I have been remiss in not posting something about the excellent document from Lancaster Diocese, "Fit for Mission? Schools." This is part of a diocesan Mission Review and has received widespread praise, including an enthusiastic endorsement from Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Secretary for the Congregation for Clergy who said,The Congregation is especially pleased as your pastoral plan is precisely that which was called for in the "General Directory for Catechesis" after the release of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church"'(Cf. the CBCEW press release.)
Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue said,
"To be honest, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response! Before Christmas, my office was inundated with congratulations, enquiries, and requests for copies of Fit for Mission? Schools from within the diocese, from around the country and internationally."I have not read the whole document yet but even just skimming through, I am bowled over by it. I know that trads may pick holes in one or two bits of it but frankly this is in a different league from anything I have seen in terms of school policy in over 23 years as a priest. Here are one or two quotations that give you an idea of why it has had such an enthusiastic reception. In the initial action checklist, one of the "actions" for creating a Catholic ethos is:
Create / enhanceAnother "action" under Pillar 1. Profession of Faith is:
- Respect for the authority of the doctrinal and moral truth safeguarded by the Pope and the Bishops
Use the CCCThe document also recommends schools to arrange a Corpus Christi procession and to check that Sunday Mass is included in all school trips or activities taking place over a weekend. Schools are encouraged to pray for vocations and to identify possible candidates. The schools are told not to refer pupils to outside agencies for counselling on matters related to sex since "this is the prerogative of the parents". The checklist also includes the question,
- CCC in library
- CCC for each teacher
- Primary schools - one classroom set of the compendium
- Secondary schools - one classsroom set of the CCC and the compendium
- Train Teachers in the use of the Catechism
"How do we empower our pupils with the absolute truth of Catholic doctrinal and moral teaching?"Discussing this with other clergy, I suggested that the "crunch" will come when a school receives its Diocesan Religious Inspection and gets a bad grading for not following the policy. There are plenty of ways that a Headteacher or Governing Body could make trouble for the Diocese. And it seems that the allies of such troublemaking are already digging in and positioning their artillery.
The Observer reports (MPs challenge 'doctrinaire' bishops):
Barry Sheerman, chairman of the parliamentary cross-party committee on children, schools and families, said he had heard of other cases and felt that behind the scenes there was 'intense turmoil' about the future of Catholic education. 'A group of bishops appear to be taking a much firmer line and I think it would be useful to call representatives of the Catholic church in front of the committee to find out what is going on,' he said. 'It seems to me that faith education works all right as long as people are not that serious about their faith. But as soon as there is a more doctrinaire attitude questions have to be asked. It does become worrying when you get a new push from more fundamentalist bishops. This is taxpayers' money after all.'It is an amazing admission on the part of a senior parliamentary figure that he thinks that it is all right to have "faith schools" as long as people are "not that serious about their faith." It is no surprise to find this but it is a surprise to see it stated so baldly. It seems as though everyone just assumes that Catholic schools are not going to be all that serious about their faith. It is ludicrous to characterise Bishop O'Donoghue as a "fundamentalist" but clearly anyone who takes the Catholic faith seriously is considered to be such.
The National Secular Society goes further and calls the mild-mannered bishop's perfectly balanced and sensible approach to Catholic education "a Taliban-style regime of Catholic orthodoxy". (NSS - Religion in schools – long overdue for a radical rethink) It was the NSS which first gave the story to the Observer and they seem to feel that they have Ed Balls in their circle of influence:
It is time for Ed Balls to do what other education ministers have not had the guts to do – tell the Archbishops and the bishops that their time is up in schools.It seems that they may be right in their assessment of the Schools Secretary as we see from this sinister snippet:
Asked about his opinion on faith schools, Mr Balls said they were being monitored and that measures would be taken if they proved to be "divisive".To be honest, I am not confident that we will win the battle with the secularists for our schools: we have given in for so long that we no longer have the resources within Catholic Education circles for the fight. As I have suggested, it is likely that much of the most serious trouble will come from people within the Catholic education system itself: senior staff, governors and officials who will be outraged that the Church should suggest that they actually follow the teaching of the Catechism and other documents as "The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality". But it is good to see that in at least one diocese the education department will go down fighting.
22 comments:
Isn't he amazing? We have all got our PDFs up & running & are very pleased with the document...
Don't underestimate the Holy Spirit, Father. I hope we don't all go down, fighting or not, but it may be we must take a different direction - one we don't see clearly yet.
The National Secular Society goes further and calls the mild-mannered bishop's perfectly balanced and sensible approach to Catholic education "a Taliban-style regime of Catholic orthodoxy"
Because Heaven forbid that Catholic schools teach Catholic doctrine...
Fr. Tim,
I tend to agree with your candid assessment:
“I am not confident that we will win the battle with the secularists for our schools: we have given in for so long that we no longer have the resources within Catholic Education circles for the fight.”
Certainly, a very large proportion of Catholic schools are just shells – Catholic in name and history, but with their religious character largely hollowed out from within, and most of the children, parents, staff and governors being either non-practising, non-Catholic, or highly selective pickers and choosers of doctrine “à la Chérie.”
That said, I was actually very encouraged by Bishop O’Donoghue’s document. You could almost sub-title it “Roman Catholicism for Secularist Dummies.” The content of the paper and especially its constant referencing to the Catechism of the Catholic Church might actually get godless parliamentarians, education buffs and media pundits to read the Catechism and discover the richness, harmony and beauty of the Catholic faith.
Of course, secularist readers of the Catechism will soon alight upon the doctrines which they would regard as sexist, heterosexist, anti-diversity or just plain unprovable fantasy – then the real bun-fight will begin.
But even if this is Custer’s last stand, at least Bishop O’Donoghue has chosen the right battlefield, namely the nitty-gritty of what the Church teaches – thereby putting us on the front foot, at least when battle is joined.
I don't think you will win. Very sad.
But I think when cruch time comes, we will have to give up the schools.
Catholicism is on the road to becoming illegal in the West. I don't think most of us realize how far along that road we have come.
After Oona stanard's remarks - God help us!
Dominie
This is good news from Lancaster.
I think there are far too many Catholic schools about anyway, especially in urban dioceses.
One, or even two secondary schools per diocese is enough, with transport arranged for distant children.
There's not much Catholic about most Catholic state schools, and though this pleases the secularists, it passes on nothing more than a quite nice ideology - if that - to most children who pass through the system.
However, just to note, there are some excellent Catholic state schools, with top-notch RE departments. Only they are few and far between.
Hello Father,
where can I get a copy of this document. I am a monk (OCist) here in Austria and we have a private Boarding school. (Cheap version of Downside). I'm sure this programe would help us in our religious education programes too.
Thanks frater Raphael
Don`t give up, Father. I think we will win this one. ARe we really expected to see Mother Teresa and Saddam Hussein in the same light. What we have to do is organise Catholic opinin as is done in America and take it with us to the polling booths. Believe me these politicians will soon back down. I am already sending a copy of the CCC to my MP and asking her to point out all the fundamentalist divisive policies she can find within it. We need to stand up and fight and have the guts to do it.
PS Do you think he will come back? He's asking for guidance perhaps?
http://valleadurni.blogspot.com/
Father - as an English priest abroad I am wondering: do you see the signs of a real persecution starting - given that all the penal laws were introduced by Parliament and were, therefore, 'legal?' Is there a sense in the Catholic community that the hostility of the State and the media may actually have serious consequences for the Church?
Not all governors, Father. This governor now has a standard to raise.
"I know that trads may pick holes in one or two bits of it". Can you give any examples. I'm halfway through and I'm stunned that such an excellent document has been produced by a diocese in England.
Dominie - "Oona Stannard's remarks" Che? (link?)
October 671 - different direction, yes. I think that the instauratio (and martyrs) will come from the parishes and sound families.
Frater Raphael - follow the links given in the post.
Ttony etc. - no, by no means all governors, nor all senior staff or officials. But enough to make real difficulties and help the secularists win. It's already happening.
Owl of the Remove - yes, real persecution. All the signs are there. It will have serious consequences for the Church. Already beginning in small ways.
The Catholic Education Service commented that this was the aspiration of one bishop for his diocese, so not much support there or possibly an attempt to isolate Lancaster.Bishop O' Donoghue's policy is quite simply the best plan for helping parents in their task of transmitting the Faith to their schoolchildren.It is based on the Catechism, recognises and complies with the teaching authority of the church and requires teachers to teach the Truths of the Catholic Faith, not their personal views.This is a major and courageous step forward for Lancaster, small wonder that Rome wants other E.+W. dioceses to follow suit
Father - Saturday's Daily Telegraph (page 12) carries the lines: "Oona Stannard of the Catholic Education Service described the document as "the aspirations of one bishop for his bishop".".
I assume this is what Dominie is referring to.
Stannard (the overpaid Director of the so-called CES), like most of those in the CES, is not a standard bearer for Catholic Education. Her quoted comments should not be taken as evidence of true Catholic thinking in this country. Rather, they reflect the dying words and erstwhile aspirations of the liberal intelligentsia. Their days are numbered and they know it.
As October671 indicates, we shouldn't underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the tide is turning and we have every reason to be optimistic - even if the timescale is longer than we might wish.
Its all right Barry Sheerman MP mouthing off about Catholic Schools, but we have no idea what organisation he might belong to. Even as MP, he could be speaking on behalf of some sinister sect, yet becuase he is an MP he attracts publicity. He should be called before the Queen and be required to 'reveal his hand'.
Thanks for the reference to the Telegraph. Here is a link to the article: Bishop attacks safe sex lessons.
From the head of the CES it doesn't exactly ooze enthusiasm, certainly.
Barry sheerman could turn out to be a mason-who knows?
He does appear to be exhibiting a prejudicial attitude to faith schools for reasons that are not yet clear.Why does the name of the Italian and Catholic politician, "Buttiglione" keep springing to mind?
Please help us Americans to understand the context. I take it that faith schools are state supported, so that any Catholic can send his child to a Catholic school. The Bishop of Lancaster is striving to make Catholic schools more than Catholic in name and it looks like the state and secularists are choking on this. Is this correct?
Here a good Catholic high school education (ages 14 through 18) is running in the neighborhood of $10,000 per year in the western suburbs of Chicago where the managerial class parents have a household income of $60,000 to 100,000 a year. People making less are being priced out of a Catholic education. Even at that, many of us wonder how Catholic the education really is locally- with no state threat whatever. We sent our kids to Opus Dei sponsored schools 28 miles away, which totally solved the problem.
It seems to me that both here and there the answer is Family Evenings Together- reading the lives of the saints together in the evening, reading other good literature, doing some catechism. In other words, semi-homeschooling. Somewhat analagous to Hebrew School, where the child goes to the government school during the day, but with an additional two hours of religious education three days a week.
At any rate, it is clear that Catholics, the Church can give *all* their children a good, solid Catholic upbringing irrespective of what either the state or the Catholic schools are teaching. It is entirely a question of will, of leadership, organization. It can be done, and I would think that the notion of semi-homeschooling would be all the more appealing to liberty loving Englishmen in the face of tyrannical moves on the part of the gov't.
At least that's how it looks to a possibly badly mis-informed Chicagoan....
Lord, have mercy on your people, and deliver us from the threats assailing us from every side. Deliver our children from their ignorance and from all attempts to corrupt them. Lord, there is *always* a way out, even out of the grave. Please show it to us, both here and in England.
Lee - the "historic agreement" of 1944 made it that the Church would build the schools (the buildings belong to the diocese or religious order) but the Government would pay the staff and a running costs.
The schools have always had a separate (Diocesan) inspection of religious education but the Government inspects the general education etc. This is the lever which is used to impose secularism. The inspection reports are published and so act as a powerful incentive for the schools to comply. We are facing requirements to comply with (for example) sex-ed provision and anti-discrimination legislation. That will be the testing ground.
The reaction to the Lancaster diocese plan is revealing because clearly the secularists also want us to water down Catholic RE. We knew that already, of course, but it is surprising to see it stated so baldly. Hence the title of the post.
I very much agree with your suggestion for responding to this.
Fr. Tim,
I read Lee's comments with interest. Here in Canada, state-funded religious schools are slowly but surely being phased out. Newfoundland and Quebec have already abolished state funding for Catholic schools, and I don't think the Ontario Catholic School Boards will survive for much longer. The principal of our children's school is privately very pessimistic about the future.
The problem is that we can't put our faith in private Catholic schools here either. The state is getting its tentacles around them too. For example, since October 2006, all private religious schools in the province of Quebec have been required to follow the provincial curriculum for sex education.
The difficulty for the Church in Canada is that drawing attention to Catholic schools increases the threat to them. The provincial elections in Ontario in 2007 were dominated by the issue of faith schools - because one of the parties (the Conservatives) promised to extend state funding to all religions. The result was that religious education was pilloried in public for weeks and secularists and non-Christians united to denounce the privileged position of Catholic education.
Bishop O'Donoghue - as I said in my earlier comment - has done a fine job. But if he was a Canadian bishop he would in all likelihood prefer to be passive, since his "Fit for Mission" programme would generate a torrent of headlines, and the debate about how Canada can justify state-funded religious schools would be re-ignited. It's a real dilemma for us here. We're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't.
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