Pope Benedict Urges Government Subsidy of Faith-Based Schools

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Pope Benedict Urges Government Subsidy of Faith-Based Schools

VATICAN CITY, October 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI said today that governments are morally obligated to fund faith-based schools. His remarks were made in greeting Francis Kim Ji-young, the new ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See.

“Faith-based schools have much to contribute,” said the Pope in ensuring young people receive a sound education. “It is incumbent upon governments to afford parents the opportunity to send their children to religious schools by facilitating the establishment and financing of such institutions.”

“Insofar as possible,” he added, “public subsidies should free parents from undue financial burdens that attenuate their ability to choose the most suitable means of educating their children.”
 
buffalo said:
Pope Benedict Urges Government Subsidy of Faith-Based Schools

VATICAN CITY, October 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI said today that governments are morally obligated to fund faith-based schools. His remarks were made in greeting Francis Kim Ji-young, the new ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See.

“Faith-based schools have much to contribute,” said the Pope in ensuring young people receive a sound education. “It is incumbent upon governments to afford parents the opportunity to send their children to religious schools by facilitating the establishment and financing of such institutions.”

“Insofar as possible,” he added, “public subsidies should free parents from undue financial burdens that attenuate their ability to choose the most suitable means of educating their children.”
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We just had an election here in Ontario the other day where the leader of the opposition came out early in the campaign saying he would fund faith based schools (Catholic system already funded). Because of this one issue that was all you ever heard about, he lost the race big time and handed the Liberal party their first back-to-back majority in 70 years(thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/266161)).

The reason for the public backlash is that the majority of Ontario residents apparently believe there should only be one funded school system and that’s the public system. There was lots of fear mongering that by funding Muslim, Jewish, Hindu schools we would end up with a divisise society and that tolerance would go go down the tubes. Now that the people clearly spoke up in the election, the next thing on the chopping block is the current funding for the Catholic system which is labelled as discriminatory to the other faiths that lost the battle this week. I’m very concerned for our Catholic school system in Ontario. Hopefully it will continue to survive.
 
I don’t believe that the governments involvement politically or financially in faith based schools is beneficial to either party.

I would be strongly against it even though I did go to catholic school and appreciate the education I received from going.
 
Everyone’s tax dollars go to public schools, but some of the parents don’t utilize these public schools. Talk about paying for something you don’t even use. :nope:
 
I would support vouchers. However, I don’t think they will ever pass in this country. There is too much fear of people being educated in religious schools. I think many agree Catholic schools or Christian schools are OK, but most are leary of what a Muslim school would teach. I would have to aggree. In the meantime, I pay in taxes for the public schools and I pay outright for the Catholic education my kids have received. I consider it a bargain so I don’t complain. We have been lucky to afford Catholic schools when we have wanted to use them.

My husband’s family is originally from Luxembourg. Everyone goes to public school, but the priests or ministers go into the schools to teach religion. So everyone is taught the religion of their choice. The priest or minister gets paid by the state to do this. They only allow approved religions to participate- so nothing they would consider a cult. I guess people can opt out also if they are not religious. It is an interesting practice.
 
Well if they are going to have a Muslim public charter school in New York, then the least the other states could do is let the Christians have vouchers to send their children to Christian schools. I don’t think I would trust a Catholic school that is very tied up with the government and teacher’s union, however.
 
I disagree 100 % with the Pope. I refuse to back him on this.
 
buffalo said:
Pope Benedict Urges Government Subsidy of Faith-Based Schools

VATICAN CITY, October 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI said today that governments are morally obligated to fund faith-based schools. His remarks were made in greeting Francis Kim Ji-young, the new ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See.

“Faith-based schools have much to contribute,” said the Pope in ensuring young people receive a sound education. “It is incumbent upon governments to afford parents the opportunity to send their children to religious schools by facilitating the establishment and financing of such institutions.”

“Insofar as possible,” he added, “public subsidies should free parents from undue financial burdens that attenuate their ability to choose the most suitable means of educating their children.”
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I agree. While I am happy so far with our local public schools, I would like to send my children to our Catholic school. But we cannot afford $2,000/year per child. This is one of the sacrifices we make so that my wife can stay home and raise the kids.
 
Who takes the King’s shilling is the king’s man. The Catholic Church is not for sale.
 
estesbob said:
Absolutely. Once they let the government wants to let the government get their foot in the door in our Catholic schools we will quickly lose control.
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True, but its still a shame that the Catholic schools of today are becoming sort of an exclusive club for the financially well-off. I realize that many things are to blame for this…the lack of nuns available for teaching as in past generations, not as many people supporting their parishes, etc…but a Catholic education used to be attainable for all Catholic families.
 
conorsdad said:
but a Catholic education used to be attainable for all Catholic families.
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My grandson is in 1st Grade in Brooklyn, NY at a Catholic school, and his tuition is $2,500 a year. To me, at least, that isn’t so very much - and the parish provides some subsidies to those who can’t afford that.

And, tuitions for my sons who went to the Catholic high school here in Little Rock (some 10 years ago) were $2,500 each.

Not cheap to be sure, but within the realm of affordability as I saw it, and priceless as far as our commitment to the Faith went.
 
I would be satisfied if could at least avoid school taxes during the years I pay Catholic school tuition. Even that little boon would be helpful and the schools wouldn’t have to take a dollar from the state. Our public schools will continue to spiral downward without competition. I will protect my son and his soul from the state-sponsored indoctrination of tolerance of sin.
 
Dear Benny,

Be careful what you ask for fear of the answer! The faithful give and ask nothing in return. A government (any government) will attch strings to their funding.

Yours in Christ,

Nohome
 
conorsdad said:
True, but its still a shame that the Catholic schools of today are becoming sort of an exclusive club for the financially well-off.
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That would be the reality of our local Catholic school. The class rosters read like an elitist Whose Who. The irony is that a good number of these kids are not even Catholic, just rich.

Nohome
 
Nohome said:
That would be the reality of our local Catholic school. The class rosters read like an elitist Whose Who. The irony is that a good number of these kids are not even Catholic, just rich.

Nohome
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Are you speaking of grammar school or high school and where in the U.S.? Here in Little Rock, for instance, we have only one Catholic girls’ high school and one Catholic boys’ high school, but nearly every parish has a grammar school.
 
Nohome said:
That would be the reality of our local Catholic school. The class rosters read like an elitist Whose Who. The irony is that a good number of these kids are not even Catholic, just rich.

Nohome
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The Catholic school I attend when I was a youth was in a parish that gentrified and came to the point it did not have enough students in the Parish to keep the school open. So they started reaching out to the poor neighborhoods ajoining the parish and giving deeply discounted tuition and scholarships to both Catholic and non-Catholic students. To me that is an example of what the mission the Church should be.
 
Richardols said:
Are you speaking of grammar school or high school and where in the U.S.? Here in Little Rock, for instance, we have only one Catholic girls’ high school and one Catholic boys’ high school, but nearly every parish has a grammar school.
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This is in Iowa. No middle school or high school. Just an elementary school that many can’t afford.

Nohome
 
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