Diocese of Lansing Catholic Schools Report : Page 8
leaders in their communities and Church. To put the matter plainly, our world needs Catholic school graduates because the world needs Jesus. Catholic schools help Catholics bring the light of Christ to the darkness of a world that is increasingly fragmented, confused, distracted and distraught. Parents’ Baptismal Promises At the time of baptism, parents and godparents are reminded of the solemn and sacred duty they undertake by having their child baptized: Catholic schools available to the Catholic faithful. At the same time, we must address the financial concerns that make Catholic schools seem out of reach for so many Catholic families. In short, because providing a Catholic education is essential to being a Catholic parent, we must work tirelessly to make it possible for all Catholic parents to choose a Catholic school for their children. As we proceed, we will seek to find creative ways to improve the availability of Catholic schooling to all our families, even to those who live in places where there is currently no Catholic school. 3 Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he (she) is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him (her) up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives him (her) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) heart. This is a serious and sober commitment. Parents are the first educators of their children in the faith, and they need the counsel and help of the communion of saints and the Family of God on earth. Therefore, the Church is bound to provide the most effective ways to help parents and godparents in the great work of ensuring that the “divine life which God gives [their children] is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in [their] hearts.” When Catholic schools are truly what God wills for them to be, they offer parents the best means of helping their children grow in the practice of the faith. Many parents have options for where to send their children to school. Some are blessed to have a Catholic school at their own parish, and most Catholic families in our diocese are close enough to a Catholic school to consider that option. It is imperative for the Church of Lansing to make What About Public Schools? Since quality public schools are essential for our culture, all Catholics must be committed to making public schools as good as possible. This is especially important in these troubling times because most parents in our diocese send their children to public schools. Many Catholic parents who send their children to public schools have never seriously considered Catholic schools for their children. Others make the choice of public schools because of the cost of Catholic schools, transportation, family tradition, etc. Some public schools provide quality programs, and we are grateful for the good work that many Catholics and other men and women of faith do to serve children in public schools. As good as public schools can be, they are neither able nor allowed to help parents form their children in the practice of the faith. The reason is as unsurprising as it is profound: God and faith are not allowed in the conversation. This does not mean there are not believers among the teachers and the students in public schools—there are. But in public schools, teachers cannot talk about faith and morals from a Catholic perspective, and serious talk about belief in God is prohibited by law. This is a profound, indeed fundamental, handicap to the full formation of our youth. In contrast, our Catholic schools not only allow, but encourage our teachers, students, principals and parents to talk about Jesus, God’s love and the truth that sets us free. Catholic Diocese of Lansing
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