Should my Godson & nephew stay in a Non-Catholic School

[Larry_B]

Here are the facts. My brother and his wife are civilly divorced. She has full authority to decide on where my nephew will obtain his education. My brother is not obligated to pay for it but believes he should if necessary. He did pay almost 1/2 the education costs last year. My nephew is going into 3rd grade this year. I am not sure how the school is set up but it does have ties to Bob Jones university.

Last year my nephew was in CCD last year about 50% of the time or maybe a little more and was able to receive 1st Holy Communion after Confession. This CCD program no longer uses the Baltimore Catechism and is using what I believe to be a Sadlier series but I am not sure so I question how good the overall program is. My brother’s wife is hinting she would like my nephew to go to a public school unless she gets my brother to share in the cost of his education. I told my brother his primary responsiblity as a parent is to do everything in his power to get his son to heaven. I explained to him that as he gets older that his Protestant education at this school may become more anticatholic. My brother is concerned that a public school may introduce more immoral issues, etc into his son’s mind thus further corrupting him. My nephew’s mother will not agree to any Catholic school. My nephew has had little stability in his life and my brother is leaning toward the non Catholic Christian school at this time. I told him ultimately the decision is his but whatever he decides, he should try to me with a good orthodox confessor or spiritual director so he can begin to work toward his son’s spiritual wellbeing in the near future.

Please state what you would do trying to immerse yourself into this situation if at all possible.

Larry

 

[Karin]

Larry B:

Here are the facts. My brother and his wife are civilly divorced. She has full authority to decide on where my nephew will obtain his education. My brother is not obligated to pay for it but believes he should if necessary. He did pay almost 1/2 the education costs last year. My nephew is going into 3rd grade this year. I am not sure how the school is set up but it does have ties to Bob Jones university.

Last year my nephew was in CCD last year about 50% of the time or maybe a little more and was able to receive 1st Holy Communion after Confession. This CCD program no longer uses the Baltimore Catechism and is using what I believe to be a Sadlier series but I am not sure so I question how good the overall program is. My brother’s wife is hinting she would like my nephew to go to a public school unless she gets my brother to share in the cost of his education. I told my brother his primary responsiblity as a parent is to do everything in his power to get his son to heaven. I explained to him that as he gets older that his Protestant education at this school may become more anticatholic. My brother is concerned that a public school may introduce more immoral issues, etc into his son’s mind thus further corrupting him. My nephew’s mother will not agree to any Catholic school. My nephew has had little stability in his life and my brother is leaning toward the non Catholic Christian school at this time. I told him ultimately the decision is his but whatever he decides, he should try to me with a good orthodox confessor or spiritual director so he can begin to work toward his son’s spiritual wellbeing in the near future.

Please state what you would do trying to immerse yourself into this situation if at all possible.

Larry

Well first I would have him go back to court to change things…ie he should be able to have (name removed by moderator)ut as to where his child goes to school. Why is the boys mother against a catholic school? If your nephew can prove that the quality of education is better at a catholic school would she reconsider?

 

[Larry_B]

Karin:

Well first I would have him go back to court to change things…ie he should be able to have (name removed by moderator)ut as to where his child goes to school. Why is the boys mother against a catholic school? If your nephew can prove that the quality of education is better at a catholic school would she reconsider?

Karin,

My brother and his wife were married in the Catholic Church but since divorcing when my nephew was just a baby she said she never believed in the Catholic faith anyway. She has a track record for not being forthright. She is also anticatholic and would not want her son to have anything to do with a Catholic school. I don’t think she would reconsider because of her bias against the Church.

I don’t know the specifics regarding the court’s decision pertaining to the authority of one parent having the education sayso.

I failed to explain that the reason why my nephew was in CCD only 50% of the time is due to the limited time he has with his dad due to the divorce.

Larry

 

[Karin]

Larry B:

Karin,

My brother and his wife were married in the Catholic Church but since divorcing when my nephew was just a baby she said she never believed in the Catholic faith anyway. She has a track record for not being forthright. She is also anticatholic and would not want her son to have anything to do with a Catholic school. I don’t think she would reconsider because of her bias against the Church.

I don’t know the specifics regarding the court’s decision pertaining to the authority of one parent having the education sayso.

I failed to explain that the reason why my nephew was in CCD only 50% of the time is due to the limited time he has with his dad due to the divorce.
Larry

Larry-
It really sounds like he needs to speak to a lawyer. There seem to be many issues here that need to be resolved!
From what you have written I dont think there is anything he can do or push for until he gets some more “legal” rights from the courts.

 

[Kerrypchef]

I attended public schools and believe it or not I think I just may get to Heaven and with God’s grace, so will your nephew.

That being said, you’re right, ultimately it’s the parent’s decision.

 

[buffalo]

Catholic School - school teaches fullness of truth
Public School - school of partial truths and agendas