma, or even know it.
This tragedy is the result of years of neglect; neglect by parents, who ceded their primary responsibility as religious educators, not just role models; neglect by pastors, who were often only interested in their schools to compete against others in enrollment, or sports; neglect by bishops, who failed to affirm Catholic doctrine or to address parental concerns over abuses; abuses by religious orders, who lost their zeal for souls, in their pursuit of gaining influence.