The Catholic Educator

Quarterly Journal of the Catholic Education Foundation

"The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School" For clergy who are pastors, parochial vicars, or those directly involved in the elementary or secondary school apostolate (or who wish to be) – as well as seminarians. From 4:00 p.m., July 13 to 4:00 p.m., July 15, 2021

At Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, North Palm Beach (a ten-minute ride from West Palm Beach Airport)

Volume 31 – Easter 2021 A Word From Our Editor

(This piece was penned by Fr. Peter Stravinskas as "tribute, during Catholic Schools Week, to the 23 women Religious who educated me from 1954 to 1968." It was published by Catholic World Report on February 1, 2021

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2021/02/01/a-personal-litany-of-thanksgiving-on-the- feast-of-the-lords-presentation/

This Feast of the Lord’s Presentation in the Temple has been observed for many years now as an occasion to acknowledge the contributions of Religious to the life of the Church. That day was chosen by Pope John Paul II precisely because on that day the Infant Christ is proclaimed as a “light for the nations” and the late Holy Father – along with the whole Church – saw Religious as particularly responsible for bearing that light of Christ to the Church and to the world, giving us an opportunity to thank God for the life and witness of those in consecrated life and also to pray for many more young men and women to join their ranks.

For decades we have been treated to unrelenting barrages of negativity about the damage allegedly done to generations of Catholic school children by the nuns of yesteryear. We have also witnessed some very sad developments in religious life in the post-conciliar period, especially loss of faith and loss of identity.

I would like to address both concerns by paying tribute to the outstanding women Religious who educated me. I shall mention each and every one by name, highlighting one especially memorable aspect of that Sister’s relationship to me and my human and spiritual development. As I do so, I invite you to think back on the Sisters who educated you, your children, your grandchildren, and those in the parishes where you have been spiritually nourished.

From 1954 to 1968, I attended three Catholic elementary and secondary schools, operated by three different religious communities in two dioceses. In that entire time, I received a superb education at every level, never saw a single child brutalized, and genuinely looked forward to every day of school. Were all the nuns perfect? Of course not. And one or two were, shall we say, “off-base,” but where don’t you find that? At any rate, permit me to launch into my personal litany of thanksgiving, most appropriate in the midst of Catholic Schools Week (January 31- February 6 this year); again, to my own litany, unite your own.

1. Sister Matthew Joseph accepted into the parish kindergarten a boy whose parents were not married in the Church and who seemingly had no intention of ever practicing their Faith.

2. Sisters Grace Gabriel and Grace dePaul, principals from kindergarten through fifth grade, befriended my mother, made her a full-time volunteer, and helped bring her and my father back to Catholic practice.

3. Sister Rita Gertrude had taught second grade in the same classroom for 56 years, worked until the age of 92, and died at the age of 102, having over 3000 people at her funeral. She was quite a

2 spit-fire. When John XXIII was elected in 1958, she informed us that she was disappointed by the election of another Italian but assured us that would change soon. Twenty years later, my mother smilingly noted that Sister Rita must have been pleased with the election of John Paul II – although she would surely have preferred an Irishman! She was also the nun who told us that people that don’t go to Mass on Sunday go to Hell, causing me to share that insight with my non- practicing parents at the time.

4. Sister Vincent dePaul lovingly and carefully prepared us for our First Holy Communion, an event still indelibly etched on my consciousness.

5. Sister Miriam Eucharia told my mother that I was too good to live in this world and that she would be praying for me to die the day after my First Holy Communion. My mother thought she was a bit weird and was rather relieved that Sister’s prayer was not heeded. Sister Principal told by mother: “Ignore her; she’s a nut!”

6. Sister Mary Vera was the woman who did massive amounts of research on epilepsy when she was informed I had fallen victim to the disease. With eighty-one other children in the third grade, she still noticed any time my eyebrows fluttered – one of the advance warning signals of a possible impending seizure.

7. Sister Regina Rose in the fifth grade predicted to my parents that I would be a priest, a teacher, and a writer. I took her out to dinner for her ninety-fifth birthday. Chatting with her on the phone recently, I asked how she’s doing, “Not bad for 106,” came the swift reply. Those old faithful gals never die, it seems!

8. Sister St. Roch, my sixth grade teacher, left Ireland at the age of seventeen, with her mother pregnant with a baby boy whom she never met until her father’s funeral eighteen years later. Whenever she got homesick, she would ask us to belt out a chorus of “Danny Boy” to cheer her up. I never understood how a funeral dirge could cheer someone up. But, then again, I’m not Irish.

9. Sister Dorothy Ann gave me straight C’s my first quarter in seventh grade. She’s the only nun my mother ever challenged. The grades were changed – by the pastor – and Sister later said I was the finest student she ever had. She and Sister Regina both attended my First Mass.

10. Sister Laureen Francis was my junior high principal and eighth-grade teacher. She had the rare treat of teaching both me and Bruce Springsteen at the same time.

High school was an interesting time, occurring as it did in the midst of the Second Vatican Council and the secular spirit of rebellion spawned by what has become known as the “Vietnam War era.” Not surprisingly, then, our tiny parish high school went through three principals in four years: Sister Mary Joseph, Sister Francis Joseph, and Sister Mary Janice. Each one concluded that “kids today are ‘ungovernable’.” It was the first time we ever saw authority figures “blink”.

3 1. Sister Ann Marie was the most beautiful nun I ever encountered; in fact, we later learned, she had been a model before entering the convent. By year’s end because of faculty shuffling, this freshman boy with a crush on her ended up having her for homeroom, religion, art and algebra!

2. Sister Maria Gemma was a feisty young nun, who taught French and served as the moderator of the Mission Club; she threw me out of Senior French class for three months because I had gotten into a battle with the girl behind me who was “bidding” on me for the Senior Prom! Sister Gemma was the first and only nun in our school to wear a modified habit at the time; she was also the first to leave religious life.

3. Sister Stella Grace taught forty boys Sophomore English, holding our interest and never speaking above a whisper. She died during our Senior year, when we also discovered that she had had terminal cancer throughout our high school career although no one ever suspected it because of her enthusiasm and joy. We dedicated our Senior yearbook to her.

4. Sister Patricia William was our Freshman World History teacher and Forensics coach. She got me into speech and debating only because I was too embarrassed to say I didn’t know what “forensics” was and, after learning, afraid to tell her “no”.

5. Sister Rose Catherine taught us biology; she spiced things up by having a life-size model of the human anatomy which she called “Shim” since it had all the necessary equipment for both genders. She was way ahead of her time!

6. Sister Mary Augustine was a brilliant historian, who had the audacity to expect Juniors to take notes and be responsible for the material she delivered in classroom lectures.

7. Sister Mary Jordan tried to teach us chemistry. A kindly young Sister, her only flaw was that she presumed we had all walked into the room having the interests and abilities of Lavoisier, and she operated accordingly – to her frustration and ours.

8. Sister Robert Mary, nicknamed “Parvus Caesar” (Little Caesar), was one of the Latin teachers. She didn’t exactly exude the milk of human kindness, but she was an exacting taskmaster for the first two critical years of the language, and I am still grateful for her approach.

9. Sister Ann Virginia privately tutored me for my third year of Latin; compared to “Parvus Caesar,” she was rather lackluster.

10. Sister Mary Sylvester guided us through Junior English. A recurring theme of her off-book reflections was that the Beatles would go down in history as the beginning of the end of western civilization.

11. Sister Francis Rita taught Algebra II. She was one of those rare individuals who can make everything come together for a student. For the first time in my life, math made sense as I not only did the right thing but knew why I was doing it. She was eighty-four in my Junior year. The next time I saw her after graduation, I was at the Dominican Sisters’ motherhouse some ten years

4 later for a funeral. She saw me at a hundred yards, rushed toward me, dropped to her knees and asked for my blessing. “In Latin, please,” she said as she peeked up from her veil.

12. Sister Mary Joan taught four of us stalwarts Vergil in Senior year. She offered me an “A” in exchange for teaching her first-year Latin class, so that she could have a free period! Needless to say, hers was not a major academic contribution to my education.

13. Sister Mary Alma guided us through Senior English. She was a dynamic and learned late- middle-aged woman. A year into my seminary experience, she wrote to tell me she had left religious life because it had already unraveled to the point that it was not what she had joined forty years earlier.

Well, that’s my saga of life with the nuns. As I said at the outset, they weren’t all perfect, but fairness demands that I say that their communal successes far outweighed any individual failures. And, in light of today’s Gospel, one can see – in hindsight – that the presence of the Sisters in our schools as salt and light was indeed taken for granted and that we now sorely miss their dedicated and loving witness.

I hope that their witness, however, moved me – and many of you as well – to take up their example to be salt and light in the circumstances of our lives. As we thank God today for who those good women were and for what they accomplished to make the Church in our country great and for those who have stayed the course amid so many challenges, let us also beseech the Lord that He would raise up women today to form new communities of Religious to replenish their ranks,1 communities that will be faithful to the true identity of consecrated life and that will offer new generations of young Catholics even a tenth of what so many of us received at their hands, so graciously and so generously.

Thomas Merton penned a magnificent poem in celebration of today’s feast; I trust it will be a fitting close to these reflections of mine. I don’t know if any of the Sisters who gave me the gift of faith and the grace of my vocation ever read this poem, but they certainly epitomized it. May their tribe increase.

THE CANDLEMAS PROCESSION

Lumen ad revelationem gentium

Look kindly, Jesus, where we come, New Simeons, to kindle, Each at Your infant sacrifice his own life’s candle.

And when Your flame turns into many tongues, See how the One is multiplied, among us, hundreds! And goes among the humble, and consoles our sinful kindred.

5 It is for this we come, And, kneeling, each receive one flame: Ad revelationem gentium.

Our lives, like candles, spell this simple symbol:

Weep like our bodily life, sweet work of bees, Sweeten the world, with your slow sacrifice. And this shall be our praise: That by our glad expense, our Father’s will Burned and consumed us for a parable.

Nor burn we now with brown and smoky flames, but bright Until our sacrifice is done, (By which not we, but You are known) And then, returning to our Father, one by one, Give back our lives like wise and waxen lights.

Thomas Merton

6 In This Edition

A Word From Our Editor Page 2 Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskass

12 Truths about Making Lasting Friendships from St. John Henry Newman Page 13 Luc Adrian

Catholic Education ‘First Step’ Toward ‘Reform of the Crisis,’ Page 16 Says College-Bound Student Maria Schmidt

Little Sisters Have Big Win in Supreme Court Decision Page 18 CNA

Catholic School Teachers Are ‘Ministers’, SCOTUS Rules Page 20 CNA

Supreme Court Defers to Canon Law in Catholic School Decision Page 22 Patrick Reilly

Louis IX: Knight, Crusader, King, and Saint Page 25 Jerry Salyer

States Sue Education Department over COVID Relief for Private Schools Page 27 CNA Staff

Put Your Kids to Work This Summer. Science Says It's Good for Them Page 29 Theresa Civantos Barber

Texas Attorney General: Religious Schools Exempt from Local COVID Rules Page 30 CNA Staff

Early 20th-Century Schools Kept Kids Safe from Disease Page 32 With Open-Air Classrooms John Burger

Ireland’s New Coalition Government and the Secularization of Irish Schools Page 33 John P. McCarthy

Catholic Parents Fight for Their Children’s School in COVID’s Shadow Page 35 Joan Frawley Desmond

7 Washington Post Settles Defamation Lawsuit Page 39 With Nick Sandmann over March for Life Controversy CNA

These Priests and Nuns Are Running a 5K for Catholic Education Page 41 J-P Mauro

Catholic Schools Ready for ‘Vital’ In-Person Education, Page 42 California’s Bishops Say CNA

Sister Ruth Lewis, ‘Mother of Pakistan’s Special Children’, Page 45 Loses COVID-19 Battle Sana Jamal

The Catholic Roots of Regis Philbin Page 47 CNA

The United Federation of Teachers Doesn’t Care about Science — Or Kids Page 49 Post Editorial Board

A Fragile Peace for Catholic Education Page 50 Patrick J. Reilly

St. Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer for Students Page 54 Saint Thomas Aquinas

Why Federal Aid for Catholic Schools Helps Everyone Page 55 Judy Roberts

Bishops Back School Choice Funding Bill Page 58 CNA

This Nun Aims to Get Ghana’s Children off the Streets, and into School Page 60 CNA

Catholic Schools Are Worth Saving Page 63 Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop José Gómez

‘Don’t Leave Them Behind’: Page 65 Bishops Ask Black Caucus to Remember Catholic Schools CNA

Catholic School Superintendent: ‘Our Kids Need to Go Back to School’ Page 67 CNA

8 Make Education Dangerous Again Page 70 Sean Fitzpatrick

Maryland Catholic Schools Can Reopen after Governor Overrides County Page 73 CNA

Catholic Schools Should Be Able to Choose for Themselves Page 75 On Reopening, Scholar Says Charles Camosy

AM[D]G Page 78 George Weigel

Maryland County Issues Second Order to Stop Catholic Schools Opening Page 80 CNA

San Diego Catholic High School Page 82 Files Lawsuit Against Newsom to Reopen in the Fall Andrea Lopez-Villafaña

Saint-Teachers to Help Us Page 84 With This Crazy Difficult Return to Some Sort of School Meg Hunter-Kilmer

These Graphic Novels Help Kids Get to Know Holy Men and Women Page 86 Theresa Civantos Barber

Maryland County Drops Second Order to Keep Catholic Schools Closed Page 88 CNA

Boris Johnson Visits Catholic Schools in London Page 90 To Push for Re-Starting In-Person Classes Charles Collins

Catholic Schools Need CARE to Survive Page 92 Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello

Scholar Says Modern Society Needs Faith to Battle ‘Disenchantment’ Page 94 Charles C. Camosy

Archbishop Carlson: Christ ‘Welcomes and Challenges’ Page 99 Those Wrestling with Gender Identity CNA

9 An Archaeologist Discovered a Trove of Ancient Catholic Relics Page 103 Under the Floorboards of a Tudor Manor in England Artnet News

Some of the Best Books on the History of the Church, According to Historians Page 105 John Burger

Justice Department: Vermont College Tuition Program Page 109 Can’t Exclude Catholic School Student CNA

Wisconsin Catholic Schools Will Challenge Local COVID-19 Closing Order Page 111 Joseph M. Hanneman

Wisconsin Catholic Academy Hires Legal Counsel Page 114 To Fight COVID Closing Order Joseph M. Hanneman

Ed Tech and the Transformation of American Education Page 118 Randall Smith

How to Bring the Best Montessori Principles into Your Life at Home Page 121 Theresa Civantos Barber

Why We Felt Called to Open Our Catholic Schools Page 126 Full-Time, In-Person Amid COVID-19 Thomas Chiapelas

Court Halts Education Department’s Rule Page 129 For Pandemic Relief Money to Private Schools CNA Staff

Ask God to Send Angels to Protect Your Child's School Building Page 131 Philip Kosloski

A Prayer Asking God to Give Wisdom Page 132 To Our Children as a New School Year Begins Anna Ashkova

Sister Deirdre’s ‘Old-Fashioned’ Religious Witness Page 133 Phil Lawler

New Trend: Implementing a Classical Catholic Curriculum Page 135 Victoria R. LaFave

10 ACLU Staffer Fumes at University Page 139 For Accepting Nick Sandmann, Report Says Nick Giva

English Bishop Prays for Canonization of Manchester Nun Elizabeth Prout Page 141 CNA

New Hampshire Sued over Catholic Schools Tuition Policy Page 143 Christine Rousselle

Why a Little Disappointment is Good for Your Child Page 145 An interview by Maylis Guillier

Wisconsin Supreme Court Says Catholic Schools Can Open Page 148 Joseph M. Hanneman

Here’s What Functional NYC School Systems Look Like — Page 151 And It Puts DOE to Shame Post Editorial Board

Louisiana High School Students Rescue Cross Page 152 From Hurricane-Damaged Church John Burger

Dominican Seminarians Reach a Large Audience Page 153 Teaching Chant on YouTube J-P Mauro

Before Dying in a Pandemic, Page 155 He Brought the Newly Established Nashville Dominicans to His School Larry Peterson

The Fatima Movie Can Lead Children to Big Things Page 157 Tom Hoopes

How to Have the Memory of an Elephant Page 158 Dr. Cécile Maître

Toronto Cardinal Rebukes Catholic School Board Members Page 160 For Barring Catechism Reading CNA

NYC Catholic Schools in Session while Pandemic Closes Public Schools Page 162 CNA

11 Bishop Daly: Catholic Schools Should Embrace Faith, Never Compromise Page 164 CNA

How to Help Your Child Become a True Bookworm Page 167 Pascale Albier

Archdiocese of NY Demands City Pay for COVID-19 Testing Page 171 In Hot-Spot Catholic Schools Carl Campanile and Kate Sheehy

In Spain, 1.2 Million People Urge Defeat of New Education Law Page 173 CNA

Cameroon’s Catholics in Fear after Gunmen Attacks Claim 7 Lives Page 175 Patrick Egwu

School Shooting ‘Darkest Day’ of Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis Page 179 Crux

New Poll: Younger Catholics More Likely Page 181 Than Their Elders to Accept All Church Teachings J-P Mauro

Mind the Gap: What I Missed and Where I Found It Page 182 Caroline Beecher

Carlo Acutis' Principal: He’s a Beacon for Children and Young People Page 184 Jesús V. Picón

How to Turn Meals into Precious Time That Nourishes Your Family Bond Page 186 Bénédicte de Saint-Germain

Archdiocese of Bombay Mourns Pioneering Priest-Educator Page 188 Nirmala Carvalho

LGBT Activists on Toronto Catholic School Board Page 189 Pledge Allegiance to Church Teaching Joe Volpe

12 12 Truths about Making Lasting Friendships from St. John Henry Newman

Keep these points in mind when making and keeping friends.

Philosopher, theologian, poet — St. John 3. LOYALTY IS THE FIRST AND Henry Newman (1801-1890) cultivated FOREMOST REQUIREMENT FOR friendships his whole life. Newman, who FRIENDSHIP was canonized by Pope Francis in October 2019, had a true talent for striking up deep Do they write to you? Write back. Do they friendships with those who around him. speak to you? Listen. Do they ask you Here we present the 12 key points he lays questions? Respond. Do they ask you for out for creating strong, authentic advice? Help them out and foresee their friendships. needs. After his conversion in the 1850s, Newman was asked to found the Catholic 1. FRIENDSHIPS ARE A REFLECTION University of Dublin and be its director. He OF THE DIVINE FRIENDSHIP had the custom of attending all the classes and lectures—not to criticize, but to be there After a spiritual revelation in 1816, Newman and show the students and the professors came to the conclusion that there are only how attentive he was to them and their two absolutely real beings in the entire work. universe: “Me myself and my Creator.” This new conviction would affect his relationship 4. FRIENDSHIPS ARE MAINTAINED with all things and beings. It is from the THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE essence of this fundamental relationship that our human friendships arise; like stained For Newman, friendship is kept up through glass, or icons, they are a reflection the visits, but also through correspondence. He primary and original friendship. The wrote the amazing sum of over 30,000 dynamic of friendship, according to letters! He would write between five and 10 Newman, is a return to the Essence. While letters a day, so it is clear that the world down here passes quickly, we correspondence was a significant part of his should stay connected throughout our lives friendships. Newman read to Christ. Making this connection more Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics (5th tangible, more visible than this tangible and century BC) several times. This work transient world is what Newman aimed for. discusses the art and science of friendship: its purpose, what you need to do to preserve 2. WE ARE PREDISPOSED TO it, etc. The aim of friendship, according to FRIENDSHIP Aristotle, is not to make the other person become the same as we are, but rather to Newman attracted friendships like a magnet. help him or her to become better than we He was both distant and very affectionate, a are. Love in friendship is to want the best for true Englishman! Some say we can only that person. have one best friend in our lives, but he had dozens. As Cardinal, his motto was: Cor ad 5. FRIENDSHIP IS NOT AFRAID OF cor loquitur, “speaking heart to heart,” and DIFFERENCE he had an outstanding capacity for making people feel welcome.

13 Newman was never afraid of social or 8. FRIENDSHIP AT THE EXPENSE OF cultural “difference.” He knew how to LIBERTY approach humble people, like the working class people of Birmingham, which so To become Catholic, Newman was forced to highly contrasted with the elitism of Oxford. decide between affection—always implicit At night, he would go around visiting the in friendship—and truth. He makes this poor, helping them with specific needs. crucial choice when he is 45 years old and They were not friends in the strict sense of one of the most influential people at that the word, but were his “fellow man” whom time in England. With this choice, he is he loved. Upon his death, over 20,000 ousted from his community. He loses all his people from every walk of life and religious friends and will not get them back for over faith came to honor him. They went to salute 20 years. He is left practically alone, the friend he had become for all of them! accompanied only by a few recently converted Catholics who were significantly 6. FRIENDSHIP MEANS KEEPING younger than he was, one of whom was HEALTHY BOUNDARIES Ambrose Saint-John. We cannot choose our family, but we can choose our friends. It can Keeping a certain distance is, according to be a painful choice, but it can also be an act Newman, a condition sine qua non for a of grace as we find, together, a greater truth lasting friendship: not just to keep the in ourselves. relationship from turning into a sterile emotional dynamic, but also to keep the 9. ACCEPTING DISAPPOINTMENT perspective through which we see this friend, which means seeing him or her There is one friend who never disappoints through the eyes of Christ. Through this us, the “Friend of man,” as the Orthodox perspective, the friendship is put to the test, Christians refer to Christ. All earthly put into clear focus, and even, if necessary, creatures disappoint us because we always purified. expect too much from them. Mistakes and disappointments can only be forgiven by 7. WITHOUT TRUTH THERE IS NO God’s grace. Friendship aims for something FRIENDSHIP other than affection: it strives to help our friend develop and mature: “He must In order for friendship to thrive, it is increase but I must decrease.” In this sense, necessary to love the person “away from friendship is “useful” to help us mutually shadows and illusions, in truth.” However, grow. the only one who allows us to truly love is Christ, who knows our friend better than we 10. FRIENDSHIP TAKES TIME AND do. The truth of our fellowman passes ENERGY through divine Truth. It is also, through compassion and grace, absolutely necessary A certain physical distance is implied in for forgiving the friend who betrays, cheats, friendship, but there is also a kind of and lies. “There is but one Lover of souls, “temporal” distance. Time allows emotions and He loves each one of us, as though there to mature and deepen in a relationship. were no one else to love,” writes Newman in Friendship is like soil that changes his novel Callista. according to the season: it can be “warm” and summery in the beginning, then pass to

14 a cold, desolate winter, then once again is as well: we circle around our most become warm. But a true friendship never intimate seed without being able to penetrate really ends. Nowadays things happen so it. quickly and time goes so fast, which makes relationships seem more superficial. We 12. OUR FRIENDS REVEAL WHO WE should avoid falling victim to the modern REALLY ARE constraints of time. St. Bernard said: “There is what we think we 11. A FRIEND IS A MYSTERY are. And there is what others think we are. And there is what we are.” Christ is the only The most profound truth of a friend will one who knows that person. There is an always remain a mystery that can only be unfolding between who we think we are and revealed in the hereafter. All we can do is who we are. In a certain way, our friends are try to get as close as possible: the secret will a reflection of our deepest self. To get close always escape us here on Earth. In the same to that self, we should consider our friends: way that we can never reach the core of our “Tell me who you love and I will tell you own being, we can never truly know the who you are.” But a true friend is a rare find deepest core of our friends. The mystery of … You have to ask God for one. the other is boundless, and our own mystery

Luc Adrian https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/07/01/12-truths-about-making-lasting-friendships-from-st-john- henry-newman

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Catholic Education ‘First Step’ Toward ‘Reform of the Crisis,’ Says College-Bound Student

The Eucharist is the greatest Sacrament— With salvation as their goal, the members of the entirety of Jesus. So much of the faith is a Catholic college encourage virtue through contained in this one mystery! Nevertheless, their examples and friendships. The a recent Pew Research poll reveals that less influence of one’s companions, most than 26 percent of professed Catholics under importantly in the still-formative years of the age of 40 believe in the Real Presence of young adulthood, should not be overlooked. our Lord in the Eucharist. The study also People are social creatures and will often implies that a lack of catechesis is connected think like those with whom they spend the to the disbelief: 43 percent of Catholics who most time. Virtuous peers and professors do not believe in the Real Presence think instill admiration in each other’s hearts, that their view aligns with Church teaching. encouraging the emulation of virtue. In light of this finding, the believer should Surrounding oneself with good companions face the crisis with a renewed commitment is, therefore, a crucial step in guarding and to strong Catholic education and faith strengthening one’s faith. formation. This development of the person especially includes choosing a faithful All efforts, however, are in vain unless they Catholic College which teaches the truth, are united to the spiritual life of the Church. encourages virtue, and offers spiritual A faithful Catholic college knows this best, nourishment. offering its students and faculty ample access to daily Mass, adoration, sacraments, A good education helps form the whole prayer, and spiritual direction. Such an person, laying down proper philosophical institution recognizes the profound unity principles necessary for the pursuit of truth between man’s body and soul, the effects of in all its classes and activities. Traditional original sin, and man’s supernatural calling philosophy and theology help the student to from God. A Catholic college cannot shy understand grace and Transubstantiation by away from this calling and remain genuinely acquainting them with the notions of form, Catholic. substance, and accident. Science and mathematics pose no challenge to the faith, While many people and colleges profess to but rather support one’s belief in God, be Catholic, it has become more apparent showing the great wisdom of His creations. that not all of them are truly Catholic. Such History and literature aid the student in a crisis in faith is not unprecedented. The grasping human nature, exposing many faithful, meanwhile, take comfort in the falsehoods. Sports teams and campus Church’s rich traditions and life from God, activities promote the physical and who is bodily present among us in the communal wellbeing of the student, offering Eucharist. Like the monks of Cluny Abbey plenty of opportunities to volunteer in the who saved the faith of Europe in the tenth spirit of servant leadership. Together, the century, let us first reform ourselves through courses and activities of a good education strong Catholic education and spiritual contribute to a deep appreciation of the truth nourishment. That is the first step towards and selflessness. the reform of the crisis, and another of many steps toward heaven.

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Maria Schmidt https://newmansociety.org/catholic-education-first-step-toward-reform-of-the-crisis-says- college-bound-student/

17 Little Sisters Have Big Win in Supreme Court Decision

In a 7-2 decision, the Court’s majority sided with the sisters in the latest round of lawsuits against them over the Obama-era “contraception mandate”.

The Little Sisters of the Poor had a victory at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, nine The near decade-long court battle of the years into the religious order’s bouts of Little Sisters of the Poor dates back to 2011, litigation over the Obama-era “contraception when the Obama administration required mandate” which obliged employers to employers to provide cost-free coverage for provide for contraceptive coverage for contraceptives, sterilizations, and employees through their health care plans. “emergency birth control” in employee health plans under the Affordable Care Act “For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have (ACA). engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender Although the Obama administration granted all for the sake of their brother,” wrote an “accommodation” to the Little Sisters and Justice Clarence Thomas for the majority. other objecting religious non-profits, the sisters sued the government in 2013 saying “But for the past seven years, they—like the process still required them to essentially many other religious objectors who have give a “permission slip” for contraceptive participated in the litigation and rulemakings coverage to be delivered through their health leading up to today’s decision— have had to plans. fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held In 2016, a divided Supreme Court sent the religious beliefs.” case back to the lower courts and instructed In a 7-2 decision, the Court’s majority sided both the administration and the non-profits with the sisters in the latest round of to reach a compromise where cost-free lawsuits against them over the mandate, this contraceptive coverage could still be offered time brought by the states of Pennsylvania to employees while respecting the moral and California, who argued that the objections of religious groups. exemption crafted by the Trump In 2017, the Trump administration granted a administration for organizations with religious and moral exemption to the religious or moral objections to the mandate mandate for the sisters and other objecting shifted the cost of providing contraceptive groups, but then the states of Pennsylvania coverage to the states and was procedurally and California filed lawsuits saying that the flawed. burden of providing coverage was being shifted onto the states and claiming that the “We hold today that the Departments had administration violated the Administrative the statutory authority to craft that Procedure Act in setting up the exemption. exemption, as well as the The Supreme Court took up their case contemporaneously issued moral against the states in January, hearing exemption,” the majority found. “We further arguments by phone in April following the hold that the rules promulgating these coronavirus pandemic. exemptions are free from procedural defects.”

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CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/08/little-sisters-have-big-win-in-supreme-court- decision/

19 Catholic School Teachers Are ‘Ministers’, SCOTUS Rules

The Supreme Court on Wednesday religious institutions regarding the hiring delivered a long-awaited religious liberty and firing of ministers. decision on the right of religious schools to hire and fire teachers. The court found in In both cases, the teachers’ suits were favor of two Catholic schools in California, dismissed by federal courts, and then ruling that a “ministerial exception” to reinstated by the US 9th Circuit Court of government interference applies to teachers Appeal. in religious schools. When the Supreme Court heard oral The ruling came in the consolidated cases arguments in the combined case in May, of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. lawyers for the schools argued that “for Morrissey-Berru and St. James Catholic hours on end over the course of a week,” School v. Biel. The justices ruled in a 7-2 teachers in Catholic schools were the decision that teachers at Catholic grade “primary agents” by which the faith was schools qualified for the “ministers taught to students. Argument – and exception” established by the court in the questions from the bench – focused on how 2012 Hosana Tabor case. broadly the ministerial exception could be applied to the employees of religious “The religious education and formation of schools. students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and The decision comes just weeks after the therefore the selection and supervision of the court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, teachers upon whom the schools rely to do that employers cannot fire employees this work lie at the core of their mission,” because of their sexual orientation or wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority. “gender identity.” Justice Neil Gorsuch, who authored the majority opinion in that case, “Judicial review of the way in which acknowledged that religious freedom cases religious schools discharge those related to the decision would probably come responsibilities would undermine the before the Court in the future. independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not The decision about who qualifies as a tolerate.” minister could directly impact future cases in which teachers might be dismissed for The two California Catholic schools did not failing to adhere to Church teachins on renew the contracts of the teachers in 2014 same-sex marriage or transgender issues, and 2015. In separate cases combined by the both of which have been subjects of Supreme Court, the teachers alleged that controversy in recent months. their dismissals were based on disability and age, not poor performance. The schools “Requiring the use of the title [minister] claimed they were exempt from employment would constitute impermissible discrimination laws under the ministerial discrimination,” the court ruled. Referencing exception, the legal doctrine under which the previous decision in Hosana Tabor, Altio government cannot interfere in the wrote that there must be “a recognition that employment decisions of churches and educating young people in their faith,

20 inculcating its teachings, and training them faculty handbooks specified in no uncertain to live their faith are responsibilities that lie terms that they were expected to help the at the very core of the mission of a private schools carry out this mission and that their religious school.” work would be evaluated to ensure that they were fulfilling that responsibility.” The verdict also explicitly referenced the policy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, The court concluded that “when a school home to both of the schools designating all with a religious mission entrusts a teacher teachers in Catholic schools as being with the responsibility of educating and effectively ministers. forming students in the faith, judicial “Like all teachers in the Archdiocese of Los intervention into disputes between the Angeles, Morrissey-Berru was “considered a school and the teacher threatens the school’s catechist,” i.e., “a teacher of religion,” Alito independence in a way that the First noted in his decision for the majority. Amendment does not allow.”

“There is abundant record evidence that Joining Alito in the majority decision were [both teachers] performed vital religious Justices Thomas, Breyer, Kagan, Gorsuch, duties. Educating and forming students in and Kavanaugh, as well as Chief Justice the Catholic faith lay at the core of the John Roberts. Justices Sotomayer and mission of the schools where they taught, Ginsburg dissented. and their employment agreements and

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/08/catholic-school-teachers-are-ministers-scotus- rules/

21 Supreme Court Defers to Canon Law in Catholic School Decision

The Court’s ruling rests on whether an religious school leaders or church leaders employee is a ‘teacher of religion’ and can properly judge. therefore a minister of the faith. It would have been helpful if Alito also cited There is an admirable concession to Catholic Canon 803, which applies to every teacher Church authority in the Supreme Court’s in a Catholic school — not only those who July 8 ruling on the “ministerial exception” teach designated religion courses. It says for Catholic schools. much the same thing, which may support arguments that all Catholic school teachers Justice Samuel Alito, in his majority should fall within the ministerial exception: opinion for Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Agnes Morrissey-Berru, defers to the The instruction and education in a Catholic authority of the Catechism and the Church’s school must be grounded in the principles of canon law with regard to Catholic education. Catholic doctrine; teachers are to be outstanding in correct doctrine and integrity In Guadalupe, the Court ruled that two of life. (Canon 803, §2) Catholic school teachers, despite teaching Likewise Canon 810, regarding Catholic secular subjects in addition to religion, are higher education, calls for professors “who “ministers” of the Catholic faith whose besides their scientific and pedagogical employment is a religious matter that lies qualifications are outstanding in integrity of outside the jurisdiction of secular courts. doctrine and probity of life.”

To justify this finding, Alito turns to the Rightful Authority Catholic Church’s own requirements for Catholic school teachers: The Court’s willingness to respect religious authority over religious activities is In the Catholic tradition, religious education fundamental to the First Amendment. Alito is ‘intimately bound up with the whole of wrote: the Church’s life.’ Catechism of the Catholic Church 8 (2d ed. 2016). Under canon law, In a country with the religious diversity of local bishops must satisfy themselves that the United States, judges cannot be expected ‘those who are designated teachers of to have a complete understanding and religious instruction in schools ... are appreciation of the role played by every outstanding in correct doctrine, the witness person who performs a particular role in of a Christian life, and teaching skill.’ Code every religious tradition. A religious of Canon Law, Canon 804, §2 (Eng. transl. institution’s explanation of the role of such 1998). employees in the life of the religion in question is important. In other words, because Catholic school teachers must be faithful to Catholic Such deference was the core principles of teaching and witnesses to the Catholic faith the three-part test for applying the by both word and example, their ministerial exception that was proposed to employment depends on criteria that only the Court in an amicus brief filed in February. It was authored by the outstanding

22 attorneys of Alliance Defending Freedom primarily “secular education,” because and Troutman Sanders LLP on behalf of The religion did not “permeate” the coursework Cardinal Newman Society, the Association and was not promoted to students. For 27 of Classical Christian Schools, the years, the Newman Society has urged such Association for Biblical Higher Education, institutions to strengthen their Catholic and William Jessup University. The brief identity, and now their ability to claim the argued: ministerial exception may depend on it.

(1) a “minister” is an employee who Some Schools Need Not Apply performs “religious functions”; (2) the functions that the minister actually The Court’s ruling rests on whether an performs should be proven with evidence employee is a “teacher of religion” and from the religious organization such as therefore a minister of the faith. written organizational bylaws, position descriptions, and other such competent This should be relatively easy for a faithful evidence; and Catholic school or college, where the (3) the court should determine which Catholic faith enters into all studies and functions are, in fact, “religious” by teachers are required to be strong witnesses deferring to the religious organization’s own to the faith. It may even be possible to apply good-faith understanding of its own religion. the ministerial exception to non-teachers — including school administrators, coaches, The Guadalupe ruling largely adopts these guidance counselors and support staff — if principles and offers additional clarity to they are also expected teach religion by their religious employers. The Court relies on words and witness, while advancing the Catholic schools’ definition of an Church’s mission of evangelization through employee’s ministerial duties, as long as the Catholic education. employer shows “good faith” in seeking the protection of the ministerial exception. However, the ministerial exception further What constitutes “bad faith” is something separates weak Catholic schools and that will likely be litigated in future cases. colleges from faithful Catholic education. One thinks of the many Catholic schools and Only schools and colleges that intentionally colleges that have greatly secularized, yet form students in the faith are likely to gain claim religious freedom whenever it is broad protection from employment lawsuits. convenient. If there is reasonable doubt Secularized schools are more vulnerable about the religious identity of an employer than ever, if they fail to require teachers to or its sincerity about an employee’s religious catechize and uphold Catholic teaching. duties — challenged by evidence that the Ultimately it is unlikely that any Catholic employee does not in fact do what is stated school or college will be entirely protected in a position description or other from the Supreme employment document — then courts might Court’s Bostock ruling and state laws adding restrict application of the ministerial homosexuality and gender identity to exception. nondiscrimination provisions. The lawsuits, government coercion and social pressure to The amicus brief cites the 1971 case Tilton compromise the faith are only increasing the v. Richardson, in which four Catholic threats to Catholic education. universities were found to provide a

23 As before, the best protection for Catholic Catholic teaching. In this way, a school or education is to be faithfully, thoroughly and college is prepared to go to court to claim its consistently Catholic and to ensure that all natural and First Amendment rights. school or college policies are firmly tied to

Patrick Reilly https://www.ncregister.com/blog/reilly/supreme-court-defers-to-canon-law-in-catholic-school- decision

24 Louis IX: Knight, Crusader, King, and Saint

Today even the Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe acknowledges the many virtues of Saint Louis IX, whose feast is celebrated on August 25th.

Addressing the Scouts d’Europe in 2016, History of Medieval Europe – hardly a Cardinal Sarah presented Louis IX (1215- specimen of Francophile Catholic 70) as a worthy model for aspiring young hagiography – acknowledges the virtues of men of the 21st century. Saint Louis, famed for his “intense devotional piety, a concern for justice and “These words of your ceremonial,” the peace, his reputation as a crusader and cardinal told youths gathered at Vezelay for exponent of the sanctity of kingship.” pilgrimage, evoke other words that, long ago, king Saint Louis himself, when he was Unlike today’s foreign policy wonks Louis young, pronounced for his knight oath. It had no interest in starting wars for other men was in mid-November 1226, in Soissons, on to fight, but instead took part himself in two his way to Reims where he was going to be crusades to the Middle East, with a burning sacred king of France. Like you, Saint Louis ambition to restore Egypt to Christendom. It liked to come to Vézelay in pilgrimage, and was during the last expedition in 1270 that the last time was in 1270, the year of his he lost his life from pestilence, leaving death. At the beginning of the anointment behind a historical legacy too substantial to ceremony, Saint Louis had heard these relate in a short post. It was Louis who spent words pronounced by the bishop: “If you four years fortifying the Christian coastal look for riches or honours, you are not cities in the Holy Land; it was Louis who worthy of being anointed as a knight”. After commanded his royal guardsmen to defend bowing down in front of the baussant, this the Dominican monastery of Saint Jacques standard which is still yours, with the eight- from rioters; it was Louis whose generosity point Cross representing the eight to the peasantry and concern for the Beatitudes, Louis IX had then promised to common good fostered vibrant, vivacious, protect the holy Church and to believe in all and tenacious Christian France, the land of its teachings, to defend the weak, especially Lourdes and Saint Therese. widows and orphans, to be courteous and respectful towards women (by the way, I For Americans, too, Louis is of special remind you the 5th article of the scout law : interest, insofar as he truly is counter- “the scout is courteous and chivalrous”); he cultural, a sign of contradiction. After all, if had also promised to be frank and to fight overenthusiastic partisans of feudalism once evil and injustice. In other words, for the conflated the throne with the altar, today knight of medieval Christianity, it meant to many more Catholic democrats conflate said conform his life to these three words that altar with the Lincoln Memorial. When too you know very well: “frankness, many churchmen are wont to throw selflessness, purity” which are the three crusaders under the bus, feminism has main “virtues” of scouting. eviscerated the chivalry commended by Cardinal Sarah, and liberal democracy is The boy who embraced high-minded virtues mistaken for a moral absolute, we need the in 1226 became a man who would epitomize feast of Saint Louis to remind us that the them. Today even the Oxford Illustrated Church has on occasion seen fit to canonize

25 knights, crusaders, and monarchs. Charity comfort to troubled Americans, because it and justice are transcendent, universal, and means that even we modern republicans can eternal; the specific social and political request the intercession of medieval saint- traditions through which they express kings. themselves are not. This should be of great

Jerry Salyer https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/08/knight-crusader-king-and-saint/

26 States Sue Education Department over COVID Relief for Private Schools

Five states are suing the Trump income students, they still must be spent administration for directing emergency relief equitably across public and private schools aid to students at private schools, regardless in the district, she said. of their income level. “There is no reasonable explanation for The states of Michigan, California, Maine, debating the use of federal funding to serve New Mexico, Wisconsin, and the District of both public and private K-12 students when Columbia filed the complaint in federal federal funding, including CARES Act court on Tuesday against Education funding, flows to both public and private Secretary Betsy DeVos. The states were led higher education institutions.” by the attorneys general of Michigan and California, Dana Nessel and Xavier Becerra. The funding does not directly flow through LEAs to private schools, but rather is used “At a time when Michigan schools are by the agencies for “secular, neutral, and facing an unprecedented crisis, every single nonideological services,” DeVos said. This child deserves the chance to succeed. But, would probably include cleaning, health yet again, Secretary DeVos has decided to equipment, and remote learning services, tip the scales in favor of private schools, she said. leaving the State’s public-school students behind,” Nessel said. Furthermore, the department’s rule Congress, under the CARES Act in March, “discourages the limited number of sent relief funding for education to the financially secure private schools from states, to distribute to local educational seeking equitable services,” the agency said agencies (LEAs). in its press release. However, according to the states’ lawsuit, Although some of the Title I-A funds could the agency “grafted its own allocation and go to help private school students, under eligibility rules on Congress’s directive.” Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act they are specifically meant “CARES Act money is designed to provide for “at-risk private-school students” and not support to schools with low-income students in general, the states’ lawsuit says. students, as it is to be allocated based on the amount of Title I funding each state and An interim final rule issued by the school district received in the most recent Education Department directs the LEAs to fiscal year,” the lawsuit states. “provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools,” not According to the states’ complaint, the specifying that they are meant only for low- interpretation “will deprive low-income and income students, the lawsuit says. at-risk students, their teachers, and the public schools that serve them of critical DeVos said in a June 25 announcement that resources to meet students’ educational and “CARES Act programs are not Title I social/emotional needs during and after programs,” and thus not subject to the pandemic-related school closures.” limitation on use only for low-income students. If they are limited to only low-

27 According to McClatchy, the White House religious schools in the next coronavirus is planning to request money for scholarship relief package. programs for students of private and

CNA Staff https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/states-sue-education-department-over-covid-relief- for-private-schools-73362

28 Put Your Kids to Work This Summer. Science Says It's Good for Them

Having your kids do chores around the Besides learning how to contribute to the house is one of the best ways to help them greater good, these are some of the many succeed later in life. benefits of kids doing chores:

Summer vacation is in full swing and Working towards competence and mastery schoolwork has been set aside, but parents of a skill builds self-confidence. are still asking kids to pitch in with work Joining in Mom and Dad’s hard work gives around the house. If you’re asking your kids kids appreciation for all their parents do, and to help out with daily duties, we’ve got prevents entitlement. some good news for you: Kids who do chores at home are more likely to be Kids will be much better prepared for adult professionally successful later in life. It’s a life if they are able to clean and cook on double win, as you can outsource some of their own. your housekeeping work and give your If you’d like to put your kids to work, but children lasting benefits! don’t know quite where to start, this chart helpfully outlines developmentally Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of appropriate responsibilities: Freshmen at Stanford University and author of How to Raise an Adult, has made it her Summer is the perfect time to focus on mission to encourage parents to put their building good habits of work and kids to work, including through her responsibility, “laying down the rails” for viral TED Talk. She explains some of the your family train to run along smoothly reasons that chores help a child succeed later before school starts up again. If you’re on: feeling unsure about making your kids fold their own laundry and empty the “If kids aren’t doing the dishes, it means dishwasher, drop that guilt! It’s one of the someone else is doing that for them. And so best things you can do for them, and they’re absolved of not only the work, but of someday their successful adult selves will be learning that work has to be done and that grateful. each one of us must contribute for the betterment of the whole.”

Theresa Civantos Barber https://aleteia.org/2020/07/10/put-your-kids-to-work-this-summer-science-says-its-good-for- them

29 Texas Attorney General: Religious Schools Exempt from Local COVID Rules

The attorney general of Texas on Friday told and in some cases to the end of September, religious private schools in the state that the Texas Tribune reported. local governments are not allowed to order them to close or to dictate COVID-19 Travis County, which encompasses Austin, precautionary measures to them. issued an order July 16 barring face-to-face instruction, as well as extracurricular “[A]s protected by the First Amendment and activities, in all schools until Sept. 8. Texas law, religious private schools may continue to determine when it is safe for “If local public health orders are inconsistent their communities to resume in-person with [state] authorities, the local orders must instruction free from any government yield,” Paxton said. mandate or interference. Religious private schools therefore need not comply with local Governor Greg Abbott had also exempted public health orders to the contrary,” Texas houses of worship from the statewide Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote in a masking order, while at the same time July 17 letter. encouraging the houses of worship themselves to require masks. Paxton said local public health ordinances must be consistent with the governor’s “Religious education is vital to many faiths orders and the attorney general’s guidance, practiced in the United States.” For example, adding that local governments are “[i]n the Catholic tradition, religious “prohibited from closing religious education is ‘intimately bound up with the institutions or dictating mitigation strategies whole of the Church’s life,’” he wrote, to those institutions.” quoting the Catechism.

Paxton cited the U.S. and Texas state Public schools in the state are set to open constitutions, as well as the Texas Religious later than usual and most likely will provide Freedom Restoration Act, in asserting that remote instruction initially. Texas officials the state cannot “substantially burden” the have announced that public school districts free exercise of religion, which includes the will be allowed to delay on-campus ability of faith communities to educate their instruction for at least four weeks, the Texas youth, “unless it can demonstrate a Tribune reported. compelling interest for the restriction and prove it applies in the least restrictive way.” The public school district of Houston, the state’s largest, has announced that it will Blanket closings on religious institutions are start the new school year remotely Sept. 8, not the least restrictive means of containing remaining remote until at least Oct. 19, the virus, he asserted. although that could change depending on coronavirus rates in the community and Some Texas counties, including Dallas and guidance from health officials, the El Paso, have issued mandates barring in- Washington Post reported. person classes for public and private schools in their jurisdictions, at least through August Texas had 325,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday.

30

CNA Staff https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/20/texas-attorney-general-religious-schools- exempt-from-local-covid-rules/

31 Early 20th-Century Schools Kept Kids Safe from Disease With Open-Air Classrooms

A history lesson for how to welcome students back to live classrooms in the midst of pandemic.

As the summer progresses into August and A similar approach was undertaken by Dr. public officials debate the wisdom of Edward Livingston Trudeau at reopening schools in the fall, a page from his Adirondack Cottage Sanitorium in the history books suggests a possible upstate New York. Decades before the solution to safely welcoming students back development of antibiotics, the idea was to class in the midst of the continuing that tuberculosis could be cured, or at least COVID-19 pandemic. managed, by exposure to cold, clear mountain air. It turns out, this is not the first time officials struggled with providing public education “Within two years there were 65 open-air during a public health crisis. While COVID- schools around the country either set up 19 is the threat today, over a century ago, it along the lines of the Providence model or was tuberculosis that threatened lives in simply held outside,” the Times wrote. “In American cities. New York, the private school Horace Mann conducted classes on the roof; another In 1907, two Rhode Island doctors proposed school in the city took shape on an open-air schools for students who had abandoned ferry.” tuberculosis or who had been exposed to it. They based their proposals on education As officials worry about the novel trends in Germany at the time. coronavirus’s possible effects on those sitting at school desks and those standing at By early 1908, the floor of an empty brick blackboards, open-air classes might well be building in Providence was converted into a a possible alternative. “One of the few space with ceiling-height windows on every things we know about the coronavirus with side, kept open at nearly all times, according any degree of certainty is that the risk of to the New York Times. Kids would stay contracting it diminishes outside — a review warm through the winter by learning in of 7,000 cases in China recorded only one “sitting bags” or by gathering around a pot instance of fresh-air transmission,” says the belly-type stove. Teachers served up hot Times. soup or cocoa along with spelling and civics lessons. If it can be worked out — and there are lots of logistics to consider — it might just be a The experiment had great results, improving good way to avoid resorting to Zoom. the health of a number of children.

John Burger https://aleteia.org/2020/07/20/early-20th-century-schools-kept-kids-safe-from-disease-with- open-air-classrooms

32 Ireland’s New Coalition Government and the Secularization of Irish Schools

One of the objectives of the drafted Program for Government is the lessening the number of national schools that were Catholic, and introducing a liberal-secular religious and ethics education program to all primary and post-primary schools.

There was an extraordinary gap between the populist, supported by smaller farmers, last Irish national election on February 8 and smaller businesses, and workers. But all that the formation of a government on June 27. has changed in the past half century with the The gap was caused by the failure of any difference between the parties being mainly party to gain either a majority or anything the personalities leading them. close to a majority to which any small party or group of independents could be linked. Fine Gael has controlled the government since 2011. Despite its historic conservative Adding to the problem was the large number tradition, it has presided over the of parliamentary (Dail) seats gained by Sinn advancement of two constitutional Fein, the party that was the political wing of amendments that reflected an extraordinary the IRA, which was about as large as that change in Irish attitudes. Both measures gained by the two major parties, Fine Gael gained nearly two-third majorities in the and Fianna Fail, that historically have plebiscites that past them. Ordinarily governed Ireland since independence. amendments are introduced and passed by the legislature. Those two parties are rooted in the opposing sides in the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The But in 2015 and again in 2017, the war followed the treaty with Great Britain government called ostensibly non-partisan granting independence to a 26-county Irish Citizens Assemblies, selected by “objective” Free State, while leaving the northern six public opinion pollsters, to hear expert counties linked to Britain. opinion and be more thoughtful in their recommendations than if it was left The antecedents of Fine Gael (Cumann na exclusively to the “political” legislature. The nGaedheal) won the Civil War. Most of their Dail, or parliament, was generally passively opponents left Sinn Fein, which remained in accepting the amendments to be committed to the use of violence in the submitted to the electorate. pursuit of a united Ireland, and formed Fianna Fail. Since then Ireland has been The first, passed in 2015, approved “same- governed by either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. sex marriage”. The second, in 2017, Fine Gael governments admittedly were repealed the anti-abortion eight amendment coalition governments, but in the more that had been passed by a comparable two- recent past, Fianna Fail has also had to rely thirds of the voters in 1983. on smaller parties, like Labour, to form governments. Both votes followed a mid-1990s vote that gave a narrow victory to an amendment Fine Gael historically had been more allowing divorce. That vote reversed a 1986 conservative and drew its support from plebiscite that had rejected an amendment propertied and professional classes and allowing divorce. The 1986 vote rejecting larger farmers, while Fianna Fail was more divorce was comparable to the almost two-

33 thirds majority that had passed the Eight As with the assemblies that proposed the Amendment in 1983 against abortion. same-sex and anti-eight amendment motions, its members, selected by some In the mid 1990s, after the commencement private public opinion agency, would hear of the exposure of clerical, including testimony from various authorities. It episcopal, scandals, and exposures of the probably would recommend a constitutional maltreatment of children in religious order amendment to change the Irish National run homes, public sentiment was starting to Education System where presently most of change and approved by a very narrow the schools have religious identity subject to margin an amendment allowing divorce. the management of churches, mainly Catholic, but also a smaller number being Now a coalition has been formed of both Protestant, as well as some schools being Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and also— Jewish and Moslem. because the combination of the two major parties still did not form a majority—the No doubt the proposed secularized Green Party, a champion of environmental education system might allow in schools causes. The Fianna Fail leader, Michael desirous of such an option to allow religious Martin will serve as Taoiseach (Prime education as an after-school option for Minister) for two years And Leo Varadkar, students, but in no way would religion be a the Fine Gael leader will then take over for component of the regular school day. another two, and cabinet position divided among all three parties. But even without an amendment secularizing the schools, one suspects that a The new government has put forward a secular atmosphere is prevailing in many lengthy Program for Government. Minimal ostensibly Catholic schools with religious attention has been given to one part of the instruction being given by indifferent program dealing with national schooling. faculty, with primary emphasis being the Among its objectives were lessening the preparing for First Communion and later number of national schools that were Confirmation ceremonies. Significantly Catholic, and introducing a liberal-secular many children scarcely enter church religious and ethics education program to all between the reception of both ceremonies, primary and post-primary schools. which all too many families have come to In addition, there is a plan to call (as had regard primarily as coming of age events. been done with the same-sex marriage and What will transpire exactly remains to be the pro-abortion amendments) a Citizen’s seen, of course, but the trajectory and tenor Assembly on the future of education at of the past few decades appear both clear primary and secondary level. and intensifying.

John P. McCarthy https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/14/irelands-new-coalition-government-and-the- secularization-of-irish-schools/

34 Catholic Parents Fight for Their Children’s School in COVID’s Shadow

While the New York Archdiocese closes 20 more schools, citing canceled fundraisers and suspended parish collections, parents in one Yonkers school lobby for a second chance.

New York Catholics are no strangers to Register that his entire family has taken part parochial school closings, an almost routine in the protests. but still devastating occurrence along the Northeastern corridor. Balestra did not deny that enrollment had fallen, but predicted that it would have risen But John Mitchell was galvanized into as the summer wore on. action when St. Paul the Apostle School in Yonkers appeared this month on an updated “This is a working-class parish, and COVID list of New York Archdiocesan schools put a strain on parents’ finances,” said slated for closure as the pandemic erased the Balestra, who noted that parents also feared razor-thin financial margin that kept many that online classes would continue in the afloat. fall, leaving them with few options for childcare. Mitchell’s wife was an alumna of the school, inspiring the couple to settle nearby and “It wasn’t that they weren’t going to send enroll their three children, while the parish their kids to the school: They were waiting church became their spiritual home. to see about the [next federal] stimulus and held off registering.” Within days of learning that low enrollment at St. Paul’s was a key factor in the decision St. Paul’s is not alone. to shutter the school, he launched a petition campaign to secure a reprieve for the school On July 9, Michael Deegan, superintendent that garnered more than 4,100 signatures, of Schools for the New York Archdiocese, and he organized large rallies that that have confirmed that 20 schools in multiple sparked sympathetic media coverage. counties would be closed, and three would be merged. Among those schools are nine While some parochial-school communities inner-city schools that have attracted a large had been warned about “falling enrollment number of scholarship recipients. and poor finances,” St. Paul’s families received no prior notice, Mitchell told the “I am sorry that families were put through Register. this painful ordeal,” Deegan told the Register, but schools that were already “We want to form a partnership” with the struggling financially “will not be able to archdiocese, he said. “Our goal is to boost ‘fundraise’ their way out of this crisis.” He enrollment and fundraising to help save this stressed that the pandemic has had a school.” “catastrophic financial impact on the entire school system.” Hundreds of parents in this tight-knit school community have joined Mitchell’s crusade. Along with sharp decline in fundraising and Michael Balestra, a mail carrier with two parish collections, rising unemployment and children enrolled at St. Paul’s, told the job insecurity in low- and middle-income

35 communities have resulted in “millions and “We did a little informal survey of 700 millions of dollars in uncollected tuition,” he Catholic school principals, and 10% said the said. crisis may affect their ability to reopen,” she added. The yawning deficit has sharply limited the archdiocese’s ability to keep troubled “Half of those we surveyed reported that at schools open. In the past, said Deegan, “I least a quarter of their families would had enough cash reserves to float the school require new assistance to remain in school.” and see if it could hit its enrollment goal. [This year] I didn’t have a cash reserve. It Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Catholic evaporated.” schools are looking to the federal government for help. No doubt, the novel coronavirus has cut a swathe of destruction across Catholic Thus far, the Paycheck Protection Program education in the United States, where many (PPP) has made it possible for parochial parochial schools abruptly suspended schools to cover their payroll, and they are classroom instruction in the spring and still holding out hope that additional assistance are not sure when they will reopen. will come through a new coronavirus-relief bill, the Heroes Act, still under review in The National Catholic Educational Congress. Association reported that 98 Catholic schools closed or were consolidated last A total of $13 billion in assistance to U.S. year, noted Mary Pat Donoghue, executive educational institutions was also provided director of the Secretariat of Catholic through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Education at the U.S. Conference of Economic Security Act, also known as the Catholic Bishops. CARES Act. Many state and local governments contend that those dollars “Our current estimate is that 130 to 140 are should be restricted to public schools. The closing this year.” Trump administration, however, has issued rules that explicitly require a proportional The schools at greatest risk are those that allotment of the funds to be shared with educate the children of “lower-middle-class private schools. Catholic families,” she said They are less likely to attract philanthropy or maintain an An equitable distribution of this money will endowment, and many are located in New “help ensure the full educational ecosystem, York, New Jersey and Boston, precisely public and private alike, is able to withstand “where the impact of the pandemic has been the shock of the pandemic,” Frederick Hess, particularly damaging.” the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a Even in the best of times, parochial-school Washington, D.C., research center, told the finances pose a tough challenge for Register. dioceses. What’s different about this moment, she U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos “has said, is that the pandemic has disrupted worked aggressively to help private schools almost every source of revenue that keeps make it through this period,” he said. “But such schools afloat. the most effective and appropriate response

36 is for congressional supporters of private The question remains as to whether John schools to ensure that any aid package takes Mitchell, Michael Balestra and other St. care to protect these invaluable community Paul’s parents accept Deegan’s invitation. institutions from a cataclysmic threat.” Some St. Paul’s parents have already Back in New York, where beloved parochial registered their children at another parochial schools, and even St. Patrick’s Cathedral, school, fearing that they would lose the face growing budget shortfalls, Cardinal opportunity if they waited any longer. Dolan has defended the flow of federal relief But Mitchell wants to believe that St. Paul’s to Catholic institutions and has repudiated can still be saved and the school community the campaign to exclude religious schools can persevere. from receiving financial aid. The pastor, Father Leonard Villa, who has Likewise, the archdiocese’s school met with grieving parents, understands their superintendent said he would continue his sense of loss. effort to secure funds provided by the CARES Act that have been denied to “In my heart of hearts, I think St. Paul is a archdiocesan schools. At the same time, he viable school,” Father Villa told the will keep up the pressure on Congress to Register, recalling his own surprise when he include language in the Heroes Act that learned about the closure, following earlier explicitly designates religious schools as assurances that St. Paul’s would survive recipients. another round of closures.

“We are optimistic about the Heroes Act and “The principal ran a very tight ship. Our have been working with Washington and our subsidy was on the low side, compared with elected officials locally, statewide and many schools.” nationally to ensure that Catholic schools get their fair share,” said Deegan. St. Paul’s is a small school with a rich array of parish and school activities, like the The next round of federal aid may come too annual living Rosary and the reenactment of late for St. Paul’s families, and Deegan the Passion by the seventh- and eighth- acknowledged the pain and shock that graders on Good Friday. inspired their protests and petition drive. But he also highlighted the archdiocese’s efforts A total of 162 students were enrolled when to shore up its remaining schools and to the pandemic forced the school to begin assist with new school placements. online classes in March. Re-registrations stood at 133 students, with 27 pending, said “We know that you are hurt and upset by the the pastor. closing,” he said, as he sought to speak directly to frustrated parents. “But Catholic After news of the school’s closure sparked schools continue, and there are many that local headlines, he has heard from alumni have their doors and hearts open to welcome and parents. Many of them are construction every child displaced by closures into a new workers, police and firefighters, and they are school, into another community of faith.” deeply worried about their children’s future as they struggle to navigate the economic and health crises roiling their world.

37 Recently, he joined a group of school Her effort is inspired, at least in part, by the parents at the church, where they had sense that her students were already harmed gathered “to pray and ask for God’s help.” by the unexpected shift from in-person to Father Villa prayed with them, but could online classes and now face another offer little practical assistance. St. Paul’s is a wrenching disruption. “regional” school that means it is managed by the archdiocese, not the parish. The “On March 13, they were told we were parish collection covers some expenses, closing for a week, and then they spent the including building repairs, but the rest of the year in front of the computer,” superintendent’s office handles finances, she said, as she reflected back on what was and officials there were alarmed by the need expected be a temporary closure of her for an increased school subsidy. school.

“I feel for the families,” he said. “The But her students never returned to the closing is a wound, and there is a lot of classroom. And now they may need to find hurt.” another school just when they most need a familiar place to get their bearings. Joan Larkin, a St. Paul’s teacher for 30 years who also sent her children to the school, “Other teachers have asked me what I am echoed the deep sense of loss, as teachers, going to do,” said Larkin, her voice raw with parents and children struggle to find emotion. closure. “But the issue is not me losing my job. The issue is the kids losing their second home.” Larkin has joined the protests and wants to continue the fight for the school’s survival.

Joan Frawley Desmond https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/catholic-parents-fight-for-their-childrens-school-in- covids-shadow

38 Washington Post Settles Defamation Lawsuit With Nick Sandmann over March for Life Controversy

In a statement posted to Twitter on July 24, Sandmann thanked his lawyers, his family, as well as “millions of you who have stood your ground by supporting me.” He added that he “still has more to do.”

The Washington Post has settled a Sandmann, who was wearing a “Make defamation lawsuit filed by Nick Sandmann, America Great Again” hat, standing in close who as a student at Covington Catholic High proximity to Native American activist School was at the center of a national Nathan Phillips and smirking while Phillips controversy after the 2019 March for Life. chanted and played a ceremonial drum.

The terms of the settlement were not Phillips was in Washington, D.C. for the disclosed. In February 2019, Sandmann and Indigenous Peoples’ March, and the incident his lawyers filed a defamation lawsuit occurred near the Lincoln Memorial after requesting $250 million, the price Amazon the March for Life, which Sandmann had CEO Jeff Bezos paid to purchase the attended. Phillips told the media that the newspaper in 2013. students had swarmed him, and had repeatedly chanted “build the wall” or “build In a statement posted to Twitter on July 24, that wall.” Sandmann thanked his lawyers, his family, as well as “millions of you who have stood The video quickly went viral, and many your ground by supporting me.” He added people called for the suspension or that he “still has more to do.” expulsion of Sandmann and his classmates as a punishment for their seemingly In January 2020, Sandmann settled a disrespectful behavior. Sandmann later defamation lawsuit against CNN. The terms explained that he had smiled in an attempt to of that settlement were not disclosed. There come off as non-threatening. are six outstanding defamation lawsuits As the weekend progressed, however, against other media companies, including additional video was discovered that showed the New York Times, ABC, NBC, and CBS. a far more nuanced context to the encounter between Phillips and Sandmann. The suit alleged that the Washington Post “engaged in a modern-day form of The new footage showed that Sandmann and McCarthyism by competing with CNN and his classmates had been harassed by NBC, among others, to claim leadership of a members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, mainstream and social media mob of bullies and began a counter-chant of their student which attacked, vilified, and threatened section chants in an effort to drown out the Nicholas Sandmann.” Sandmann was Black Hebrew Israelites. The students seeking “compensatory and punitive denied chanting “build the wall,” and that damages.” chant could not be heard on various videos of the incident. The lawsuits stemmed from a short video that was published to Twitter in January Additionally, the extended video showed 2019. That video appeared to show that Phillips had wandered into the crowd of

39 Covington Catholic High School students – them making any offensive or racist not the other way around – and had begun statements. beating a drum in Sandmann’s face. Both Covington Catholic High School and A third-party investigation into the Bishop Roger Foys of Covington apologized Covington Catholic students came to the for their premature statements condemning conclusion that they had not instigated the Sandmann’s behavior. encounter and that there was no evidence of

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/24/washington-post-settles-defamation-lawsuit- with-nick-sandmann-over-march-for-life-controversy/

40 These Priests and Nuns Are Running a 5K for Catholic Education

The clergy and faithful alike take part in Steps for Students, an annual fundraiser.

It’s hard to predict how the pandemic will the 5K run in 2020, in which she spoke with play out or what the state of the world will Rev. Richard McNeillie, vocational director be in six months, but it is with great hope for for the archdiocese, who took part in the a healthier future that Steps for Students is run. McNeillie said that for inspiration to continuing to plan its annual 5K run for keep him going when the run gets tough, he February 2021. keeps in mind Corinthians 9:24: “Run so as to win.” He said: Steps for Students is a non-profit group that raises funds and awareness for Catholic “We’re human beings, and we definitely education. The 5K runs, which promote need to take care of our bodies as well as our healthy living in children of all age groups, souls,” he said. “I’m going to hit times when are enthusiastically attended by clergy and everything falls apart, and I have to keep faithful alike, and the proceeds of their going. There are times when I find a rhythm, fundraising benefit the 58 Catholic schools and it’s easy. And there are times when I am in the Galveston-Houston area of Texas. In sprinting.” 2020, they raised nearly $600,000 dollars from nearly 3,900 donors, and in 2019 they A promotional video made from footage of raised over $900,000. the 2020 run, featured above, displays the rich community-building aspects of the The 5K run is a great fundraiser that event, as it is attended by priests, nuns, provides money to many educational catholic teachers, students, and their institutions, but it has even greater value as a families. It shows that the event has community building exercise. On the day of something to offer for everyone. from taking the run, priests and nuns (in the habit) are part in the run to enjoying a street fair with out there on the course with their flocks, stalls for games and shops, all meant to leading the effort to improve health and bolster the fundraising effort. If your young offering encouragement to fellow runners. ones are a little too small to join in the footrace, there is a wide selection of family- Lindsay Peyton of the Houston friendly activities to share with them. Chronicle covered the 15th anniversary of

For more information, visit their website here, or click here to check out their Facebook page.

J-P Mauro https://aleteia.org/2020/07/25/these-priests-and-nuns-are-running-a-5k-for-catholic-education

41 Catholic Schools Ready for ‘Vital’ In-Person Education, California’s Bishops Say

Catholic schools in California are taking other troubling patterns, the San Francisco appropriate measures against the threat of Chronicle reports. Schools that do open the new coronavirus and authorities should must require masks for older children. issue waivers to rules that bar the schools Faculty and staff must wear masks and have from reopening for “vital” in-person access to consistent testing. education, the California Catholic bishops have said, citing the low risk of coronavirus If students or educators test positive for infection among children. coronavirus, their classroom would have to close and quarantine for 14 days. If a Their statement came as California broke its school’s student body and staff reach an record for numbers of positive Covid-19 infection rate of 5%, the school would have tests, 12,800. to close. A widespread outbreak in a school district would require a school shutdown, “We understand that the threat of the the Sacramento Bee reports. coronavirus is real and ongoing in our state. And we understand the legitimate concerns Regarding limits on in-person education, the that teachers, parents, and elected officials bishops asked the governor to speed the have about the safety of returning to the creation of regulations that would allow classrooms this fall,” the California Catholic local authorities to grant waivers on a case- Conference said July 22. “At the same time, by-case basis at the local level. we are deeply concerned about the broader health and development issues for our “Our Catholic schools across the state have children if the state presumes to rely only on been diligently implementing the Centers for distance learning until a vaccine is Disease Control guidance for schools and developed.” the recommendations of local health authorities in preparing to return to the “In-person learning, especially at the lower classrooms,” the bishops said. “As many grades, provides emotional and social skills businesses, organizations, and government and supports that are crucial to early offices around the country are doing, we are childhood development and the overall well- making accommodations to adapt to the new being of children which simply cannot be realities caused by this pandemic.” replaced,” said the bishops. “The public-health science suggests that California Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 17 elementary-age students can return with low announced requirements for resuming in- risk of infection or transmission of the virus person instruction at all primary and among students or between students and secondary schools from transitional teachers,” they continued. “So, we are kindergarten to grade 12. In California, 33 urging Governor Newsom to continue the of its 58 counties will begin with distance dialogue on this crucial question of how to learning only. These are on a state “watch reopen our schools safely.” list” as judged by health officials monitoring elevated infection rates, increased The bishops did not cite particular public hospitalizations, limited hospital capacity, or health science experts.

42 Their language differs from CDC guidance, California ranks as the most populous U.S. which says that the virus poses “relatively state, the third largest in area, and the low risks” to children, compared to other eleventh in population density. Newsom said ages. As of July 17, children and adolescents new California coronavirus numbers are not under 18 accounted for under 7% of the highest per capita among states, but are COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 percent “nonetheless, a sober reminder of why we of related deaths. In the U.S. there have been are taking things as seriously as we are.” some 4 million confirmed coronavirus cases, with over 140,000 deaths. The CDC has discussed reopening schools in several documents, including “The About 80% of people infected with Importance of Reopening America’s coronavirus recover without special Schools This Fall,” updated on its website treatment, but 20% require hospitalization, July 23. with the elderly or those with underlying health conditions facing higher risks. Some Infections among younger school children figures indicate about children make up and from student to teachers has been low, about 1 percent of the total coronavirus “especially if proper precautions are hospitalizations. According to the American followed.” There are also few reports of Academy of Pediatrics, about 2% to 4% of children being the primary source of children who contract coronavirus will be transmission among family members. Virus hospitalized. However, they make up and antibody testing suggest children are extremely low figures of intensive care unit “not the primary drivers” of the spread of hospitalizations. the virus.

There are 64 known coronavirus deaths of “No studies are conclusive, but the available children, less than the number of children evidence provides reason to believe that in- who have died of influenza in each of the person schooling is in the best interest of last five flu seasons. A rare condition called students, particularly in the context of Multisystem inflammatory Syndrome in appropriate mitigation measures similar to Children is believed to be linked to the those implemented at essential workplaces,” virus, but only about 342 cases have been the CDC said. identified, including six deaths.

California added a record 12,800 confirmed In another July 23 document, “Preparing K- coronavirus cases on July 21. It now has the 12 Administrators for Safe Return to School most cumulative coronavirus cases of any in Fall 2020,” the CDC said, “There is U.S. state, having surpassed New York with mixed evidence about whether returning to over 430,000 cases. The state’s seven-day school results in increased transmission or rolling average test rate is at about 7% outbreaks.” positive, higher than the rate of 5% over 14 days that most epidemiologists consider California bishops stressed Catholic support necessary to re-open safely. Consistent and cooperation in efforts to contain the testing failures could also under count the spread of Covid-19, including closing actual virus numbers, CBS Los Angeles schools and suspending worship. reports.

43 “We took these steps, not because the Like the CDC, the U.S. bishops stressed the government issued orders, but because our importance of in-person education. God is love and he calls us to love for our “What our children will lose by ‘virtual’ neighbors,” they said. “That means working education — in terms of emotional for the common good and protecting the development, skills and learning and sanctity and dignity of human life, taking achievement — will have a significant special care for the poor and elderly, the sick impact,” the bishops said. “In the name of and vulnerable.” protecting their health in the short-term, we may very likely be risking their long-term growth and potential.” CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/24/catholic-schools-ready-for-vital-in-person- education-californias-bishops-say/

44 Sister Ruth Lewis, ‘Mother of Pakistan’s Special Children’, Loses COVID-19 Battle

The city of Karachi is mourning the loss of Her death sparked a huge outpouring of Sister Ruth Lewis who dedicated more than grief online as many Pakistani shared the 50 years taking care of children with special impact they felt Sister Ruth left on their needs abandoned by their families and lives, describing her as the “angel of overlooked by society. Pakistan” and “a loving and devoted soul”.

The “Mother of Pakistan’s special children” In a statement, Governor Sindh Imran and the head of Dar ul Sukun (home for Ismail, described Sister Ruth as “a true disabled children) died on July 20 at Aga inspiration” saying “Karachi would always Khan Hospital from complications of the remember her selfless services for the novel coronavirus. She was 77. differently abled and socially displaced children and elderly.” At least 21 children at the foundation had been infected with COVID-19 but she Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza continued to serve them. Sister Ruth tested Wahab said: “Her selfless contributions to positive on July 8 and was taken to the our society will always be remembered and hospital where she was placed on a cherished.” ventilator, charity officials said. Sister Ruth’s death was a “tragic loss for Icon of love, care and compassion Dar ul Sukun and the people of Karachi” said Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of late “All our children, nuns and staff are Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and heartbroken, as we have lost a huge part of former President Asif Ali Zardari. “Pakistan us. Please pray for the children to whom she has lost a great asset”, she said adding that has been a mother, for the nuns for whom Sister Ruth had “selflessly dedicated her she was a sister and a true inspiration and entire life to those in need.” for all the staff who love her and will each day try to walk in her footsteps,” of Dar ul Father Nasir William, director of the Sukoon said in a statement shared on Commission for Social Communications in Facebook. Islamabad-Rawalpindi’s Roman Catholic Diocese, extended his deepest condolences “Her services to humanity” and “to the to the family and friends and “the friends of destitute severely disabled children and Dar ul Sukun who loved her immensely. elderly, socially displaced girls and boys is “You will be missed everyday,” he said. remarkable” reads another message by the charity foundation. “She has worked for and Special kids need time, love and patience loved the special children of Dar ul Sukun from the day it was founded 51 years ago. In a video recorded earlier, Sister Ruth She was the icon of love, care and true described that “bringing up children with compassion.” special needs requires immense patience and strength”. When they first arrive at the Sister Ruth remembered for her selfless organization the kids show severe service behavioural issues. “It takes a lot of time to

45 teach and groom them.” Sharing the story of Mother of forgotten ones one of the kids, the nun said, “He was so aggressive as a child but grew up to be a All these years, the charity’s dedicated successful man who won gold medals and is sisters, Sr. Mathilda Pereira, Sr. Ruth Lewis, working now. He even went to the United Sr. Angela, Sr. Immaculate and Sr. Agnes States twice to take part in Special under the guidance of Sr. Gertrude, raised Olympics”. It is a proud moment, she said hundreds of children brought in by social with a smile, “when they are asked about workers, police and relatives or found on the their mother, these kids reply: Sister Ruth”. streets. Ruth Lewis assumed the charge to carry forward the humanitarian mission of Beginning of the selfless service Dar ul Sukun after Sr Gertrude’s demise in October 2000. Dar ul Sukun (House of Peace) has been functioning in Karachi for the last 51 years “Since then there was no turning back. She serving as an abode for the abandoned took care of such children all her life. The children with disabilities. Sister Ruth has children whom their own family abandoned, been working at the charity since it was children who were called monsters because founded on 17th February 1969 by a Dutch of deformities and chronic disability, nun, Sister Gertrude Lemmens who came to children whose single sight could traumatize Pakistan as a visitor but was so moved by a layman ... Sr. Ruth became their mother. the pathetic condition of physically and They were not objects of misery and charity mentally challenged people that she devoted to her, but her own children,” reads the her life to them. “Sister Gertrude was the charity’s statement. “She truly was the inspiration and reason that I dedicated 51 Mother of forgotten ones. No one can fill the years of my life to these children,” Ruth said void she left.” in a video.

Sana Jamal https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/sister-ruth-lewis-e2-80-98mother-of-pakistan-e2-80-99s- special-children-e2-80-99-loses-covid-19-battle/ar-BB170ZwT

46 The Catholic Roots of Regis Philbin

Game show and talk show host Regis The host gave supported students with Francis Xavier Philbin died July 24 at 88. scholarships to Cardinal Hayes High Schhol Philbin was a Catholic, and a longtime on an annual basis, and in 2000 gave the proponent and supporter of Catholic schools. school $500,000 for an auditorium renovation. “I think it made a great difference. Solidified me….taught me an awful lot. Everything Philbin also donated to Hayes his winnings that I am right now I attribute to” Catholic from game shows: In 2012 he gave the education, Philbin said in a 2009 interview. school $175,000 he won on “Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader?” and in 2011 What made a difference at Catholic schools, $50,000 from an appearance on “Celebrity he told reporters in numerous interviews, Jeopardy.” was formation in virtue, and in faith. The school named its auditorium for Philbin Before joining the Navy, and eventually in 2010. During a Mass and celebration making his way to Hollywood, Philbin honoring Philbin, New York’s Cardinal attended the University of Notre Dame, and Timothy Dolan called him “a man of faith, before that the Catholic schools in the hope, and charity.” Bronx, where he grew up. Philbin enjoyed a decades-long friendship Philbin was named in part for Jesuit with former Notre Dame football coach Lou missionary St. Francis Xavier. But his Holtz, who is well-known for his deep unusual first name came from Regis Catholic faith. Philbin said that Holtz Catholic High School in New York. inspired him to see beyond his failures, and encouraged him to be a good role model for “In the 1920s, my father was asked to leave younger people. Regis High School in Manhattan during his sophomore year. It was a Catholic school, In an interview with the St. Anthony and he had gotten into a fight with a priest or Messenger, Philbin said that he’d been a brother. Years later, he was so sorry about known as a Catholic, and supported Catholic what had happened that he and my mother initiatives, during his long career, even named me Regis when I was born,” he told though, he said “there is a wide chasm the Wall Street Journal in 2016. between the media and religion, especially the Catholic religion I think, but that’s just Philbin was an altar boy while attending his the way it is.” parish elementary school, and as a child had dreams of becoming a singer. He went to Philbin added that he’d encountered Notre Dame at his father's urging, after obstacles, losses, and personal and graduating from New York’s Cardinal professional failures. Hayes High School in 1949. At a moment of challenge, he said “you’ve just got to do a little prayer and hope for the After achieving success on television, best. I think your religion strengthens you in Philbin became a regular benefactor to the that regard.” Catholic schools in which he was educated, especially his high school.

47

CNA https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-catholic-roots-of-regis-philbin-77078

48 The United Federation of Teachers Doesn’t Care about Science — Or Kids

“Listen to the science” has been a constant United Federation of Teachers deal covering refrain in this pandemic. Now the science is the shutdowns and remote learning that let saying, “Reopen the schools” — but New teachers do next to nothing. York’s leaders are all too likely to listen to If you doubt us on that, just ask a UFT the teachers’ unions instead. member — specifically, Jenny Lombard, a public-school teacher whose son is a student The American Academy of Pediatrics at Brooklyn Tech, one of the city’s top high says the academic, mental and physical schools. benefits of in-person school outweigh the coronavirus risks. That is: Continued remote As The Post reports, Lombard has written learning will harm children. Tech’s leaders to complain that six of her son’s seven teachers delivered zero “face to Everything so far indicates kids are less face” online instruction these last few likely to get infected and to spread the bug. months, which makes it all but impossible Meanwhile, the AAP notes, ample evidence for him to have learned what he should’ve. shows that school closures this spring seriously set back children’s educations. Such non-teaching is OK’d by the UFT’s deal with the city that covers teaching That’s why New Jersey, Connecticut and during the lockdowns, though Lombard Massachusetts aim to fully reopen schools in faults Tech’s administrators for winking at the fall. Much of Europe and East Asia have it. already reopened schools safely. And, as she notes, no-show “teaching” will But some New York teachers fear for their surely harm minority students the most. own safety, and their unions will likely (Shouldn’t somebody be protesting that?) prevent a reopening, absent some massive bribe the city can’t afford. But for the United Federation of Teachers and its brethren, it’s never really about the After all, Mayor Bill de Blasio and children or the science — but only the Chancellor Richard Carranza agreed to a unions’ own self-interest.

Post Editorial Board https://nypost.com/2020/07/01/the-united-federation-of-teachers-doesnt-care-about-science-or- kids/

49 A Fragile Peace for Catholic Education

Across the country this month, many generation for a renewal of fidelity and of Americans celebrated “wins” for Catholic American culture. And to do that, we must schools and religious freedom at the provide faithful Catholic education that is Supreme Court—and rightly so. But it fully committed to the needs of Catholic would be a mistake to believe that Catholic families. We must give young Catholics the education is secure without substantial spiritual and intellectual formation they truly fortification. deserve, instead of courting enrollment by families whose interest in Catholic In fact, the Catholic identity of our schools education is only to gain advantages in and colleges may be in far greater danger college and career. It would be better to than it was before the summer began. There have fewer schools and colleges devoted to is much that Catholic educators can do to truly Catholic education, rather than devote improve their prospects for the future, but it scarce resources to a mostly secular will require strong faith and fortitude. education that can be provided by other private, public, and charter schools. This Court session proved that the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment still offer The bottom line is that there’s no escaping some cover for faithful education. But the growing antagonism toward any thanks in part to the Supreme institution that preserves a Christian Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County, understanding of the human person, Georgia ruling issued in June—finding that sexuality, and marriage. Our legal employers may not discriminate based on protections are limited, and we may not have homosexual or transgender status or many years before Catholic schools and behavior—Catholic educators must be colleges lose the limited protections they prepared for the impact of secular and now have. The renewal of faithful Catholic ideological devastation in the surrounding education has never been more urgent, and it culture. The pressure on Catholic schools would be tragic if educators choose instead and colleges to compromise the Faith will be to compromise away what remains of intense. Catholic schools and colleges.

Moreover, any legal protection for Catholic Stay faithful education provided by this Court must be considered within the broader context of Last month’s Bostock ruling expanded the the Bostock ruling and how it impacts state scope of sex discrimination under Title VII, laws, accreditation and membership in the federal law concerning employment, to athletic associations. Some attorneys express include adverse decisions concerning optimism that transgender and homosexual behavior. Catholic schools and colleges will win even greater protections under federal law If applied to Catholic education, this would following Bostock. It’s just as likely that our prevent schools and colleges from upholding refuge, such as it is, may be temporary. moral standards for teachers and other employees. A Catholic school could not, for Regardless, Catholics must use every instance, fire a teacher for same-sex opportunity we still have to prepare the next marriage, celebrating homosexuality in the

50 classroom, or violating policies that demand of its teaching, activities and policies must respect for a student’s God-given sex. be faithful to Catholic teaching. And its employees must be witnesses to the faith Moreover, employment discrimination often and moral behavior. turns on claims of a hostile work environment. A Catholic school that teaches An authentic Catholic school or college the truth about human sexuality and requires can’t conform to Bostock. There is no teachers to uphold Catholic teaching could compromise with Bostock that does not be in violation of federal law simply by scandalize students and contradict the very making certain employees uncomfortable purpose of a Catholic school or college to about expressing a homosexual or teach truth and form saints. transgender identity. Limited protection In the Bostock ruling, the Supreme Court did not make distinctions between “sexual The big question to be litigated, then, is identity” and behavior. This means that whether Catholic education is protected by discrimination lawsuits could arise not only the religious exemptions written into Title because a Catholic school or college forbids VII and Title IX, so that neither law can be same-sex marriage, but also if it prevents an enforced against Catholic schools and employee from displaying inappropriate colleges—and whether Congress allows sexual behavior or advocating it among those exemptions to survive. Past students. A double standard could quickly interpretations of the Title VII religious emerge in the enforcement of student rules exemption have been quite narrow, but the concerning chastity, acceptable language, opinions in Bostock suggest that a wider and dress code—rules that might not be interpretation might be possible. We’ll have permitted for teachers and other employees. to fight for it. The even bigger question is whether What about athletics, locker rooms and Catholic educators will vigorously assert bathrooms, and other student facilities and their rights to religious freedom or instead activities impacted by gender ideology? yield to gender ideology, prioritizing public Formally, Title VII and the Bostock ruling affection over their fidelity to Catholic govern only employment decisions. teaching. Sadly, as we have seen time and However, Title IX—the federal law on sex again, some will try to compromise. discrimination in schools and colleges that accept federal funds—is usually interpreted The best thing that Catholic educators can the same as Title VII. This could reach into do immediately is to batten down their Catholic school and college athletics and Catholic identity as tightly as possible. This even the classroom, while indirectly provides the best defense under the First influencing accreditation, athletic Amendment, religious exemptions, and the associations and state licensing for schools Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Most and colleges. important, it’s the right thing to do.

All of this is, of course, simply All of which brings us to the other Supreme unacceptable. Even more, it’s impossible, Court rulings this summer. The Our Lady of because the mission of Catholic education Guadalupe School ruling provides Catholic begins with fidelity to the Catholic faith. All education limited protection from

51 discrimination lawsuits under the parents—but a sudden flood of money with “ministerial exception,” but it seems to strings attached can be highly dangerous to apply only to employees that teach religion religious institutions. or have explicitly religious duties. Simply Given the direction of nondiscrimination claiming that every teacher is a “catechist” law under Bostock, we can expect growing is probably insufficient without job conflicts with Catholic teaching and descriptions, contracts, handbooks, hiring religious freedom in both federal and state policies, employee evaluations, and actual law. Educators must therefore place priority duties that are clearly ministerial. Every on protecting Catholic education against employee in a Catholic school or college entanglements that compromise the mission should be required to teach and uphold the of Catholic education. This could require Catholic faith by their words and deeds. great sacrifice. The Espinoza ruling is a The ministerial exception does not offer the hollow victory if families are unable to total protection for Catholic education that is choose faithful schools. often implied by commentators. If just one employee does not qualify for the ministerial Finally, the Supreme Court’s Little Sisters exception—a maintenance worker or clerical of the Poor ruling dispels any claim by assistant, perhaps—then the school could be Catholic schools or colleges that they must vulnerable to lawsuits unless it qualifies for conform to the federal contraceptive religious exemption from Title VII. mandate. Will those Catholic universities Therefore, employee and student policies that currently provide health insurance must be written in light covering birth control and, in some cases, of Bostock regardless of the ministerial abortion change course? It’s doubtful. The exception. impact of the ruling for these universities may only be to emphasize the hypocrisy of This does not mean that schools and their practices, whereas it affirms the colleges should conform to gender ideology determination of those schools and colleges and thus betray the mission of Catholic that admirably refused to comply with the education. It means that they should work on Obama-era mandate. strengthening Catholic identity and fortifying legal defenses with policies that Path forward are clearly tied to their mission. They should be prepared to fight Bostock in court, If Catholic school and college leaders firmly if necessary. stand their ground, strengthen internal policies to forthrightly uphold Catholic Meanwhile, the Court’s Espinoza ruling this beliefs, and defend their religious freedom month prevents states from excluding in court when necessary, there is hope they Catholic schools and colleges from public can hold on within the benefits that are available to private new Bostock environment. But education. This has been celebrated as an compromising Catholic education to opportunity for school choice programs and conform to the Court’s false and immoral taxpayer funding for Catholic education. I interpretation of the law will only invite have been a lifelong advocate for school scandal and demise. choice—the principle that public funds for education should follow each student to the Too many Catholic schools and colleges school or homeschool chosen by their have weakened their Catholic identity over

52 the past few decades, with disastrous results. response to this should be evangelization— Now, without a consistent Catholic identity not conformity. It would be a tragedy if across all policies and practices, why would Catholic schools and colleges cowered legal courts treat them differently than their under Bostock and compromised their secular counterparts? religious mission. Instead, more than ever Catholic families don’t need more watered- we need graduates of faithful Catholic down Catholic education. They need the education who are prepared to transform a opposite. Young Catholics deserve an confused and wayward culture. authentic Catholic education. They need to be formed in faith and reason. This will require Catholic educators who are prepared to defend their students’ right to a Our society has quickly adopted a distorted Catholic formation—and then do it well. view of marriage and sexuality, and the

Patrick J. Reilly https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/a-fragile-peace-for-catholic-education

53 St. Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer for Students

Creator of all things, true source of light and Grant me the talent of being exact in my wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a explanations and the ability to express ray of your light penetrate the darkness of myself with thoroughness and charm. my understanding. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, Take from me the double darkness in which and help in the completion. I have been born, an obscurity of sin and ignorance. I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. https://aleteia.org/daily_catholic/st-thomas-aquinas-prayer-for-students-2/

54 Why Federal Aid for Catholic Schools Helps Everyone

Educational analysts explain that Catholic pointed out, a collapse in private-school and other private schools are a national enrollment could undermine public benefit, and allow families the choices they education at a time when it already is need to provide the best outcome for their distressed. According to the U.S. kids. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 130 July 28, 2020 Catholic schools have announced permanent closure this year, and another 10% are America’s Catholic schools have been called uncertain of their future. a “national treasure,” yet not everyone is willing to help preserve them with tax Furthermore, added Jeanne Allen, founder dollars. and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, all schools, not just public ones, Opposition to federal aid for such schools should benefit from the money being spent likely will arise as Congress prepares the to prop up and restore businesses, health- next coronavirus stimulus package. care providers and other organizations President Donald Trump has asked that it following the coronavirus shutdown. include funds for scholarships to pay tuition for private and religious school students and “There is no zero-sum game here. Anyone tax credits for business and individual who says that supporting and subsidizing a donations to the scholarship programs. school, no matter what school, when that school in particular serves the public, A U.S. Department of Education policy that somehow is bad for public education has was to make sure private schools receive an one agenda only,” Allen said. “The agenda equitable share of aid allocated for schools of the educational establishment, and under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief particularly teacher unions, is not to lose and Economic Security) Act has already their power and control over a system that been challenged in a federal court complaint has dramatically failed most students. … If filed by the states of Michigan, California, they were about kids, they would welcome Maine, New Mexico and Wisconsin and the any institution that’s serving kids well District of Columbia. CARES funds can be continuing to be open and thriving.” used for personal protective equipment, cleaning, remote-education training and The Need to Speak Up distance-education tools. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said the policy tips Allen said those opposing an outlay of the scales in favor of private schools, money to private-school students are leaving her state’s public-school students conflating the decades-old debate over behind. publicly funded vouchers and scholarships with funneling federal dollars to save The same view, that public schools will institutions that have been closed through no suffer if money is given to private-school fault of their own. Such aid, she said, should students, is expected to be raised in the include any institution that serves the public debate over funding in the stimulus package. good or serves the economy. Yet, as Ray Domanico, director of education policy at the Manhattan Institute, has

55 “Opponents are saying, ‘Don’t give money important to note that private schools are not to Catholic schools because somehow it asking for direct funding. hurts everyone else.’ This is like saying, ‘Don’t give money to one hospital; give it to “Parents are the first educators of their another.’ ... It’s a misappropriation of children,” she said,” and we’re asking that concern,” she said. they be given choice and not be assigned a school based on their zip code. This is not That said, Allen expects Congress will have about public versus private, religious versus a more difficult time saying No to including nonreligious. It’s what is the best school for private schools in the stimulus package that child.” because an increasing number of supporters have been speaking up. Daniels added that the Supreme Court has upheld on multiple occasions that as long as “If people can keep up the pressure, public money goes to families, there is no particularly minority families who are well- constitutional impediment. The served by Catholic schools, we may have a recent Espinoza v. Montana Department of chance of sustaining that support,” she said Revenue decision, she said, took this one Indeed, an effort by the USCCB to step further, saying that if a state decides it organize grassroots support for including is going to offer families the ability to have Catholic schools in the stimulus bill had some of their tax dollars used for the school generated 50,000 contacts to Congress just a of their choice, religious schools cannot be few days after an action alert went out. The excluded as an option. U.S. bishops are requesting that Congress set aside 10% of any funds for K-12 “The talking points you hear in opposition education for scholarships and families are simply based on the goals of those that attending private schools. About 10% of K- want to have that monopoly over 12 students go to private or religious education,” she said, “and not allow parents schools. to have a say in their child’s education.”

Additionally, Bishop Michael Barber of Focusing on Families Oakland, California, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Catholic Darla Romfo, president of the Children’s Education, announced his committee Scholarship Fund, said any discussion about recently joined a coalition of more than 150 private-school funding should focus not on interfaith and other organizations who are schools, but on the family and the principle asking Congress for immediate federal relief that parents are the first educators of their in the form of scholarship aid for low-to- children. “Everything follows from that. middle-income private-school families and a Schools exist because parents decide that’s tax credit for donations to state scholarship the vehicle they want for their kids to be organizations. educated according to their values, faith and how they want them to learn.” Jennifer Daniels, associate director for public policy for the USCCB’s Secretariat of Romfo said despite a perception that Catholic Education, said in the debate over Americans oppose choice in education, a public funding of private education, it is poll released in January by the American Federation for Children showed that 69% of

56 voters support school choice, and 78% favor “Education After COVID.” The coronavirus, Education Freedom Scholarships, as she said, has created a perfect storm of contained in legislation backed by Secretary events, affecting the economics of families of Education Betsy DeVos. and their ability to pay private-school tuition. Immediate relief is needed, she said. “School choice really is about funding “These are all our kids, and they’re not any families and kids, not the schools,” Romfo less important because they’re 10% of the told a recent Manhattan Institute forum on total.”

Judy Roberts https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/why-federal-aid-for-catholic-schools-helps-everyone

57 Bishops Back School Choice Funding Bill

The United States Conference of Catholic “Please join the USCCB in asking the U.S. Bishops has offered its support for a new Senate to include additional relief for school funding bill, as Catholic schools Catholic schools in the emergency relief grapple with the effects of the ongoing package currently being negotiated,” says coronavirus pandemic. the campaign.

The School Choice Now Act would provide “As the Senate prepares its next aid bill, we one-time funding to scholarship-granting ask that the next COVID relief package organizations, who would be authorized to include immediate assistance to families allocate those funds to parents. The funds through federally-funded scholarships.” could be spent on private school tuition or expenses associated with homeschooling. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Tim Scott (R- Parents would be able to pick whatever South Carolina) and Lamar Alexander (R- educational institution they think is best for South Carolina). The bill would also provide their child. federal tax credits for those who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations, as Catholic schools have endured a “triple well as permit states to “create their own tax whammy” this spring, Jennifer Daniels, the credit scholarship program that works for associate director for public policy in the the unique needs of students in their state.” USCCB’s secretariat for Catholic education, told CNA on Tuesday. "All parents, regardless of income or circumstance, should be able to decide This “triple whammy” of families losing which school best meets their child’s needs, jobs, the suspension of Masses and their whether that school is public or private," Sunday collections to offset tuition costs, Alexander, chairman of the Senate education and the cancellation of spring fundraisers. committee said in a statement published July 22. “All of those things had a severe impact on a school’s bottom line budget,” Daniels "The School Choice Now Act provides explained. scholarships to students to have the “We’ve seen thus far that 138 Catholic opportunity to return to the private school schools announced permanent closure they attended before the pandemic—and already. And through some internal surveys gives other students a new opportunity to we did, we found approximately 10% of attend private school,” he added. schools were still uncertain about their ability to open in the fall.” Daniels told CNA that she was in favor of the payments to families, rather than direct If that number remained true across Catholic support to schools, as schools primarily rely schools, said Daniels, 500 Catholic schools on enrollment figures. are at risk of not reopening. “We want to give families certainty to re- In an email campaign, the USCCB requested enroll their children in our schools, and give that Catholics contact their senators to families the resources they need to make the encourage them to support the bill. best decisions for their children,” she said.

58 In some states, public schools are either not only a few days away in parts of the opening for in-person classes, or are country. adopting a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction, while private schools are “The bishops themselves have been highly planning on operating as normal. This is engaged. The staff with the USCCB has prompting some parents to consider been highly engaged in trying to get federal switching to private schools or homeschool. help for our Catholic schools for months,” she said. The Diocese of Manchester, which will be having in-person classes in the fall, is even “We really need Congress to act as quickly offering a partial scholarship to anyone who and swiftly as possible, in order to get that transfers to a diocesean school from a non- aid out as quickly as possible to our Catholic school. families.” Congress needs to move fast on this, said Daniels, as the start of the school year is

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/28/bishops-back-school-choice-funding-bill/

59 This Nun Aims to Get Ghana’s Children off the Streets, and into School

Salamatu Abubakar spent years of her Daniel is 18 now. He met Sr. Anthonia in childhood picking up scraps of plastic on the 2014. And he told ACI Africa, CNA’s streets of Accra, the African coastal city that African news partner, that meeting her is the is the capital of Ghana. Her dad took the best thing to happen in his life. plastic to an open air market, selling it in bulk to recyclers and scrap dealers, and “Through her guidance and support, I am barely earning enough to get by. now a final year Junior High student at the St. Peter’s Catholic School in Ayikuma. In that same market, Samuel Ganyo, who Apart from that, I have acquired the skills in had come with his mother to Accra from a sewing and barbering through training at poorer city in Ghana, sold slices of sugar WEM,” Daniel said. cane to marketplace vendors, shoppers, and people passing by in cars. A popular snack Samuel, who is 16, also lives at the center, across Africa, sugar cane didn’t pay enough along with 22 other young people. for Samuel and his mother. “I have learnt a lot like farming and Daniel Lomotey started working in another barbering of hair as an additional skill to my Accra market when he was 10. He dropped schooling and I advise all vulnerable out of school then, and started working for children who have the opportunity like me his uncle pushing a handcart hired by to make good use of it,” said Samuel. vendors to move their products in the Mandela marketplace. It was hard work, and The center doesn’t discriminate based upon it didn’t pay very much. And because religion. Though a Muslim, Salamatu said Daniel, like Salamatua and Samuel, wasn’t she has come to love Catholicism, through going to school, his prospects for the future the guidance of Sr. Anthonia, whom she said looked grim. is her mentor and mother.

When Daniel was 12, he met Sister “I picked polythene on the streets for my Anthonia Orji of the Daughters of Sacred dad to sell in the Ashaiman market to earn a Passion, a Nigerian religious sister working living. But thanks to Rays of Hope, I now in Ghana. Sr. Anthonia helped kids do hard, live a life of dignity,” she told ACI Africa, heavy work on the streets, and helped them adding, “Through the skills training and way get back to school. of life at the center, I can pray the rosary and other Catholic prayers very well even Sr. Anthonia is the centre manager and though I am a Muslim.” education officer at the Welfare, Empowerment Mobility Centre in the Ghana’s constitution prohibits many types Archdiocese of Accra. Her work is part of of child labor. But Sr. Anthonia told ACI the Rays of Hope project, which aims to Africa that the constitutional law is not help Ghana’s street kids, like Salamatua, always followed, and that many poor Samuel, and Daniel, by giving them a home, children are put to work because of the and getting them enrolled in school. poverty of their families.

60 Sr. Anthonia lamented school drop-out, provision of requisite intervention to bring child mortality, child labor, child trafficking, relief to them. rape, prostitution and defilement of vulnerable children and urged Ghanaians to She appealed to parents and opinion leaders create a sense of belonging in street to jointly take steps to curb drug abuse, children. sexual promiscuity, teenage pregnancies, armed robbery, occultism and cyber fraud She said that with the outbreak of COVID- among the youth, especially those on the 19, the children ranging between the ages of streets. 7 and 15 in residence at the WEM Center have been placed in various homes. The work of her project, she said, begins with finding street children eager to go to All the children, she said, were schooling at school, and families willing to approve that. the St. Peter’s Catholic School. “We search the streets of Ashaiman, Tema, “For the fear of the spread of the Accra and its environs from the First coronavirus at the WEM Center, 20 out of Contact Place. Every year, we search for the 23 children have been placed in various street children in the major cities in Greater homes of volunteer families and they are Accra and those who are willing to be monitored daily by our re-integration staff,” supported, along with their families, sign a Sr. Anthonia told ACI Africa. contract for onward enrollment every September,” she told ACI Africa The main aim of the center is to help correspondent. Ghana’s street children get to school, and stay healthy, while staying connected with She explained that the center’s educational the parents and extended families of the approach is divided into pre-school classes, children. The religious sister said that a lot formal education and informal education as of effort goes into establishing a frequent well as moral and religious aspects of life. contact between the street survivors and “Pre-school” isn’t for younger kids, as the their families. term denotes in the West. At WEM, all new recruits are prepared for school life through “We believe that what God has created and intensive one-year pre-school classes. bound together should not be separated. The connection to one’s family is the most “The children who were once on the streets valuable foundation for becoming a and not schooling will have to be prepared successful and responsible member of to enhance their reintegration into school society. Therefore, we are convinced of life,” the nun said, and added, “This putting all our effort, patience and love into demands patience, energy and love.” the reintegration process of our beneficiaries,” she said. “In pre-school classes, we focus to improve their oral, literary and arithmetic skills Sr. Anthonia said that Christians have been through a structured curriculum, and in the endowed with the ability to perceive, later stage of their development in pre- appreciate and understand the situation of classes, other subject areas are introduced.” the vulnerable person, identify their needs, design needed services and facilitate the

61 There are 36 children at the collection center and write, to calculate simple arithmetic, who are being prepared for school life. The personal hygiene like bathing, washing, and collection point, in extreme cases, serves as neatness in dress, Sr. Anthonia said. a temporary shelter for beneficiaries, whose relatives or parents have not yet been The children are admitted into Catholic located. schools because “we believe the environment and as well as the Christian The Nigerian nun explained that at the routine will help grow their moral and collection center, the beneficiaries come on religious values,” said Sr. Anthonia. a daily basis to be taught mathematics, english and other subjects by the class As part of its humanitarian activities, Rays teachers and volunteers. of Hope sponsors the former vulnerable children from the basic to the tertiary level “They are also educated on personal of education, providing shelter, food, hygiene, social, religious and moral skills accommodation, and school fees. through classes and special programs,” she added, and explained that the children have Sr. Anthonia said that passion to restore a period of morning devotion after their dignity among young people who have made chores, before they go into their classes for mistakes in life inspires her apostolate. lessons. “The work at Rays of Hope for me is not The classes, she said, are divided into three just work but rather it is a ministry and a levels to meet the children’s individual call. Ordinarily, when you look at it with academic needs, as they undertake five human eyes, you might not want anything to hours of classes per day. do with it,” she said.

When they complete the one-year pre-class, “It is all about a call from God and a passion they are enrolled into basic school after they to make an impact in the young people’s have met the criteria, which include lives.” punctuality and discipline, ability to read

A version of this story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's African news partner. It has been adapted by CNA.

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/29/this-nun-aims-to-get-ghanas-children-off-the- streets-and-into-school/

62 Catholic Schools Are Worth Saving

COMMENTARY: For our leaders in Washington, helping tuition-paying families keep their Catholic and other non-government schools open this fall must be part of the larger, urgently needed plan to sustain our nation.

Late last month, the U.S. Supreme Court income level, but especially the poor and corrected an historic injustice, rooted in anti- immigrant communities. For countless immigrant and anti-Catholic bigotry, that, Americans, a Catholic education is the for more than 100 years, has denied students surest path out of poverty. in religious schools the same opportunities as government-school students. Catholic schools also educate significant numbers of students who are not Catholic, The landmark ruling in Espinoza v. Montana including children from Protestant, Jewish Department of Revenue will greatly expand and Muslim families and from homes where school-choice options, especially for low- no religion is claimed. These parents, like income and minority families. It could not Catholic parents, want a great education for have come at a more crucial moment. their children.

With Congress now back in session to Catholic schools are presently facing their consider next steps to sustain Americans greatest financial crisis as a result of the through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping coronavirus. Because of economic loss and tuition-paying families keep their Catholic uncertainty, many families are confronting and other non-government schools open this the wrenching decision to pull their children fall must be part of the larger, urgently out of Catholic schools. Already, the needed plan to sustain our nation. Doing so National Catholic Education Association is right for parents, children and their estimates close to 100 Catholic schools will devoted teachers who depend on these close. Declining reenrollment trends schools. portend hundreds more school closures are likely — if these schools are not provided The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every federal support in the next coronavirus-relief American. In addition to mourning the bill. tragic loss of tens of thousands of our loved ones and fellow citizens, the country is also Catholic schools are worth saving not only encountering the painful effects of racism for the proven results in serving children and discrimination. As we consider the from low-income, working-class and changes our country needs to make, access middle-income families, but because of the to quality education should be a prominent impact our schools have on American item on the list. All Americans, regardless of society as a whole. race or income, need a path to true human flourishing. Our schools’ mission is to serve, and our success is documented. Catholic schools do For nearly two centuries, Catholic schools a better job of educating students, at half the have provided an enormous public benefit cost of government schools, and provide by educating a diversity of Americans from healthy competition in education. Year after every walk of life, including from every year, 99% of our students graduate from

63 high school, and 86% go on to four-year support. The scholarships would be used at colleges. Catholic or other non-government elementary or secondary schools. This Catholic-school closures would have more approach would be similar to providing Pell than a ripple effect for taxpayers. For every grants that can be used at any institution of student educated in a Catholic school, higher education, including religious taxpayers save thousands of dollars by not institutions. having to educate them in government schools. Per-pupil costs of public schools To enable families to provide the best are about $12,000 a year. With nearly 2 education for their children and stabilize million Catholic-school students, that means enrollment in Catholic and other non- Catholic schools are saving the nation’s government schools, Congress should also taxpayers more than $20 billion each year. adopt a federal scholarship tax credit The financial danger to already cash- modeled after successful state-level credits. strapped school-district budgets is that This is the kind of program that the Supreme hundreds of closures will increase Court upheld in the Espinoza case. COVID- overcrowding in government schools at the 19 is impacting all Americans, and we are in worst possible time, as the Centers for this struggle together. We therefore should Disease Control urges schools to provide ensure these tax credits are available to greater space for children. every eligible child in every state. No state should be permitted to deny their resident Our leaders in Washington can avoid this students access to scholarship opportunities twofold education crisis by investing in resulting from federal tax policy. families as part of any new coronavirus- relief bill, to enable them to sustain their Students and families for generations have desired Catholic education for their children. benefited from Catholic schools, which have This is not a choice between tax-payer- benefited America as a whole. This is now funded public schools and tuition-based in serious jeopardy, as another sad legacy of independent schools. Public schools and the coronavirus pandemic. independent schools equally deserve and urgently need our government’s assistance. Urgent action by President Donald Trump and Congress to meet the needs of Catholic The most effective and immediate way to and other school families will preserve this accomplish this is to fund scholarship important education option for generations assistance this summer to families who are to come and prevent added financial burdens economically disadvantaged and need such on our government school systems.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop José Gómez https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/catholic-schools-are-worth-saving

64 ‘Don’t Leave Them Behind’: Bishops Ask Black Caucus to Remember Catholic Schools

The United States Conference of Catholic COVID-19 epidemic. In the Archdiocese of Bishops is appealing to the Congressional New York, where 20 schools are not re- Black Caucus to support families who opt to opening in the fall, 91% of students enrolled send their children to non-public schools, at inner-city Catholic schools are minorities. including Catholic schools. The letter comes Nearly three out of every four students at as an estimated 500 Catholic schools are at inner-city Catholic schools in New York live risk of closing. at or below the federal poverty line. These schools, they said, benefit their The letter was addressed to Rep. Karen Bass students and need to remain open. (D-CA), the chairman of the Congressional Black Congress, and was signed by Bishop “Catholic education has played a significant Michael Barber, SJ of Oakland, Bishop role in lifting many from poverty to a more Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, and hopeful future,” they said, citing research Bishop Joseph Perry, an auxiliary bishop of indicating that Catholic schools “close the Chicago. achievement gap in low-income neighborhoods.” Barber is the chairman of the USCCB’s committee on Catholic education; Fabre “The poorer and more at-risk a student is, leads the USCCB’s ad hoc committee the greater the relative achievement gains in against racism; and Perry is the head of the Catholic schools,” stated the bishops. “A subcommittee on Afircan American black or Latino child is 42% more likely to Affairs. graduate from high school and two-and-a- half times more likely to graduate from After noting that public schools have college if he or she attends a Catholic requested an additional $300 billion in the school.” next coronavirus aid package, the bishops asked that “families of non-public schools “Black families attending Catholic schools be considered as part of the comprehensive are counting on you, as are families with needs of K12 education, since non-public children in public school,” said the bishops. students represent ten percent of the K12 student population.” “Please do not leave them behind just because they value the historical and time- The bishops requested that 10% of what is tested benefit of our Catholic schools for given to public schools “be directed their children.” specifically to the non-public school community to provide direct aid to families Across the United States, there are 1.7 in the form of means-tested scholarships.” million children enrolled at over 6,000 Catholic schools. Minority students are The bishops noted that Catholic schools in 21.8% of the total enrollment, and about one urban areas primarily serve minority out of five students at a Catholic school are students, and that these schools are at not Catholic themselves. increased risk of closure due to the ongoing

65 CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/07/31/dont-leave-them-behind-bishops-ask-black- caucus-to-remember-catholic-schools/

66 Catholic School Superintendent: ‘Our Kids Need to Go Back to School’

Bishops and school superintendents across 13,000 students asking them to sign a waiver the US are emphasizing the importance of of liability, choosing to accept the risk that in-person education for the coming fall term, their children may be sickened by and are seeking to reassure parents that coronavirus at school. schools are taking the precautions necessary to keep children safe. Several other dioceses in Florida and a number of others across the country are In Florida, where Governor Rick Scott has asking parents of students returning to class issued an order mandating that schools must in-person to sign similar waivers. reopen in person in the fall, superintendents say they are doing everything they can to Pastura said for the most part, parents are prepare to welcome students in safely while accustomed to signing waivers for almost also offering remote learning for those who any activity their child does. The diocese need it. had in spring drafted a waiver for summer camps, and early in the summer began to Chris Pastura, superintendent of schools in consider adapting it for the school year, as the St. Petersburg diocese, told CNA in an well. interview July 31 that he and other leaders in the diocese believe strongly it is important All schools are giving the option of coming for students to come back in person. back in person, or doing online learning for students in high-risk medical categories, or “Our kids are loved every day, they’re in a who may have high-risk people in their community, they’re in a faith community, households, Pastura said. they’re celebrating the sacraments— I think our kids need that environment. Our kids The idea, he said, was to create a “statement need to go back to school.” of understanding” for parents, make them aware that a child could contract coronavirus “COVID is not the only dangerous thing in despite the school’s best efforts. our society. Lack of community, loneliness, and all those kinds of things affect kids. And “Since this is just such uncharted territory, I think it’s important for our kids to be back we thought it was important for people to in school.” first realize that we are doing all kinds of Florida has become a center of the US plans to make sure that our students and our coronavirus outbreak of late, with infections employees are safe, and we’re trying to on the rise over the past few months. make sure we do this the right way.”

From a pro-life standpoint, Pastura said, the However, Pastura said, the school cannot schools in his diocese will be doing possibly know what children are being comprehensive testing for their employees, exposed to outside the seven hours a day and other measures such as social distancing they spend at school. in the classroom to protect the students. “The release from liability— is it overly On Monday, the Diocese of St. Petersburg cautious? Maybe,” he said. sent a letter to the parents of its nearly

67 “But we do live in a very litigious society, education, citing the low risk of coronavirus and we just thought it to be infection among children. prudent…providing families with a very clear statement, I think that’s the responsible Initially, the nation’s largest Catholic thing to do, I think it’s the fair thing to do.” archdiocese of Los Angeles, with 74,000 students attending its schools, announced on Being asked to sign a waiver for any activity June 15 that schools would be reopening for can raise red flags for people, Pastura said, in-person learning in the fall in Los Angeles, and because there is so much uncertainty Ventura, and Santa Barbara. around coronavirus, it is understandable that parents may not understand the importance However, California governor Gavin of the waiver. Newsom said on July 17 that schools in the state where coronavirus cases were high Pastura said he and his Catholic school would remain closed for in-person learning. colleagues at other dioceses across Florida speak regularly about their reopening plans. Meanwhile, in Texas where COVID-19 He said he hopes that parents will trust those cases have soared in the summer, the state is in authority over the state’s Catholic granting religious private schools the schools, and recognize that those authorities freedom to decide for themselves how to are creating reopening plans with students’ reopen in the fall. best interests at heart. In a July 29 joint op-ed, the archbishops of “There’s a lot that goes into these decisions, New York Boston and Los Angeles exhorted and sometimes we just have to have some Congress and President Trump to adopt a faith in one another. Even if we don’t agree federal scholarship tax credit modeled after with someone’s decision, maybe we can successful state-level credits in order to accept that it was made in good confidence assist private schools. Such a program based on the information available.” would now be possible following the Supreme Court’s landmark June ruling The superintendent of schools for the in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese has also Revenue, they said. spoken out about the importance of opening Catholic schools in person. The bishops argued that Catholic schools— many of which are facing closure amid the “We feel that their spiritual growth is vital to pandemic— are worth saving because of them. We’re educating the whole child, and their savings to taxpayers and their success spiritually is a big part of that,” in creating successful and well-formed superintendent Mike Juhas told EWTN citizens. News Nightly. “Students and families for generations have Elsewhere, the bishops of California said benefited from Catholic schools, which have this week that Catholic schools in California benefited America as a whole. This is now are taking appropriate measures against the in serious jeopardy, as another sad legacy of threat of coronavirus and authorities should the coronavirus pandemic,” Cardinal issue waivers to rules that bar the schools Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, from reopening for “vital” in-person and Archbishop José Gómez wrote.

68 “Urgent action by President Donald Trump important education option for generations and Congress to meet the needs of Catholic to come and prevent added financial burdens and other school families will preserve this on our government school systems.”

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/01/catholic-school-superintendent-our-kids-need- to-go-back-to-school/

69 Make Education Dangerous Again

COVID-19 is actually an educational opportunity to face fear with common sense and uncommon bravery.

Debates are raging around the dangers Fear and trembling, therefore, should not be associated with reopening schools in the fall. in the curriculum. While there is, I presume, some degree of danger in reopening schools, Catholics There’s no such thing as an eradication of all should, I say, face it rather than fall to the threats, microscopic or otherwise. While greater danger of disillusionment and children should be protected with prudence, demagoguery. In fact, education should be prudence also demands they should be dangerous. Education at its best is presented with the dangers inherent in all dangerous, and our brave new COVID that is meaningful from cradle to grave in a world affords an opportunity, both manner that does not cause terror or trauma. symbolically and actually, to restore this Fear discourages the dangers inherent in forgotten educational attitude. knowledge, love, and life. Most things worth doing are dangerous and hard, like going to COVID-19 has given the mantra “Safety school in a climate that values physical First” an all new meaning. And safety health above spiritual and intellectual health. should be first when it comes to rampant mortal dangers such as pedophilia and child There is a strong push from President abuse, pornography, drug addiction, violent Donald Trump, Secretary of Education crime, and moral relativism. But when it Betsy DeVos, and educators across the comes to those things inherently worth country for schools to resume in-person, doing—such as experiencing creation, full-time instruction despite the fears and discovering humanity, encountering dangers associated with COVID-19. Even divinity—such life-altering things can’t be the Centers for Disease Control and called “safe,” and they are the actions of an Prevention (CDC) issued an article recently authentic education. on the importance of reopening America’s school’s this fall, estimating that it is If our children must be taught anything it is actually more dangerous for children to be that they should live their lives and how they out of school than in school due to the “the should live them. They must learn to be the harms attributed to closed schools on the salt of the earth, and not cowering slaves or social, emotional, and behavioral health, compliant serfs. They must learn to stand economic well-being, and academic out, not assimilate. They must learn to be achievement of children, in both the short- wise as serpents and gentle as doves—which and long-term.” means knowing the balance between love of neighbor and the limits of government. They The consensus is that the distance-learning must learn to shine with the Image and programs adopted by most schools was Likeness of God, instead of how to fundamentally deficient, that young people capitulate with the ungodly like faceless, have a 99.9 percent chance of surviving the mindless, subservient cogs. virus, that asymptomatic carriers are not as contagious as once thought, that schools can open without a death toll, and that the

70 damage being done to the formation of our unknown and gain a real knowledge of young through isolation and a politicized themselves and the world based on findings culture of fear is deep. Be safe, by all means. and failures alike. Keep sick kids at home. But don’t cancel education in the name of “health and COVID-19 is actually an educational safety.” opportunity to face fear with common sense and uncommon bravery. Young people have Though experts and leaders advocating an intrinsic and intense desire for such actually going back to school are not experiences and their emotional corollaries. denying the risks involved, they are saying Incident and involvement are driving forces that whatever the risk is, it can be in their psychology, with appetites and mitigated—and, further, that it is worth interests fixed on encounters that flirt and running. And it is this spirit of risk-taking, fence with the dangerous and the amorous. of fighting and refining the dangerous fires This is what makes most youngsters tick, of the human spirit, that has been largely and it should be the tempo of their dismissed in the art of education. Real education. education is about maintaining and managing the risks of the human condition, Education should draw out these drives, so that children can learn through the though they are dangerous, and not dwarf or dangers they must live with as adults. This discourage them. As with all things natural excludes, of course, risks that are never that need guidance, heavy restriction or worth taking against dangers that have no fearfulness produces deformities that result business in human experience, let alone in a crippled person. A mature Faith can’t human education. Reasonable pandemic exist in a body, mind, and soul that have safety-measures underscore this reality as been inhibited by excessive caution. steps are taken to manage the risk of the Education, like life, is risky; and the course virus together with all the other risks of a true education should allow life to run education should undertake. its course, even though it tends to take risks. Those risks can be calculated and A school system that has replaced Virgil controlled—and so they should—but not with F. Scott Fitzgerald and Shakespeare eliminated. But, as it stands, there are many with Harper Lee has taken the safe route wholesome dangers that are being because it is easier. Education should not be suppressed with the unwholesome—like the easy or without danger, without some best that has been thought and said in element of uncontrollable reality. An easy, Western Civilization. fearful education can leave students listless, insecure, and uninspired in a cooped-up When convenience, gratification, and now world to measure out their lives with coffee inconsistent public health standards are held spoons. A dangerous, difficult education can as central to human existence, the challenge students to strike out beyond their experience of risk for the right reason can be comfort zones and engage in robust a true awakening. Let’s make education experiences and rich material. By embracing dangerous again because it is remedial, the dangers of human frailty, emotional because it is real, because it does not exposure, intellectual wonder, spiritual meander through virtual reality, but rather exercise, and social honesty—coronavirus braces for an encounter with actual reality, and all—students assume the perils of the daring to provide an appetite for truth when

71 untruth is applauded far and wide. In a the dangers that we must face together with world of lies, truth is the most dangerous our children, despite the flags of falsehood thing in the world. Similarly, a real unfurled against them or the hostilities that education is dangerous in an unreal world. await those who approach education with Our Teacher taught, “Do not be afraid.” the order of Danger First. Let’s open our schools and fearlessly face

Sean Fitzpatrick https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/02/make-education-dangerous-again/

72 Maryland Catholic Schools Can Reopen after Governor Overrides County

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) issued inconsistent with the powers delegated to the an emergency order on August 3 ensuring county health officer,” said Hogan. non-public schools, including Catholic The Archdiocese of Washington had schools, can make their own decisions pledged over the weekend to “review” the regarding reopening for in-person order. Montgomery County is part of the instruction in the coming academic year. territory of the archdiocese.

The order, issued Monday, came after Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory Montgomery County, the most populated said in a statement Sunday that the county in the state, issued an order on July archdiocese “continues to have the health 31 prohibiting all non-public schools from and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and opening for in-person classes before October parents uppermost in mind and heart as we 1. make our decisions regarding the reopening of our Catholic schools.” Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said in Friday evening’s “We will continue to strive to be both good statement that “At this point the data does citizens as well as to be faithful to our not suggest that in-person instruction is safe religious principles, pastoral mission and our for students or teachers,” and that forcibly obligations to our families,” Gregory said. closing non-public schools was “necessary to protect the health and safety of Friday’s announcement by the county took Montgomery County residents” during the many private schools in the county by coronavirus pandemic. surprise, as there had been no mention of any sort of forced closure during meetings Over the weekend, Hogan issued an initial with health officials earlier in the week. response to the Montgomery County order, saying he “strongly disagreed” with the Some nonpublic schools had already opted forced closure of all non-public schools. “As on their own to offer virtual instruction to long as these schools develop safe plans that students during the fall, and others had follow CDC and state guidelines, they already begun to implement new policies in should be empowered to do what’s best for line with Centers for Disease Control their community,” Hogan said on Aug. 1. guidelines on safe reopening.

“This is a decision for schools and parents, Montgomery County Public Schools not politicians.” announced in late July that they had decided to have an all-online fall semester and begin On Monday, the governor said that “Private in-person classes in February. The decision and parochial schools deserve the same to shift to virtual learning was made without opportunity and flexibility to make a governmental order. reopening decisions based on public health guidelines.” In Monday’s statement, Gov. Hogan reiterated that “Maryland’s recovery “The blanket closure mandate imposed by continues to be based on a flexible, Montgomery County was overly broad and community-based approach that follows

73 science, not politics,” and that any school isolation is detrimental to a student’s health, who is capable of following the state and and that students with disabilities are being CDC’s safety guidelines should be permitted denied access to necessary resources. to reopen. “Extended school closure is harmful to The governor’s statement followed claims children. It can lead to severe learning loss, on social media by Montgomery County and the need for in-person instruction is residents that the decision to force non- particularly important for students with public schools to close may have been heightened behavioral needs,” said the CDC linked to a large drop in the number of new in a July 23 publication titled “The students who enrolled in Montgomery Importance of Reopening America’s County’s public schools for the 2020-2021 Schools in the Fall.” school year. The county expected approximately 2,500 new students enrolled “School closure disrupts the delivery of in- in grades K-12 for the fall; instead, only 300 person instruction and critical services to new students enrolled. children and families, which has negative individual and societal ramifications. The It is unclear if or how many parents decided best available evidence from countries that to pull their children from Montgomery have opened schools indicates that COVID- County public schools and opt for either 19 poses low risks to school-aged children, nonpublic schools or for homeschooling at least in areas with low community after the decision to shift to all-virtual transmission, and suggests that children are learning. unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus,” said the CDC. The CDC has warned against the risks of keeping schools shut, citing how social

CNA https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/maryland-catholic-schools-can-reopen-after- governor-larry-hogan-overrides-county-41165

74 Catholic Schools Should Be Able to Choose for Themselves On Reopening, Scholar Says

[(CruxNow)Editor’s Note: Tim Carney is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the senior political columnist at the Washington Examiner. He is the author of Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse and two earlier books, Obamanomics and The Big Ripoff. His articles have appeared at the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, National Review, and Reason Magazine. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS Newshour. He and his wife raise six children and two dogs in the Washington, D.C., area. He spoke to Charles Camosy about Catholic schools, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.]

Camosy: Can you say a bit about your community, and came up with a plan to personal experience, and that of your teach kids safely while allowing parents to family, with Catholic education? keep children at home. This effort is what we expect of our schools, which are Carney: We send all six kids to Catholic institutions run by women and men who feel schools. The younger three will be at our it their calling–not merely their job–to parish school, and the older three will be at educate children. independent all-boys and all-girls schools. We see these schools as not merely sources There seems to be a pretty fierce debate of K-12 education, but as hubs of about “what science says” when it comes community and places to help form our to schools reopening. And while the children into the men and women we want weighing of values, informed by scientific them to be. We basically spend all of our data, is what will ultimately be the basis money on schooling our children, because of any decision, this is very important forming their souls in this time of their life data to get. What’s your sense of the data is our single greatest task as parents. at this point?

Our lives – worship, study, our friends, our The first thing to remember is that there are kids’ friends, adult sports, youth sports, risks on both sides. Sending children and volunteer work, our human-level safety net teachers to school certainly introduces a risk – all revolve around our three Catholic of COVID spread at school, and depriving schools. kids of in-person schooling also has risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics says Catholic schools, it seems to me, are children suffer from missing school. facing what I’ve called a “wicked problem” about whether to reopen or not. And science says that prolonged, indoor, Do you agree with that assessment or do crowded environments with inadequate you have a different view? ventilation can be dangerous. That’s why schools I know were upgrading their Many Catholic schools have decided they ventilation, installing plexiglass shields, cannot safely reopen. The schools I know accommodating spacing, requiring masks, best have reviewed what’s possible, spent and taking countless other efforts to make tons of money and time, consulted with schooling safe. You can’t point to a summer official guidelines and experts in the camp in Michigan or schools in Israel that

75 rejected masks and/or adequate spacing in And some religious and private schools will order to say no school should be allowed to close down because some parents will pull open. their children, no longer able to justify the tuition payments. If I have understood the situation correctly, your county in Maryland has, What would you say to skeptics who think remarkably, moved to close all schools, Catholic schools are only opening to save including Catholic and other private themselves? schools. Can you say more about what is happening here and what the effects It’s a perverse attack. In a place with 3.1 might be? percent test positivity like Montgomery County, you could argue that An unelected bureaucrat in Montgomery public schools are only closing without County has waved away CDC and state reflection because they see themselves as guidance on schools in order to bar all non- government monopolies immune to public schools from opening in the fall. This accountability from the people they’re is an atrocious overreach. Again, many supposed to serve. Yet in the broader area, schools – including all public schools – had public school closures led some parents to already decided to go all virtual. Others opt for private school, including Catholic spent countless hours and thousands of school. That may be why the county dollars to make school safe. The county – government had to shut down non-publics. where test positivity is way below the 5 percent threshold set by the CDC – refused Most teachers, public and private, love their to provide its own guidance or even look at job and see it as a calling. I think teachers’ schools’ plans. Instead, on a Friday night, unions are more mercenary and they announced they were taking away the transactional, though. rights of non-public schools. Catholic schools, although most have less Governor Larry Hogan has the power to money per pupil than public schools do, are overrule the County. He ought to. [Editor’s smaller and often more flexible than public Note: Hogan did overrule the county after schools, and thus better to adapt. And yes, this interview was conducted.] when the government bars the doors of Catholic schoolhouses, it raises the risk that Children will learn a lot less in virtual Catholic schools will fail. schooling than in-person. Just because that was going to happen to some students One rabbi I spoke to made a great point that doesn’t mean an unelected health bureaucrat applies to Catholic education too. “Judaism should force that upon all students. is not a subject,” the rabbi told me. “It’s a Communities – Jewish, Catholic, et cetera – way of life, and when you can have a role are often anchored by their schools. model who lives that, that’s what you want” Stripping away their physical presence from a school. “And you can’t get that weakens communities, which mostly hurts virtually.” the single moms, the poor, and the working class. (This is what I wrote about Is this happening anywhere else around the in Alienated America). country? Or at risk of happening? Do you have advice for those who want to resist and

76 put the decisions in the hands of those demand. The next step after a county willy- running Catholic schools–and not the hands nilly closing religious schools is a county of those who have political or other reasons invoking health reasons to force us to for not caring (or even desiring) that abolish our teachings on sexuality, or single- Catholic schools fail? sex education.

I think Catholic schools need to fight against Catholic schools are a target and will government efforts to shut them down continue to be a target. We need to make arbitrarily – even if we’re going to make our sure we’re not a soft target. own decision to go virtual if conditions

Charles Camosy https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2020/08/catholic-schools-should-be-able-to-choose-for- themselves-on-reopening-scholar-says/

77 AM[D]G

Last November 11, on the centenary of its I made inquiries of Jesuit friends and relocation to a 93-acre campus in suburban learned that amputating the “D” in AMDG Washington, D.C., Georgetown Preparatory is not unique to Georgetown Prep; it’s a School announced a $60 million capital tactic used by other Jesuit institutions campaign. In his message for the opening of engaged in the heavy-lift fundraising of the campaign, Georgetown Prep’s president, capital campaigns. That was not good news. Father James Van Dyke, SJ, said that, in Nor was I reassured by pondering Father addition to improving the school’s Van Dyke’s campaign-opening message, in residential facilities, the campaign intended which the words “Jesus Christ” did not to boost Prep’s endowment to meet appear. Neither did Pope Francis’s call for increasing demands for financial aid. Like the Church’s institutions to prepare other high-end Catholic secondary schools, missionary disciples as part of what the Georgetown Prep is rightly concerned about Pope has called a “Church permanently in pricing itself out of reach of most families. mission.” And neither did the word “God,” So Prep’s determination to make itself more save for a closing “Thanks, and God bless.” affordable through an enhanced endowment capable of funding scholarships and other Father Van Dyke did mention that “Ignatian forms of financial aid for less-than-wealthy values” were one of the “pillars” of students is all to the good. Georgetown prep’s “reputation for excellence.” And he did conclude his What I find disturbing about the campaign is message with a call for “men who will make its “branding” slogan. I first became aware a difference in a world that badly needs of it when, driving past the campus a few people who care, people who, in the words months ago, I noticed a billboard at the Ignatius wrote his best friend Francis Xavier corner of Rockville Pike and Tuckerman as he sent him on the Society of Jesus’s first Lane. In large, bold letters, it proclaimed, mission, will ‘set the world on fire’.” Fine. “FOR THE GREATER GLORY.” And I But ignition to what end? wondered, “…of what?” Then one day, when traffic allowed, I slowed down and Ignatius sent Francis Xavier to the Indies espied the much smaller inscription in the and on to East Asia to set the world on fire bottom right corner: “Georgetown Prep’s with love of the Lord Jesus Christ, by Legacy Campaign.” evangelizing those then known as “heathens” with the warmth of the Gospel Ad maiorem Dei gloriam [For the greater and the enlivening flame of the one, holy, glory of God], often reduced to the catholic, and apostolic faith. St. Ignatius was abbreviation, AMDG, was the Latin motto a New Evangelization man half a of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the millennium before Pope St. John Paul II Society of Jesus. Georgetown Prep is a used the term. St. Ignatius’s chief “Ignatian Jesuit school. So what happened to the D- value” was gloria Dei, the glory of God. word? What happened to God? Why did AMDG become AM[D]G while being Forming young men into spiritually translated into fundraising English? incandescent, intellectually formidable and courageous Christian disciples, radically conformed to Jesus Christ and just as deeply

78 committed to converting the world, was the American colleges and universities. It’s originating purpose of Jesuit schools in post- Catholic secondary education in the U.S. Reformation Europe. Those schools were that remains to be thoroughly reformed so not content to prepare generic “men for that Catholic high schools prepare future others;” they were passionately devoted to leaders of the New Evangelization: leaders forming Catholic men for converting others, who will bring others to Christ, heal a the “others” being those who had abandoned deeply wounded culture, and become agents Catholicism for Protestantism or secular of a sane politics. Jesuit secondary rationalism. That was why the Jesuits were education, beginning with prominent and hated and feared by powerful leaders with academically excellent schools like other agendas, be they Protestant monarchs Georgetown Prep, could and should be at the like Elizabeth I of England or rationalist forefront of that reform. politicians like Portugal’s 18th-century prime minister, the Marquis of Pombal. Jesuit secondary education is unlikely to provide that leadership, however, if its self- Religious education in U.S. Catholic presentation brackets God and announces elementary schools has been improved in itself as committed to “the greater glory” recent decades. And we live in something of of…whatever. a golden age of Catholic campus ministry at

George Weigel https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/05/amdg/

79 Maryland County Issues Second Order to Stop Catholic Schools Opening

A Maryland county has issued a second COVID-19 and increases in the daily order preventing non-public schools from caseload volumes within Montgomery reopening for in-person instruction, despite a County, the State of Maryland as a whole, previous effort being immediately and the surrounding jurisdictions,” meaning overridden by Gov. Larry Hogan. that non-public schools need to remain closed. “Reemphasizing the need to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County The U.S. District Court for the District of residents as well as parents, students, Maryland will have a preliminary injunction teachers and staff from the spread of hearing on August 14 to potentially block COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. the order and allow schools to open. Travis Gayles today issued a new Health Officer Directive and Order that continued A federal lawsuit, known as Beahn v. to direct nonpublic schools in Montgomery Gayles, was filed by four Catholic school County to remain closed for in-person families and two Jewish day school families instruction until at least Oct. 1, 2020,” said a from Montgomery County challenging the release from Montgomery County published original order. Two Catholic schools are on August 5. also listed as parties in the suit. One of the Montgomery county is the state’s most families in the suit transferred to a Catholic populous county and borders Washington, school in response to the announcement that D.C. A previous Health Officer Directive Montgomery County Public Schools would and Order was published on the evening of have an online-only first semester. Friday, July 31, and countermanded by the governor on Monday, August 3. Montgomery County has a positivity rate of 2.52%, which has been decreasing since the On Monday, Hogan called the initial attempt middle of May. The statewide positivity rate to prevent all non-public schools from is 4.03%. Epidemiologists, including Dr. opening “overly broad and inconsistent with Deborah Birx of the White House the powers delegated to the county health Coronavirus Task Force, gave a benchmark officer.” of 5% positivity rate for mandating distance learning. Unlike the first order, Wednesday’s new order does not include a penalty of a $5,000 “Based on CDC best practices for the or a year in jail for violators and “explicitly reopening of schools, County health officials excludes programs licensed or regulated by will continue to monitor the epidemiological the Maryland Office of Childcare from the surveillance data and that will guide the definition of nonpublic schools.” This means decision as to when it is safe to reopen that private preschools and daycares, where nonpublic and public schools,” says the children may engage in education-related release from the county. activities, are permitted to operate in person while K-12 schools are not. The Centers for Disease Control stated that schools should move to reopen as children The order states that “there continues to be are unlikely to be severely impacted by the widespread community transmission of coronavirus, and that there are significant

80 detrimental effects associated with ongoing CDC’s safety guidelines should be permitted social isolation. to reopen.

Until the middle of July, Montgomery The governor’s intervention followed claims County Public Schools were set to re- on social media by Montgomery County open with a hybrid model of distance and in- residents that the decision to force non- person learning. That plan public schools to close may have been was scrapped after teachers unions in linked to a large drop in the number of new Maryland argued that it would not be safe students who enrolled in Montgomery for teachers to teach in-person. County’s public schools for the 2020-2021 school year. The county expected Montgomery County Public Schools approximately 2,500 new students enrolled announced in late July that the entire fall in grades K-12 for the fall; instead, only 300 semester would be online-only. Starting new students enrolled. February 1, in-person classes will resume. No governmental order was ever given to A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of the county’s public schools forbidding in- Washington, which includes Montgomery person school. County, told CNA on Thursday that the archdiocese is reviewing the latest Many non-public schools in Montgomery announcements by the county. County had elected on their own to use a Responding to the initial order last week, virtual or hybrid model in the fall. Others Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory had begun to implement new safety said in a statement Sunday that the measures for in-person learning. archdiocese “continues to have the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and In Monday’s statement nullifying the parents uppermost in mind and heart as we original order closing non-public schools, make our decisions regarding the reopening Gov. Hogan reiterated that “Maryland’s of our Catholic schools.” recovery continues to be based on a flexible, community-based approach that follows “We will continue to strive to be both good science, not politics,” and that any school citizens as well as to be faithful to our who is capable of following the state and religious principles, pastoral mission and our obligations to our families,” Gregory said. CNA https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/maryland-county-issues-second-order-to-stop- catholic-schools-opening-22312

81 San Diego Catholic High School Files Lawsuit Against Newsom to Reopen in the Fall

St. Augustine High School in North Park is an all-boys Catholic school with an annual enrollment of 700 students.

St. Augustine High, a Catholic school, and St. Augustine offered in-person learning to seven families of its students filed a lawsuit 214 students and athletic training programs Thursday against Gov. Gavin Newsom to for 192 athletes during June and July. allow the school to have in-person learning in the fall. The school seeks to open in-person on Aug. 25. Newsom signed an executive order in July that forbids public and private schools from Tuition at St. Augustine is about $22,670 returning to in-person learning in counties per student, not including general activity on the state’s COVID-19 watch list, which and graduation fees. The school provides includes San Diego County. The order scholarships to students. requires schools to provide online learning. More than 53 percent of families at St. St. Augustine is an all-boys school with an Augustine qualify for tuition assistance and annual enrollment of 700 students that the school has awarded more than $3.1 serves grades 9-12. The school is located in million in financial aid and scholarships in North Park. the last two years, according to a spokeswoman. “At Saints, we don’t believe remote learning is sufficient to provide a quality education The school plans to hold distance learning our students are entitled to and our families for families who don’t want to send their have come to expect,” said St. Augustine children back to campus. Principal James Horne in a statement. “We are confident we can open our school safely, The Governor’s Office did not respond to a consistent with CDC and San Diego County request for comment. health guidance.” The lawsuit was filed with the Superior The school held summer school and athletic Court and names the attorney general, the programs for more than 400 students. state superintendent of schools and the state School leaders say they implemented public health officer. rigorous safety measures and were able to serve students in-person without any reports A similar lawsuit was filed against the of positive coronavirus cases on campus. governor last month by The Center for American Liberty, a conservative group, on The school installed UV lights in the air behalf of some families. The suit argues conditioning system during the summer and school closures disproportionately hurt regularly sanitized surfaces. Students were disadvantaged students. required to wear face masks and practice social distancing, the school said.

82 Also last month the Orange County Board of school closure orders. Education voted to sue Newsom over his

Andrea Lopez-Villafaña https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/san-diego/story/2020-08-06/san-diego- catholic-high-school-files-lawsuit-against-newsom-to-reopen-in-the-fall

83 Saint-Teachers to Help Us With This Crazy Difficult Return to Some Sort of School

The 2020-2021 school year doesn't look Venerable Teresa Valse Pantellini (1878- clear. But these examples of holiness remind 1907) was an impetuous socialite who us of what's most important. became a Salesian Sister (despite her superior’s misgivings). After her formation, As schools around the world look to open she was assigned to teach girls from the for the semester, many teachers are slums. Despite having a naturally strong experiencing far more anxiety than temper, Sr. Teresa never once lashed out, usual. Whether you’re going to be in a even when a student spat in her face. She classroom this fall or leading students in spent all her free time listening to the girls, distance learning, the 2020-2021 school year praying with them, and loving them, promises to bring more than its fair share of whatever it took. Gradually, her love won difficulty. many of the girls for Christ.

Fortunately, there are many saints who St. Miguel Febres Cordero (1854-1910) taught in challenging circumstances and was an Ecuadorian Christian Brother, a whose witness and intercession can teacher who was known for his kindness and strengthen teachers this year. commitment to his work. In addition to teaching, Febres Cordero wrote a widely- St. Cassian of Imola (d. 363) is a comfort used Spanish textbook as well as other to most teachers who know that their worst textbooks and books and articles on days in the classroom could never be as bad pedagogy, linguistics, and literature. His as his. A primary school teacher despised by academic work won him renown, and Br. his students, Cassian was discovered to be of Miguel was eventually sent to Europe to the forbidden Christian faith; he was focus on translation work. condemned to be killed by his students. Some 200 disgruntled elementary students St. Victoriano Pio (1905-1934) was a broke their tablets over his head, carved Spanish member of the Christian Brothers, their names in his flesh with their metal an order devoted to Christian education. A styli, and finally stabbed him to death. talented artist and musician, the intense young man became a teacher and was well- St. Rose Venerini (1656-1728) was an loved by his students despite a reputation as Italian woman who founded an order a strict disciplinarian. Br. Victoriano’s work devoted to the education of women. This with the choir brought him many accolades, was opposed by priests who thought the but he was far more pleased that the women were attempting to usurp the priestly beautiful music brought people to Mass. Br. role, and by many who felt that the poor Victoriano was sent to Turon to teach; 20 ought not to be educated or that a woman days later, the Spanish Civil War began. The ought not to lead the way. Rose persisted, school was invaded by revolutionaries, and opening the first public school for girls in all the Brothers were shot. Italy; her order continues in this work throughout the world. Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz (1906-1945) was a Polish intellectual who studied musicology, philosophy, psychology, and

84 Polish language and literature. She became a Blessed Maria Romero Meneses (1902- high school teacher and loved her students 1977) was from a well-to-do family in deeply (though she described grading as “a Nicaragua and was set to teach music, art, nail in the coffin”). When the Nazis invaded, and typing to wealthy girls after she joined Natalia taught secret classes to keep Polish the Salesians; instead, she mobilized her culture alive. Then she sneaked into a group students to serve the poor. What started as of Polish women being deported to Germany little more than a class service project to work in a factory, where she became total reform in Costa Rica, as Sr. surreptitiously taught religion, Polish, and Maria built schools, clinics, food banks, rec German, organized a choir, ran a Lenten centers, and entire neighborhoods full of retreat, and even found priests who could affordable housing. bring the women the Sacraments. Eventually she was caught and sent to Ravensbrück, Blessed Benedict Daswa (1946-1990) was a where she continued to teach the faith until South African teacher, a principal, a soccer she was killed in the gas chamber. coach, a husband, and a father of eight. He was known for fostering integrity and Blessed Lucien Botovasoa (1908-1947) respect among students and teachers alike, was a Malagasy convert to Catholicism who and for encouraging students (especially taught at a Jesuit high school. He loved his girls) not to leave school before graduation. students deeply and often stayed well after He was also a leader in his tribe. But none of the end of the school day to tell them stories that protected him when he resisted a of the saints and try to draw them into the collection that was being taken up to hire a heart of Jesus. A husband and father of eight witch to perform some black magic. Over a (only five of whom survived infancy), sum of about $2, Benedict was brutally Lucien was a Secular Franciscan; he was murdered. martyred because of his leadership in the Christian community.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer https://aleteia.org/2020/08/08/saint-teachers-to-help-us-with-this-crazy-difficult-return-to-some- sort-of-school/

85 These Graphic Novels Help Kids Get to Know Holy Men and Women

Godly people of history, including saints and biblical figures, seem to come to life on the pages of these wonderfully illustrated books.

Graphic novels are something of an unsung The Life of Jesus hero in the world of children’s literature today. Their vivid illustrations make them The Rosary engaging and easy to read, but they include the complex plot development and boost in John Paul II: The Journey of a reading comprehension of more text-heavy Saint: Magnificat offers this richly books. They’re especially helpful for illustrated account of the life St. John Paul encouraging struggling readers. II, perfect for introducing young readers to this legendary hero of modern times. Since they’re so much fun to read, graphic novels are a fantastic way to get your kids The Tale of Patrick Peyton:Venerable hooked on reading the Bible and lives of the Patrick Peyton isn’t well-known today, but saints. Your kids will probably love these at one time he was known as the “American selections about holy men and women, and Apostle of the Family Rosary,” who used they’ll learn a lot from them, too! television, radio and film to encourage devotion to the Blessed Mother and Pauline Media Saints Series: “We can find encourage families to pray together. the lives of the saints recounted in books, Introduce your kids to this modern-day but graphic novels are even better for a missionary who used mass media to spread visual generation,” reads the Daughters of the Gospel! St. Paul blog. Pauline Media has published 9 graphic novels for kids, each featuring one The Mission of Joan of Arc: Voyage Comics of the following: (created by Aleteia’s own Philip Kosloski) retells the fascinating story of St. Joan of St. John the Baptist Arc for modern young readers, with stunning visuals. St. Teresa of Avila Finnian and the Seven St. Christopher Mountains: The extraordinary story of the Irish monks who saved civilization from St. Clare of Assisi Viking invasions over 1,000 years ago is re- imagined in this daring adventure novel. St. Kateri Tekakwitha Kids can’t help falling in love with history through this action-packed tale of mystery, St. Francis of Assisi enchantment, and Irish lore.

St. Joan of Arc Paul: Tarsus to Redemption: This version of the life of St. Paul is embellished with a St. Philip Neri few fictional details, but mostly stays true to the biblical story, which is certainly exciting St. Teresa of Kolkata enough in its own right. Introduce your kids

86 to one of the most legendary evangelists of the younger set. This book is a great all time. introduction to the process of choosing a new successor to St. Peter. Saints Chronicles: Sophia Institute Press has a series of adventure-filled graphic novels Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy: Introduce about the lives of the saints, including the kids to the story of Pope Francis’s life following: before he became pope, told in the popular manga style and with a special focus on St. Patrick times when he experienced God’s mercy.

St. Jerome Emiliani Judith: Captive to Conqueror: The Biblical holy woman Judith is considered a St. Elizabeth Ann Seton prefiguration of Our Lady, and her story has all the drama, intrigue, high stakes, and St. Henry Morse excitement a person could ask for. Just a head’s up that her story does include some St. Joan of Arc violence, and may be best suited to teens and up. St. Nicholas Action Bible: Yes, there’s a graphic novel of St. Francis of Assisi the Bible! The Action Bible is an appealing introduction to Scripture for kids. This St. Brigid of Ireland version does not include the deuterocanonical books and tells the St. Pachomius Scriptural stories in a very simplified way, so you may want to discuss parts of it with St. Anne Line your child to make sure they have the full picture. Habemus papam!: The life of Pope Benedict XVI is retold with colorful illustrations for

Theresa Civantos Barber https://aleteia.org/2020/08/07/these-graphic-novels-can-help-kids-get-to-know-holy-men-and- women/

87 Maryland County Drops Second Order to Keep Catholic Schools Closed

Catholic schools in Montgomery County, not be closed in a blanket manner,” said the Maryland, can reopen for the coming Department of Health’s memorandum. semester after the county rescinded a second controversial order preventing all non-public “The State of Maryland’s position is that all schools from welcoming students for in- schools, including public school systems and person learning until at least October 1. non-public schools, be provided with the individualized opportunity to determine how “Reemphasizing the need to protect the they are able to comply with the federal and health and safety of Montgomery County state COVID-19 guidance to reopen safely residents as well as parents, students, and protect students and staff,” said the teachers and staff from the spread of department memo. COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles today announced that he has “Those determinations should be made in rescinded his health order that prohibited close consultation with the affected schools nonpublic schools from opening for in- and local health departments with Maryland person instruction until after Oct. 1, 2020,” Department of Health guidance,” they said a statement from the county published added. on August 7. The developments of August 7 cap off a An updated executive order published on week of controversy regarding the safety of August 7 rescinds the earlier order, although opening non-public schools in Montgomery it “strongly advises schools against in- County, the most populated county in person learning.” Maryland.

Gayles said that he “strongly believes that On the evening of July 31, Gayles issued an based on the current state of surveillance order banning non-public schools from and epidemiological data, it is neither safe reopening for inperson tuition before Oct. 1, nor in the interest of public health for any carrying a punishment of a $5,000 fine or a school to return for in-person learning this year in jail for failure to comply. This order fall.” came as a surprise to non-public schools in the county, many of whom had already The executive order also requests that the invested in safe reopening plans in Maryland Department of Health provide accordance with state guidelines. “articulable criteria” that would be used to determine if a school should be having in- Gov. Larry Hogan (R) dismissed the blanket person learning. ban on reopening on Monday, August 2, saying that non-public schools should have The order was rescinded by Gayles after a the same opportunities afforded to public Thursday memorandum from the Maryland schools in choosing whether or not to open Department of Health banning the blanket for in-person classes. closure of all non-public schools in a county. Montgomery County Public Schools were “At this time, it is the health policy of the never ordered to have virtual-only learning, State of Maryland that non-public schools and initially planned on having a hybrid model of in-person and online classes.

88 Those plans were scrapped in late July, The August 7 order goes into effect following pushback from teachers unions immediately, and notes that there have been throughout the state. Montgomery County no binding metrics put forward by the state Public Schools will be online-only until for the safe reopening of schools. Many January 31, the entirety of the first semester. leading epidemiologists have pointed to a positivity rate of 5% as a standard to be met Since the announcement to online-only to shift to in-person learning. The second- learning, Montgomery County Public largest teacher’s union in the country, the Schools have seen steep declines in new American Federation of Teachers, also is in student registration as parents have opted for favor of reopening schools in areas with a non-public schools or homeschool sub-5% positivity rate. programs. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Six Montgomery County families, including on Friday that every school in New York four Catholic school families, who were would be permitted to re-open in the fall as joined by two Catholic schools, filed a positivity rates in every state region had federal lawsuit against the county for the dropped below the 5% benchmark and forced school closures. stayed below that level for a set period. Despite Hogan’s intervention, on August 5 Individual districts will have to submit Gayles once again issued an executive order approved reopening safety plans, but they saying non-public schools must remain can in theory have in-person classes. closed to in-person classes until October 1. Unlike the previous executive order, non- Montgomery County’s three-day average public daycares and preschools were positivity rate has been below 5% since July exempted, and would have been permitted to 16. It has been declining for 14 days. This operate. Additionally, the previous drop in positivity has come amid increases punishments of $5,000 and up to a year in in testing. jail were no longer included in the order, which carried no enforcement mechanism.

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/07/maryland-county-drops-second-order-to-keep- catholic-schools-closed/

89 Boris Johnson Visits Catholic Schools in London To Push for Re-Starting In-Person Classes

During a visit to two Catholic schools in studies on the coronavirus in schools in the East London, British Prime Minister Boris world – makes it clear there is little evidence Johnson said it’s “a moral duty” to get that the virus is transmitted at school,” he students in England back to school in said. September. “There is also growing confidence among Schools across the United Kingdom were parents about their children returning. This closed on March 20, three days before the is down to the hard work of school staff country went into lockdown to slow the across the country who are putting in place a spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. On range of protective measures to prepare to June 1, some classes re-started, but the welcome back all pupils at the start of term,” majority of students have been out of formal Williamson added. schooling for over four months. Other members of the UK cabinet have also On Monday, Johnson visited St Joseph’s been promoting Johnson’s plan. Catholic Primary School and Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School in London’s Health and Social Care Minister Helen Upminster area. Although St. Joseph’s is Whately told Sky News cited the latest currently closed, Sacred Heart of Mary was research on the “low risk” of school hosting a summer camp, and the prime transmission, along with other safety minister participated in an archery activity. precautions, including teaching children in bubbles, staggering start and finish times, Catholic schools, as well as other faith- and teachers encouraging children to based educational institutions, are publicly frequently wash and sanitise their hands. funded in the United Kingdom. “It is absolutely safe for children to get back The prime minister said it was the priority of to schools and it is really important that they his government to get children back into do,” she said. school. “I know that teachers and parents have made “It’s not right that kids should spend more huge efforts to continue children’s efforts of time out of school, it’s much, much better education from home – but it’s just not the for their health and mental wellbeing, same as children being in school,” she told obviously their educational prospects, if the television network. “Sadly, we have seen everybody comes back to school full-time in children from more disadvantaged September,” he said. “It’s our moral duty as backgrounds more likely to fall behind in a country to make sure that happens.” this time – so it’s essential that we have children back at schools this autumn.” UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said opening schools is safe for children and Education is devolved in the United staff. Kingdom, so Johnson’s policies only affect “The latest research which is expected to be England. Scotland’s schools were due to published later this year – one of the largest reopen on Tuesday, Wales will reopen in

90 September, and Northern Ireland will downgraded students from poorer schools. partially reopen Aug. 24 with a full Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reopening in September. apologized on Monday, saying the government “did not get it right.” During his visit to the Catholic schools, Johnson said it is “very important that Johnson said authorities “will do our best to everybody works together to ensure that our ensure that the hard work of pupils is schools are safe and they are – they are properly reflected” when results in England COVID secure – I have been very impressed on Thursday. by the work that the teachers have done, working with the unions, to make sure that “Clearly, because of what has happened this all schools are safe to go back to in year, there is some anxiety about what September.” grades pupils are going to get, and everybody understands the system that the One of the reasons Johnson visited St. teachers are setting the grades, then there’s a Joseph’s was to inspect the safety provisions standardisation system,” he said. they have put in place to prepare for the school year. Several parts of England have been put under restrictions due to localized COVID- “A lot of work being done over making sure 19 outbreaks, including the central city of that there’s social distancing, bubbling, Leicester and most of greater Manchester. staggered start times, all that kind of thing. Johnson implied that schools would be the But, basically, the plan is there – get last thing to be closed if such local everybody back in September, that’s the lockdowns are imposed after September. right thing for everybody,” he said. “I very much hope that doesn’t happen for Johnson also tackled the thorny issue of A- any pupils but clearly what we are doing – Levels – the college preparatory exams the way we are trying to manage the COVID taken by UK students to determine pandemic – is to have local measures in university placement. The exams weren’t place and local test and trace to introduce taken this year due to the pandemic, and the restrictions where that’s necessary; but, as A-Level results are being determined by a we have all said, the last thing we want to do combination of class results, teacher is to close schools,” the prime minister said. assessments, and statistical models. “We think that education is the priority for However, students in Scotland – where A- the country and that is simple social justice,” Levels have already been released – have he added. complained that the statistical model

Charles Collins https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ireland/2020/08/boris-johnson-visits-catholic-schools-in- london-to-push-for-re-starting-in-person-classes/

91 Catholic Schools Need CARE to Survive

When we reflect on the COVID-19 crisis, I delaying the distribution of $91 million in pray we can look back on this period as the federal aid allocated for NYC private great turning point for our Catholic schools. schools. Catholic schools don’t just talk Amid the suffering and uncertainty, the light about changing children’s lives; for over 200 of our Catholic schools shone through, years, our schools have been champions of especially in Brooklyn and Queens. At the social justice, providing quality education to initial epicenter of the pandemic, our school immigrants and underserved communities communities came together — getting who have sought to break the cycle of remote learning up and running, delivering poverty. mobile devices to our students, and even doing “car parades” to bring cheer to Catholic schools shine because our faith- families at their homes. based approach forms the whole child. We believe that parents are a child’s first Yet, for all our successes, we witnessed the educators and they know their child’s needs. closing of six of our beloved schools. The Parents want our schools — we should not sudden decrease in tuition collection, loss of let their financial situation block their ability fundraising revenue, and enrollment to give their child the best educational uncertainty were all contributing factors. In opportunity. my role as Vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn, I oversee Futures in Every Brooklyn and Queens Catholic school Education, which awarded $900,000 in has a detailed plan to reopen this fall to tuition relief in response to COVID-19, provide as much in-person learning as is thanks to our faithful donors. That brought physically possible in accordance with state the total support for the year to $8.4 million guidelines. Those plans were put together — enough to make an impact, but not with dedication, resolve, and care for every enough to help all families in need. child and member of our school communities. We cannot let the financial Now, there is a bill in Washington that can constraints of this pandemic stand in the help our Catholic schools continue to shine. way of our children’s learning. The CARES Act would provide needed funding to schools across the country but Join us in reaching out to our U.S senators there is debate about whether Catholic asking for inclusion of Catholic schools in schools should be included, even though it the CARES Act by visiting has been adjudicated by the Supreme Court www.EquityforCatholicSchools.com or that religious schools are eligible for such calling 855.238.4092. funding. Also, if you can support our efforts, please Both Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio visit www.futuresineducation.org to sponsor have expressed the importance of minority a child. students getting their fair share of funding, And, if you are a parent, enroll your child in yet they cave to teachers’ unions when it one of our schools today. comes to funding private education; de Let’s all do our part to help our Catholic Blasio’s Department of Education is even schools continue to shine.

92 Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello https://thetablet.org/catholic-schools-need-care-to-survive/

93 Scholar Says Modern Society Needs Faith to Battle ‘Disenchantment’

[(Crux) Editor’s Note: David McPherson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he lives with his wife and their four children. He is the author of Virtue and Meaning: A Neo-Aristotelian Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2020), and the editor of Spirituality and the Good Life: Philosophical Approaches (Cambridge University Press, 2017). He is currently working on his second book monograph titled The Virtues of Limits. He is also currently serving as President of Philosophers in Jesuit Education. He spoke to Charles Camosy about “disenchantment” in modern society.]

Crux: Many have likely heard rumblings the world. This informs subjectivist accounts in various corners about enchantment, of value, such as the view that our value dis-enchantment, and even re- experiences are just projections of our enchantment. Can you give us personal feelings onto the world. By the Reader’s Digest condensed version of contrast, an objectivist account of value what these kinds of discussions are about appeals to intrinsic values (for example, and what you believe to be at stake? human dignity, the nobility of virtue, etc.) that are thought to be there anyways whether McPherson: A lot of these discussions have or not we are responsive to them, but to centered on the problem of disenchantment, which we ought to be properly responsive. which, as I understand it, primarily has to do with a perceived loss of meaning or value, The most extreme form of disenchantment or at least a perceived threat of such a loss. combines value subjectivism with a The term “disenchantment” was first coined reductionistic understanding of human life by the German sociologist Max Weber in his where our experiences of meaning or value essay “Science as a Vocation,” and it has are understood as merely the product of our been used by many subsequent thinkers, genes, or our brain “wiring,” or a stimulus- including, notably, by the well-known response mechanism, or something else of Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor in his the sort. The problem of disenchantment, I influential 2007 book A Secular Age. think, arises in large part because of the prevalence of various forms of scientism in The problem of disenchantment is a modern intellectual life, which privilege a distinctly modern problem because it is disengaged (or third-personal or thought that questions of meaning and value observational) standpoint that prescinds have become more problematic with the rise from our engaged (or first-personal or of modern science. In particular, modern participative) experiences of the significance science has tended to sideline teleological of our lives and the beings around us. explanations of things (including human beings) where they are understood in terms I should note that those who embrace of their purpose (telos in Greek), where disenchantment often also embrace an realizing this purpose means achieving their impersonal or atheistic view of the universe; good as the kind of thing that they are. This we see this, for instance, in the following sidelining of teleology has led to what is remark from Richard Dawkins in his called the fact-value (or is-ought) problem, book River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View where there is thought to be a problem of of Life: “The universe we observe has how we can derive value from facts about precisely the properties we should expect if

94 there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no make sense, and I maintain that this requires evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless a teleological worldview specifically, and I indifference.” seek to show that there is no incompatibility between such a worldview and modern What’s your general take on these science, and indeed we can find support for discussions? Where do you situate it in discussions about the apparent fine- yourself? tuning of the universe for life and conscious intelligent beings such as ourselves. I am definitely on the side of “re- Ultimately, in the last two chapters of the enchantment.” However, as I discuss at the book, I seek to make the case for the most outset of Virtue and Meaning, this term can re-enchanted perspective that remains a live be misleading. It can seem to suggest that option, namely, a theistic worldview. we are trying to return to a premodern worldview, but this is not viable. It can also You call out, as being too “flat,” the seem to suggest that the world is completely dominant approach to contemporary disenchanted (that is, devoid of meaning or Aristotelian ethics, and to which several value) and so we must create, bestow, or important recent Catholic philosophers – otherwise bring about meaning or namely, Elizabeth Anscombe and “enchantment.” Alasdair MacIntyre – have contributed. In essence, you think this approach gives Re-enchantment, as I understand it, is rather too much ground to the dis-enchanters. a matter of discovering (or recovering) Can you say more about that critique? something that is already there to be discovered in the world: namely, objective Yes, that’s right. I have been drawn to the values to which we ought to be responsive. Aristotelian tradition of “virtue ethics” and The world is precisely not completely find much that is congenial in the revival of disenchanted and so seeking re-enchantment this tradition in the last half-century or so. is a matter of defending the validity of However, I have also been dissatisfied with objective values against the disenchantment a flatness in the dominant approach. view. Although contemporary Aristotelians have sought to respond to the fact-value problem Part of the task here is to overcome the ways and defend ethical objectivity (and so seek a in which objective values have been kind of re-enchantment), I believe the neglected or occluded by the prevalent dominant approach has acceded too much to forms of scientism that privilege a the scientism that is prevalent in modern disengaged standpoint; what we need, I intellectual life. argue, is an engaged approach that is properly responsive to objective value, or This approach emphasizes an observational what I call “strong evaluative meaning,” that (or disengaged) standpoint rather than a is, meaning or value that involves qualitative participative (or engaged) standpoint, as distinction and specifies that with which we seen in the stress it puts on an analogy ought to be concerned and toward which we between human flourishing (which the ought to orient our lives: for example, the virtues help us to achieve) and the higher, the noble, and the sacred. However, I flourishing of other living things, and also think we need a worldview in light of thereby it overlooks many of the meanings which these strong evaluative meanings can by which we live and after which we seek,

95 including what I have called strong where these can be understood in terms of evaluative meanings. In other words, the our need to orient our lives in light of strong dominant approach fails to account properly evaluative meanings (for example, the for our distinctive nature as the meaning- higher, the noble, the sacred, etc.). seeking animal. It has thus offered an overly disenchanted understanding of our human There are many people today who say they form of life. are “spiritual but not religious,” where not being religious means not being a part of I seek to provide a fuller kind of re- any “organized religion.” However, I don’t enchantment through accounting for our think any strong distinction can be made nature as the meaning-seeking animal. I also between spirituality and religion, because try to bring out how Aristotle himself does when one gets serious about the spiritual life not share the disenchanted view of the – that is, with seeking to align one’s life in dominant approach, as we see, for instance, light of self-transcending sources of value – in the way that the strong evaluative this will naturally lead to “organized” category of the noble operates in his ethical practices. thought, where we perform virtuous actions for the sake of the noble as constitutive of I also think that a concern for our human fulfillment, which I argue can meaning in life and a meaningful life leads also be understood in terms of a meaningful to a concern for the meaning of life, that is, a life. concern with how our lives fit into the grand scheme of things and whether there is a I also show that in fact Anscombe, who first cosmic or ultimate source of meaning to recommended the disenchanted Aristotelian which we must align our lives. So here we approach to secular philosophers, ultimately can see how my account of our being the rejects this approach, as seen, for example, meaning-seeking animal connects up with in her appeal in her later work to what she my claim that we are homo religiosus. calls a “religious attitude” of reverence for human life, which she thinks is available to The issue of the place of spirituality in the everyone. good life has been off the map for most contemporary Aristotelians. However, How does this account of human beings as Aristotle himself recognized the spiritual meaning-seeking animals connect with dimension of human existence in his account your provocative move of naming human of the contemplative life. Most beings homo religiosus? Could you also contemporary Aristotelians have sidelined explain what you mean by this? the topic of the place of contemplation in the good life. I make the case for the crucial The claim that human beings are homo importance of contemplation in human life, religiosus is provocative in a sense, since and especially for addressing what I call the clearly there are people who do not consider problem of cosmodicy, which is the problem themselves religious in any traditional way. of justifying life in the world as worthwhile However, religion has had a centrally in the face of evil and suffering. important place in human life throughout history, and most people would I also seek to show the draw of a specifically acknowledge something like “spiritual theistic form of spirituality, which enables needs” in addition to their material needs, us to see life as a gift and to affirm that

96 reality is on the side of the good and tragedy through networks of relationships of giving does not have the final word; in other words, and receiving. in enables us to affirm what my friend and fellow Catholic philosopher John These are important ideas, but what is Cottingham calls “the buoyancy of the striking in MacIntyre’s account is that there good.” is no place accorded to the strong evaluative claim of human dignity, or the sanctity of One of the chapters in your book which human life, and without this there is a was of particular interest to me is the danger of failing to see the profoundly chapter appealing to human dignity, disabled as our equals. I bring this out by especially for those profoundly disabled appealing to the philosopher Raimond people who can’t in any sense “seek Gaita’s discussion of his experience of meaning,” at least in ways that we are observing a nun’s unconditional love for able to detect. How should we think about patients at a psychiatric ward at which he the moral status and value of these worked when he was seventeen. human beings? Do we need to appeal to a more enchanted set of ideas to explain He says that through her loving demeanor what I hope we still believe: namely, that toward the patients she revealed that they they are our equals? were “the equals of those who want to help them; but she also revealed that in our hearts This is an area where I have thought the we did not believe this.” Reflecting later on dominant approach to contemporary the nun’s example, Gaita says: “I came to Aristotelian virtue ethics is especially believe that an ethics centered on the lacking precisely because it neglects concept of human flourishing does not have appealing to human dignity. Consider the conceptual resources to keep fully Alasdair MacIntyre’s Dependent Rational amongst us, in the way the nun had revealed Animals. He argues that in order to achieve to be possible, people who are severely and our own good – as the dependent, vulnerable ineradicably afflicted” (A Common creatures that we are – we have to Humanity, p. 19). In other words, if our participate in a “network of relationships of primary conceptual resource for the ethical giving and receiving.” life is the idea of human flourishing, then it is not clear that this can ensure that those For MacIntyre, this includes showing care who are not able to flourish will be regarded for the profoundly disabled. Here he appeals as our equals. to an expectation of asymmetrical reciprocity, where we incur a debt in virtue We need a kind of re-enchantment: we need of the care that we have received, but very to develop a sense that all human beings often we have to pay back this debt not to have equal inherent dignity or sacredness, those from whom we have received but which we arrive at often not through toward others who stand in need of our help. argument but rather through our own MacIntyre also appeals to empathetic engaged experience and also through the identification where we have the thought example of unconditional love. Interestingly, that others’ misfortune could have been our Gaita himself is not religious, and he thinks own. Both appeals are ultimately justified in that only a religious person can speak terms of his account of human flourishing seriously of the sacred, but since he affirms the reality of what the nun’s love revealed

97 about the profound worth of every human This raises the question of what worldview life, he thinks a non-religious person has to can best support a way of coming to see all try to find some not fully adequate substitute human beings as fully amongst us, and here for the religious way of talking, such as that I think a Catholic perspective has something all human beings are “inestimably precious.” important to offer with its belief that all human beings are made in the image of God.

Charles C. Camosy https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2020/08/scholar-says-modern-society-needs-faith-to-battle- disenchantment/

98 Archbishop Carlson: Christ ‘Welcomes and Challenges’ Those Wrestling with Gender Identity

A 12-page reflection by the archbishop of has a purpose and a plan in giving us the Saint Louis notes that people who male or female body we have,” the experience gender dysphoria are “uniquely archbishop noted. vulnerable” and must be treated with care and compassion, but also notes that the Carlson said he was inspired to write this Church has a duty to teach and affirm a reflection after a January 2020 visit with Christian anthropology. Pope Francis and the bishops of his region. During the visit, Pope Francis encouraged Christ draws close with love and the bishops to address the issue of compassion, as well as a challenge, for transgender theory, or gender ideology, with people who experience discord between the Catholics in their dioceses. their gender identity and their biological sex, Archbishop Robert Carlson of Saint Louis Carlson is one of a small but increasing said in a reflection dated June 1. number of Catholic bishops and Catholic leaders in the U.S. who have issued “If you’re uncomfortable with your statements on gender ideology, as well as biological sex, or if you consider yourself as guidelines for people with gender dysphoria having a gender identity at odds with your who are participants in diocesan institutions biological sex, here’s the first thing I want or events. The Vatican has also recently you to know: God loves you. He loves you issued recent documents on the subject, right where you are. He has a plan for you,” including a book released in June by the Carlson said. Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, as well as the 2019 “We are beloved sons and daughters of God document Male and Female He Created in our best and worst moments. And when Them, issued by the Congregation for Jesus comes to us with a word of Catholic Education. compassion, he always comes with a word of challenge too,” he added. “Yes, he loves Carlson stated that his reflection did not us where we are; that doesn’t mean he offer a “comprehensive treatment” of the simply affirms or celebrates where we are.” problem, but rather an addressing of a few of its “principal aspects.” The 12-page reflection notes that people who experience gender dysphoria are The archbishop said he wanted his reflection “uniquely vulnerable” and must be treated to begin and end with thoughts of with care and compassion. The archbishop compassion and care for people who also notes that the Church has a duty to experience transgender dysphoria, which he teach and affirm a Christian anthropology, noted is a condition that puts people “at risk which sees the unity of gender identity and for a whole series of poor health outcomes. biological sex as the path to human They experience higher rates of anxiety, flourishing and, ultimately, to heaven. depression, and substance abuse, and have a much higher rate of suicide attempts than “God made us male and female. God also the general population. They are uniquely made us as a union of body and soul. God vulnerable.”

99 People with gender dysphoria are Young Man, Jesus asks something of me, experiencing hurt, the bishop said. And and I have to decide how to respond. I can whether people who believe their gender walk away sad, or I can embrace his does not match their biological sex are challenge,” the archbishop said. making the choice freely or feel that it is a condition they experience not of their free The challenge for people with gender will, Christ draws close to those dysphoria, then, is to live according to experiencing hurt, he noted. God’s plan for sexuality, which does not separate gender from sex, Carlson noted. Some examples of Christ drawing close to hurting people from the Gospels which “Based on the unity of the human person, Carlson pointed to included Zaccheus the the basic challenge on this matter is tax collector, who is visited by Christ in his articulated by the Catechism of the Catholic home, and the woman with a haemorrhage, Church when it says: ‘Everyone, man and who was healed by Christ with a touch of woman, should acknowledge and accept his his cloak because of her faith. sexual identity.’ Long before gender ideology was a cultural topic, the Catechism “Whether we’re talking about sins we have had already named the central issue: this is a freely chosen or conditions we have not the question of reconciling ourselves to the Gospels make it very clear: whatever our physical facts of sexual identity, not trying hurt is, Jesus came for the hurt. He doesn’t to change the facts according to how we draw away there, he draws closer.” think and feel,” he said.

But Christ also challenges people to live This does not mean that one must live according to God’s plan, Carlson noted. according to rigid stereotypes, he noted. “When the Rich Young Man came to ask about eternal life Jesus both welcomed him “How we live our masculine and feminine and challenged him. He does so repeatedly identity is certainly diverse, and there needs with various people he encounters in the to be room for that. There’s a wide variety Gospels. We have to expect him to do the of personalities, and they don’t always fit same with us. The welcome and the gender-stereotypes. But that doesn’t mean challenge are both expressions of his love,” being male or female is negotiable, or that Carlson said. sex and gender can be separated. Being male or female is written into every cell of our In this Gospel story, a rich young man body, and is part of the body-soul unity that approaches Christ and asks what he must to we are.” do to have eternal life. Christ tells him to follow the commandments, to sell all that he A Catholic understanding of anthropology has to the poor, and to follow him. The rich maintains this unity in the person, Carlson young man “went away sad, for he had noted, including unity between sex and many possessions”. gender.

“Do you ever wonder if he came back? I “The Catholic understanding of the human think part of the reason we never hear is that person holds that sex and gender cannot be the ultimate point of the story isn’t what separated, and that there are limits to how happened to him. The point is: I am the Rich we should manipulate our bodies. According

100 to the Catholic understanding there is, and is participation in Archdiocesan or Parish meant to be, a profound unity in the human events as long as they agree to abide by person: ‘In fact it is from [their] sex that the these guidelines,” he added. “It’s important human person receives the characteristics that we be willing to help people in their which, on the biological, psychological and struggles and questions. Our solution can’t spiritual levels, make that person a man or a be to abandon them, and only welcome them woman, and thereby largely condition his or after they’ve resolved their questions on her progress towards maturity and insertion their own. We want to be with people, and into society,’” he said, referencing Persona we need to be there for them and with them humana, the Congregation for the Doctrine in the midst of their questions and of the Faith’s 1975 declaration on certain struggles.” questions concerning sexual ethics. In his reflection, Carlson also draws directly In order for human beings to experience true from the words of Pope Francis, who has freedom, the Church teaches that humans numerous times spoken or written about the must both be able to freely choose, and problem of gender ideology. freely choose what is good. In his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’, Pope “We can all name examples of people freely Francis wrote that accepting one’s biological choosing something that’s bad for them and sex as a gift from God and as the foundation bad for others. Freedom is perfected in the for one’s identity was key to a “geniune combination of choosing freely and human ecology.” choosing the good,” he said. “The acceptance of our bodies as God’s gift “A simple analogy comes from playing a is vital for welcoming and accepting the musical instrument. You don’t have more entire world as a gift from the Father and freedom simply because you’ve never had our common home, whereas thinking that lessons. You’re most free to make beautiful we enjoy absolute power over our own music when you’ve been trained and learned bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that discipline. The same is true for excellence in we enjoy absolute power over creation. human living.” Learning to accept our body, to care for it In practical applications of this teaching, and to respect its fullest meaning, is an Carlson said that people with gender essential element of any genuine human dysphoria must be welcomed into Catholic ecology,” Francis wrote. institutions and events in the archdiocese, but with the understanding that the unity of “Also, valuing one’s own body in its their gender and sex will be respected, femininity or masculinity is necessary if I including use of pronouns, as well as am going to be able to recognize myself in restrooms and locker rooms, that match their an encounter with someone who is different. biological sex, “thereby affording our bodies In this way we can joyfully accept the the healthy modesty and dignity deserved specific gifts of another man or woman, the under such circumstances.” work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment. It is not a healthy attitude which “Those who experience discordance with would seek to cancel out sexual difference their biological sex should not be denied because it no longer knows how to confront admission to Catholic schools or it,” the pope added.

101 In the end of his reflection, Carlson noted in the same way that the Church offers care that the Church and her members must to women who are hurting after an abortion. always speak the truth about gender and sex with “charity and clarity.” He noted that the “As we have experienced the merciful love Church must always reject violence and of Jesus, let’s bring that merciful love to the unjust discrimination toward people with world,” he concluded. “And let’s remember gender dysphoria, and that they must be that his love always has two parts: treated as “brothers and sisters.” He also compassion, and the challenging truth about added that the Church must be there to care God’s plan. If we lack either – the for people who are hurting after choosing compassion or the challenge – our love isn’t medical or hormonal gender interventions, fully Christian.”

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/07/archbishop-carlson-christ-welcomes-and- challenges-those-wrestling-with-gender-identity/

102 An Archaeologist Discovered a Trove of Ancient Catholic Relics Under the Floorboards of a Tudor Manor in England

An illuminated manuscript and prayer book Highlighting the group of discovered were among the items hidden centuries ago artifacts was a fragment of a 15th-century by secretly-practicing Catholics. illuminated manuscript, the gold leaf of its text still intact. A medieval manuscripts When workers lifted floorboards to repair specialist at Cambridge University’s library the joists of a 500-year-old historic home in identified the fragment as belonging to England, they inadvertently revealed a once- psalm 39 from an early Latin translation of in-a-lifetime discovery. the bible called the Vulgate.

Under the attic floor of Oxburgh Hall, a It likely belonged to a small prayer book, the moated manor house in Norfolk, were pieces specialist explained, which may have been of Elizabethan-era textiles and the relics of used for secret Catholic masses before being centuries-old Catholic books, which were stashed when the queen’s men came likely hidden by the owners knocking. In a similar vein was a remnant following Elizabeth I’s outlawing of the from a 16th-century Spanish romance book, religion in 1558. the type of which English Catholics of the period would often read as religious material The discovery was announced this week by wasn’t available in their home country. the National Trust, a UK governmental body tasked with protecting historic sites. Scraps of more than 200 fine textiles dating between the late 16th century and the 18th The house, built by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld century were found among two long- after he inherited the estate in 1476, was abandoned rats’ nests in the northwest undergoing a $7.8 million renovation to its corner of the home, as were scraps of roof at the time. English archaeologist Matt handwritten music. Cigarette packets and an Champion, who works with National Trust, empty box of chocolates, both of which was on site to explore the site will visitors hailed from around World War II, were also were away during lockdown and made the found in the attic, suggesting someone had discovery. been trying to hide their vices.

“When the boards came up, we could see a “[T]hese finds are far beyond anything we wave pattern in the debris which showed it expected to see,” added Russell Clement, had been undisturbed for centuries,” said general manager at Oxburgh Hall, in the National Trust curator Anna Forest in a announcement. “This is a building which is statement. giving up its secrets slowly. We don’t know what else we might come across—or what “The peak of each wave of dust, debris, and might remain hidden for future generations objects was highest under the crack between to reveal.” the boards. It was often inches thick and lay on top of a layer of lime plaster, which drew A once-prominent citizen, Sir Bedingfeld out the moisture from the debris and resulted was ostracized after refusing to sign the in much of it being perfectly preserved over Queen’s Act of Uniformity, which the centuries.” acknowledged the banning of Catholic mass.

103 For generations after, he and his family Heirs of Bedingfeld still live at Oxburgh continued to practice the illegal form of faith Hall today. secretly, even going so far as hiding priests in a dedicated “priest hole.”

Artnet News https://news.artnet.com/art-world/catholic-relics-tudor-manor-1902708

104 Some of the Best Books on the History of the Church, According to Historians

If you're troubled by current events, history That historical perspective is worth much can give you a reassuring perspective. Here's more than a hundred attempts to explain where you can start. what’s happening today through contrived theories. Someone recently remarked that with two popes living and a pandemic raging But when you’re dealing with 2,000 years of throughout the known world, we now know Christian history, who but the most what it feels like to have lived in the 14th dedicated of historians has time to read even century. a fraction of the volumes and volumes on the history of the Church? While it might make for a cute internet meme, the comparison has a lot of holes in If you’re not quite sure where to begin, we it. have a little guide for you. We’ve reached out to a number of historians and Catholic Nevertheless, with so much division in thinkers with the question, “If you could contemporary societies, wars percolating in recommend just one book, what would you several parts of the world, geopolitical say is the best work on Church history?” rumblings, more and more people facing starvation, age-old beliefs being called into While considering this list, it’s good to bear question, and civil liberties under pressure in mind a caveat that one of our sources everywhere in the globe, some people feel pointed out. there has never been a time in history when things feel so fragile. “After 30 years of teaching Church history, I have concluded that there is no good single- Reading history is a good antidote to that volume history of the Church that is suitable feeling — an exercise that assures us that for the general reader,” said Dominican Fr. our world has been through much of the Augustine Thompson, Professor of History same in the past. at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. “There The same applies to the Church. It’s true are many good books on specific aspects of that there is more and more secularism and Church history. For example, Eamon less faith in many societies. One might be Duffy’s Saints and Sinners on the papacy. tempted to think that in a generation or two, Or Knowles and Obolensky’s volume The Christianity will be a minority religion in the Middle Ages in the old series ‘The Christian world. Centuries.’”

“Christendom has had a series of revolutions But all the one-volume histories have two and in each one of them Christianity has problems, Fr. Thompson said. “One seems died,” G.K. Chesterton wrote in The the case for all of them: except for the small Everlasting Man. “Christianity has died period and place the author is an expert on, many times and risen again; for it had a God they are written from dated and flawed who knew the way out of the grave.” secondary literature. The second problem is that they too often have an ideological axe to grind. That is to say, they were written to

105 forward some political or theological project A Popular History of the Church, by Philip in the contemporary Church favored by the Hughes author.” Fr. Peter M.J. Stravinskas, executive History of the Church, by Hubert Jedin and director of the Catholic Education John P. Dolan Foundation, calls this “an ideal starting place for beginners.” Fr. Rutler adds that it That said, Fr. Thompson adds that the only is ”very readable and takes us up to the Church history that he knows of that does modern period. He is extremely fair and not have those problems is Jedin and judicious.” Dolan’s History of the Church. But, he said, “it is really an academic handbook and is in A Dictionary of Popes, by J.N.D. Kelly and 11 volumes.” Michael Walsh

Reformations, by Carlos Eire This work is “the gold standard among papal histories,” said George Weigel, For a more narrowly focused study, though, Distinguished Senior Fellow and William E. Thompson has high praise for a work by Simon Chair in Catholic Studies of the Carlos Eire, Professor of history and religion Ethics and Public Policy Center. at Yale University. “Eire, whom most know as the author of his autobiographical Waiting Earthly Powers and Sacred Causes, by for Snow in Havana, is also among the most Michael Burleigh distinguished of early modern historians. His Reformations reflects the revolution in “I would recommend companion volumes Reformation scholarship: rejecting the linear by this British historian,” said author Russell trajectory of ‘The Reformation’ as a Shaw. “The first covers ‘the clash of religion rejection of ‘Church corruption’ and return and politics in Europe’ (that’s from the to the Scriptures, running directly from subtitle) from the French Revolution to Erasmus, to Luther, and on to Calvin. Eire World War I, while the second carries the shows there were many ‘reformations,’ that story from World War I to very nearly the they began in fifteenth-century Spain, and present. While the books have to do with that the process was in no way linear, but ‘religion’ in general, the Catholic Church is confusing, contradictory, and often imposed necessarily at the center of the narrative. by the state rather than a natural religious Burleigh writes clearly, the books are full of development.” fascinating information, and the author takes a generally friendly view of the Church.” History of the Catholic Church, by James Hitchcock Religion and the Rise of Western Culture, by Christopher Dawson This work is “Hitchcock at his most insightful and balanced,” said Fr. George William Doino Jr., a frequent contributor Rutler, a New York pastor who himself has to First Things magazine, commented, “It’s authored a number of books. George indispensable for Catholics to read anything Weigel, the biographer of Pope St. John — as many things as you can — by the great Paul II, called it “the best overview.” Christopher Dawson, particularly Religion and the Rise of Western Culture and The

106 Dynamics of World History, which is a great Studies at the University of Virginia. But he anthology of some of his best writing. It said The Christians as the Romans Saw shows what the Catholic Church was doing Them is “invaluable because it helps us to effect change throughout history. Religion understand the Christian problem from the and the Rise of Western Culture shows the persecutor’s perspective. This upstart indispensable role the Catholic Church had religion was upsetting the social order. It in the rise of the West and Western was upsetting Roman family values. It was civilization. turning children against their parents, and parents against their children. We tend to Fr. Stravinskas adds that Dawson’s The think of the opponents of Christianity as Formation of Christendom is a “superb irrational bigots. But the Roman cause made history, with keen insights to events.” a kind of sense for people who wanted to preserve (or restore) the traditional way of Timeless: A History of the Catholic Church, life. I’m glad it failed!” by Steve Weidenkopf The Catholic Church Through the Ages: A “It is a new volume and very good,” said Fr. History, by John Vidmar, O.P. Dwight Longenecker, whose blog has a 23- part podcast series on the history of the The Amazon summary for this work Church. “captures well its strengths: Dawson- grounded, substantive but accessible,” said Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Andrew T. Seeley, director of advanced Remade the World, by Tom Holland formation at the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education. “Definitely for a general Fr. Longenecker also audience rather than specialists. Ideal for recommends Dominion, which he said is adult education or reading groups.” “not so much a history of the Catholic Church per se, but a chronological overview The Christian Tradition, by Jaroslav Pelikan that shows how Christian ideas changed the world in every age. It’s brilliant and would This five-volume opus was “an immense be the top of my list, along with [Eamon] achievement in the field, and I find myself Duffy.” regularly going back to his analysis when writing on Church history,” said Bud Marr, Doino pointed out that Holland was an Director of the National Institute for agnostic who started out thinking Newman Studies. “Even though Pelikan was Christianity was a curse on mankind, but not Roman Catholic, he was always ended up showing how without it we would extremely careful in his handling of the be “living in a much more monstrous and source material and employed a hermeneutic evil world.” of generosity in discussing historical figures. In my view, Pelikan’s first volume in the The Christians as the Romans Saw Them, by series, The Emergence of the Catholic Robert Louis Wilken Tradition (100-600), is indispensable reading for anyone seeking to understand the Popular author Mike Aquilina said he was patristic period. As a Newmanist, I was “torn by three different titles” by Wilken, particularly impressed at how Pelikan used who is Emeritus Professor of Religious [St. John Henry] Newman’s theory of

107 development in order to make sense of the debates and key decisions that took place “This may seem a bit of an odd selection,” during those early centuries in Christian apologized Thomas Jodziewicz, Professor of history. History at the University of Dallas. “But I really appreciated it. Fr. Basset was the Tried By Fire: The Story of Christianity’s author of several wonderful, brief spiritual First Thousand Years, by William J. Bennett essays. Very accessible. His love for his Society shines through in his well-written Paul G. Kengor, Professor of political narrative of the dark days of the Society science at Grove City College, called this a under Elizabeth and for the next couple of “very readable and engaging book on the centuries, marked of course by the 1773 first millennium of Christianity. … It’s quite suppression of the Order. He is well-read, good and accessible for readers of all faiths, with good judgment regarding his brothers with an extremely timely focus on Christian who were not always models of Ignatian suffering and persecution.” standards. And his wonderful senses of humor and irony are on full display.” The English Jesuits: From Campion to Martindale, by Bernard Basset, S.J.

John Burger https://aleteia.org/2020/08/19/some-of-the-best-books-on-the-history-of-the-church/

108 Justice Department: Vermont College Tuition Program Can’t Exclude Catholic School Student

The U.S. Department of Justice has sided “(R)eligious entities and their adherents with a Vermont Catholic high school student cannot be excluded from or disadvantaged who has said a state program wrongly under public programs and benefits based on excluded her participation in a college credit their religious character,” said the friend-of- coursework program because she attends a the-court brief, filed Aug. 19 with the U.S. religious private school. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

The Vermont Education Agency’s Dual The Department of Justice brief in the Enrollment Program allows high school Vermont case noted that the state pays students to take college courses with tuition tuition for dual enrollment credit directly to paid by the state. Students from public the post-secondary institution, and makes no schools are eligible, as are students from payments to high schools at all. Religiously secular private schools and homeschooled affiliated colleges that offer religious students. However, students at private coursework are allowed to take part in the religious high schools are excluded. dual enrollment program and so receive state funding. Challenging this rule are two students known only as A.M. and A.H.. They are “The free exercise clause of the First enrolled at Rice Memorial High School, a Amendment protects against religious Catholic school run by the Diocese of discrimination by the federal government, Burlington. The students, their parents, and and the Fourteenth Amendment applies this the diocese are plaintiffs in the case, A.M. v. guarantee to the states,” the brief continued. French. “As a general rule, the free exercise clause prohibits laws that disqualify religious In its brief, the civil rights division of the entities, because of their religious character, Department of Justice said A.H. has shown a from generally available public benefits.” “clear likelihood of success” in claiming that the rule violates the free exercise clause of The free exercise clause, the brief continued, the U.S. Constitution. The dual enrollment “denies the government the power to program is open to “similarly situated withhold generally available public benefits schools and students attending such on the basis of the recipient’s religious schools.” character.” The student and her high school’s exclusion from the program The brief argued that the student’s parents “stemmed directly from the denial of public faced a choice between “having their funding for A.H.’s high school tuition… daughter attend a Catholic high school (i.e., based solely on her school’s religious Rice), consistent with their Catholic character.” religious beliefs, and forgoing the benefits of the Dual Enrollment Program” or The brief was welcomed by John Bursch, “transferring to a secular private or public senior counsel and vice president of school or commencing home study to obtain appellate advocacy at the Alliance the benefits of the Dual Enrollment Defending Freedom. The religious freedom Program.” legal group is representing the plaintiffs.

109 Bursch commented Aug. 19: “no state can Amendment and constituted “discrimination discriminate against students based on against religious schools and the families which kind of school they attend. It makes whose children attend them.” The case no sense for Vermont to say it will pay for a concerned a 2015 state scholarship program student from a public or secular private funded by tax credits that state officials had school to take a college course at a public said could not be used by students at university, for example, but then say that a religious schools. student from a faith-based private school can’t receive the same funding to attend that The 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision same class.” in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer is also relevant, Busch said. In that case, the court “The Constitution protects religious ruled that a state cannot deny public benefits Americans against unequal treatment and to religious entities simply because they are prohibits laws that target Americans based religious. solely on their religious status,” he said. The Department of Justice had filed a U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reis had statement of interest in the Vermont case in denied a previous request for a preliminary May, arguing that the plaintiffs’ legal claims injunction. However, the appellate court were plausible. granted a preliminary injunction for the plaintiffs on Aug. 5, citing a recent Supreme Eligibility for the Vermont program mirrors Court decision that could further change the the criteria for a separate Town Tuitioning legal thinking about funding for religious Program. This program does not include private schools. private religious schools due to a 1999 Vermont Supreme Court decision which State officials have said they will comply held that the use of public funds to pay with the court order, and will present the tuition at private religious schools was a state’s case later this fall, the Associated violation of the state constitution. Press reports. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit said the dual In June 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in a enrollment program is different, since the 5-4 decision that the Montana state state is paying for college courses, not constitution’s ban on public funding of tuition for a religious high school. religious institutions violated the First

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/21/justice-department-vermont-college-tuition- program-cant-exclude-catholic-school-student/

110 Wisconsin Catholic Schools Will Challenge Local COVID-19 Closing Order

Last-minute county order leaves parents less Joe Parisi, Dane County executive, could not than 60 hours to make home-based be reached Saturday evening for comment. arrangements; appeal planned to Wisconsin Supreme Court. “We are extraordinarily disappointed at this order and its timing,” Bishop Donald J. A coalition of Catholic schools, parents and Hying said in a letter to parents issued benefactors plan to hire a law firm to jointly with Michael J. Lancaster, challenge an order issued late Friday to superintendent of Catholic schools for the close all schools in Dane County to in- Diocese of Madison. “You have told us of person instruction for students in grades 3- your sadness, your anger and your children’s 12. Many Catholic schools were slated to grief as they burst into tears when you told open starting August 24 after being closed them of the county’s decision.” much of last spring due to COVID-19. Hying said over the past three months, Led by the Madison-based St. Ambrose principals and superintendents participated Academy, the coalition launched in twice-weekly calls with Public Health a GiveSendGo crowdfunding site on August Madison & Dane County, the Wisconsin 22 that quickly raised more than $22,300 out Department of Public Instruction, and the of an initial goal of $60,000. The plan is for Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Catholic schools to hire Troutman Pepper “We asked questions, adjusted plans as Hamilton Sanders LLP, a law firm that guidance changed and made sure we had the earlier this year helped the Diocese of latest information,” Hying wrote. “Our Madison defeat attempts to place strict limits principals worked tirelessly to draft, revise on Mass attendance due to COVID-19. They and perfect reopening plans, ensuring that hope to make an emergency appeal directly all CDC, DHS and county guidelines were to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. followed, and that no detail was overlooked Meanwhile, parishes have organized a in order to make our schools safe for Rosary rally for 3 p.m. students and teachers.” Monday on the State Street steps of the Wisconsin Capitol Building, where last On “numerous occasions” since July, county week 2,000 Catholics gathered for a officials were asked to provide the metrics Eucharistic procession and patriotic Rosary. that would be used regarding the closing and opening of schools in light of COVID-19, Catholic school officials said they had no Hying said. “These were not provided until advance warning that Public Health Friday, leaving many of you, who have Madison & Dane County would issue a already gone back to work, with the added COVID-19 school closing order. The health hardship of finding child care. Many of you agency issued Emergency Order #9 after have few if any options given this order.” 5:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, August 21, sending Catholic schools and parents into Joan Carey, executive director of St. confusion and anger just 60 hours before Ambrose Academy, consulted over the opening of the 2020-21 school year in many weekend with Misha Tseytlin, a Troutman communities. Janel Heinrich, public health Pepper partner who formerly served as officer for Madison and Dane County; and Wisconsin solicitor general.

111 “Engaging his firm is very expensive, but he activities and athletics. On May 13, the believes we have a good case and a good Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down forum in the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers “Safer at Carey said in an email sent to supporters on Home” program that essentially locked Saturday. down the state over concerns about spread of the coronavirus. The same Wisconsin “Litigation is always uncertain, but we statutes that the Supreme Court said the state believe an effort of this caliber could move could not use to mandate a society-wide Dane County to a reversal.” quarantine have been used by local government to issue mandatory mask orders Frustrations were already high in Dane and a wide menu of rules on public behavior County with what some view as heavy- in businesses, stores and other venues. handed regulations spun out of the county health agency. Earlier this year, Public Brent King, spokesman for the Diocese of Health Madison issued orders to limit Madison, said some 30 Diocese of Madison attendance at Holy Mass to 50 people, Catholic schools outside of Dane County regardless of building capacity, while will open for instruction over the next two allowing retailers, restaurants and other weeks. Inside Dane County, the first day of locations to operate with a 25 percent school has been delayed until after Labor capacity. On June 3, the Diocese of Madison Day if necessary.while schools consider all delivered a 17-page letter to city and county legal options. officials protesting the limits and indicating litigation would be initiated if the orders “The grassroots reaction to the Dane County were not quashed. Less than 48 hours after order has been awesome and it has only refusing to budge of the Mass limits, Public been 24 hours,” King said. “I know of Health Madison & Dane County backed off, hundreds of families who have called local citing the cost of potential litigation. politicians to express their disagreement, anger, and disgust in a very short time. We As in the current case, the Diocese of hope the county will listen to these faithful Madison was given no advance notice of the families, for the sake of the kids and their Mass-limits regulation back in June. Pastors spiritual, psychological, emotional, as well and school officials say privately they feel as physical well being. Close to 30 schools the government is targeting the Catholic outside of Dane County are safely opening Church with its regulations. Some believe these next weeks. Dane County Catholic the school-closing order is an attempt to schools can too. We believe it is what is best prevent long-term enrollment shifts from for the children, given all the best available public schools (which are mostly doing information.” online instruction) to faith-based schools, which have moved to reopen with in-person Scott Grabins, technology director for instruction and school activities. Edgewood Campus School (4K through grade 8) who has one daughter at Edgewood Both the school closing order and the limits High School, said he is “extremely on attendance at Holy Mass raise important frustrated” by the county health order. legal issues regarding whether a county “We’ve been working hard for months to health officer has authority to make such prepare for in-person instruction this fall, far-reaching rules affecting private schools, making significant investments in getting

112 the school ready for social distancing and Dane County reported 55 new cases of just working in good faith, based on best COVID-19 on August 22, ranking fourth practices, to safely provide for our students among Wisconsin counties. Statewide, and families,” Grabins said. “There has been COVID-19 hospitalizations have never so much effort put into making our school as exceeded 450 beds on any day since early safe as possible for students, that it’s May, according to MacIver. extremely frustrating to be in this position now.” Grabins is also chairman of the On August 20, Hying wrote, “Dane County Republican Party of Dane County. announced that the daily number of coronavirus cases had dropped by nearly 50 According to statistics from the Wisconsin percent since July 13, while the seven-day Department of Health, Wisconsin has logged average of new cases continued to decline. 70,009 cases of COVID-19 through August Yet now, despite declining numbers and all 22, with 1,081 deaths due at least in part to the work and diligence given to following the virus. Nearly 1.2 million COVID-19 all the guidelines for reopening, Dane tests have been done; with more than 1.1 County has said that only grades K-2 may million being negative. There are currently return, while all other grades must start 350 people hospitalized statewide, including online.” 119 in intensive care. Wisconsin hospitals have total capacity of 11,500 beds. Gov. Evers issued an emergency order on According to an analysis of state data by the July 30 mandating that masks be worn MacIver Institute, total virus-related deaths indoors by everyone age 5 and older, except represent 1.5 percent of positive COVID-19 at home. A number of Wisconsin county diagnoses. sheriffs have said they will not enforce the orders because they believe them to be unconstitutional.

Joseph M. Hanneman https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/22/wisconsin-catholic-schools-will-challenge- local-covid-19-closing-order/

113 Wisconsin Catholic Academy Hires Legal Counsel To Fight COVID Closing Order

A crowd-funding effort by Madison-based St. Ambrose Academy had raised nearly $91,000 in less than 48 hours to challenge the last-minute closing order aimed at preventing spread of COVID-19.

A classical Catholic school academy voted 18 hours raised $60,000 and in less than 48 Monday to hire a former Wisconsin solicitor hours topped its upgraded goal of $80,000. general to pursue litigation against a school- The fund was generated by donations from closing order issued by the Dane County 701 individuals, in amounts from a few public health agency just 60 hours before dollars to $1,000 and more. “Dane County parochial schools were set to open for fall Health has gone way overboard with many 2020 instruction. A crowd-funding effort by of its pandemic-related restriction,” an Madison-based St. Ambrose Academy had anonymous donor posted on the site on raised nearly $91,000 in less than 48 hours August 24. “Thank you so much for taking to challenge the last-minute closing order on this fight,” another donor wrote. A aimed at preventing spread of COVID-19. woman who pledged $100 wrote, “May God Joan Carey, executive director of St. Bless your efforts in that you may be a Ambrose Academy, said the school has leading in this nation’s fight for our engaged the services of Misha Tseytlin, a children. I wish you every grace and partner with Troutman Pepper Hamilton strength needed for this battle.” Sanders LLP, a law firm that earlier this year helped the Diocese of Madison defeat Carey said St. Ambrose is prepared to take attempts to place strict limits on Mass the case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, attendance due to the coronavirus. The because the county health agency has decision to challenge the legality of the infringed on the rights of Catholic parents, school-closure order was ultimately an easy students and schools. “The Wisconsin one, she said. Constitution has some of the strongest protections for religious liberty of any state “It was so obvious what we had to do. We in the nation,” she said. “Our argument in knew the cost. We took a leap of faith and founded in the right of parents to pursue the just hoped others would agree that our religious education of their choice for their children deserve better than to spend their children. Only very high justification can lives in front of a video screen,” Carey infringe on that right. Restrictions on told Catholic World Report. “Sometimes religious liberty are subject to the strict people cheer you on from the sidelines, but scrutiny of the court. We believe Dane that is not what is happening right now. That County hasn’t met that standard.” $90,000 speaks for itself. My reaction? Every time another donation comes in, I Public Health Madison & Dane break into tears of thanksgiving. I have been County issued Emergency Order #9 after on my knees all summer, begging Jesus to close of business on Friday, August 21, show us the way. Well, He just did.” mandating that students from grades 3-12 in Dane County could not attend in-person On Saturday, August 22, St. Ambrose put up instruction. The primary impact of the order a GiveSendGo crowdfunding site that within was felt by Catholic families who were

114 preparing for classes to open starting on Carey said St. Ambrose and other Catholic August 24. The last-second order sent schools have taken the COVID-19 pandemic parents scrambling to make child-care very seriously, spending all summer arrangements, and schools were faced with adapting school facilities for social abandoning months of planning for safe distancing, including moving three of its six classroom operation. CWR reached out to grades into a leased building in order to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, but had provide the recommended six-feet social not gotten a reply by press time. distancing buffer between students. “It’s an expensive solution but was necessary to Carey said the county closing order ensure we could comply with the separation threatened to harm the overall well-being of regulations,” Carey said. “Other schools are students at St. Ambrose and other parochial making similar valiant efforts. These schools that chose to reopen classrooms extensive measures to put us in full after months of COVID-19 closure. compliance with the orders bring our spaces “Without a doubt the greatest impact will be up to the degree of safety recommended by the emotional and spiritual toll taken on our governing officials. We have done our children who are socially isolated from their part to keep students and staff safe.” friends and teachers and placed in front of computer screens for hours, days and weeks The Diocese of Madison operates 44 on end,” she said. “Religious schools were Catholic schools across 11 counties, determined to reopen in order to protect our including more than a dozen in Dane children’s formation and development from County. Enrollment tops 6,500 students in such a negative impact.” pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Two Catholic schools — St. Ambrose and The county order came despite guidance Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart from the federal Centers for Disease Control — offer secondary education. St. Ambrose and Prevention that recommended schools has 115 students. The size of elementary could reopen for fall instruction. The CDC schools in the diocese ranges from 11 guidance noted that children appear to be at students to more than 450. lower risk of contracting COVID-19, and fewer than 0.1 percent of COVID-related Rev. Scott Jablonski, pastor of St. Francis deaths have been among people 18 and Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains, said younger. parents were “deeply frustrated” by the last- minute county order. “Their children want to Sarah Mattes, Communications supervisor be in school and they want their children to for Public Health Madison & Dane County, be in school for in-person instruction,” Fr. said “based on Dane County current average Jablonski said, “especially since they know number of cases per day, it is not safe for all that we spent the past few months and a lot grade levels to open for in-person of financial resources planning to safely instruction. Data and the latest evidence will reopen in accordance with all CDC, continue to inform our decisions about national, state, county and diocesan opening and closing schools, and we will guidelines.” St. Francis Xavier operates an continue to work closely with schools, as we elementary school covering age-4 have been during this entire pandemic.” kindergarten through grade 8. The parish has operated a school in Cross Plains since 1857.

115 Fr. Jablonski said he strongly supports the really worked hard alongside other private legal action about to be taken by St. schools to provide two options to parents so Ambrose Academy. “I have already made a they have that right to choose — virtual personal donation to help pursue legal action learning, which we were all set up to make against the county,” he told CWR, “and as an option from day one; or if you feel although I wish it did not have to go this your child is best educated in an in-person route I am hopeful that we can find a quick environment, you can have in-person resolution by doing so.” He said St. Francis education with all of the safety protocols … Xavier saw an increase in inquiries from that Dane County expects.” parents of public school students, who were seeking options for in-class instruction for The St. Ambrose legal challenge has the the 2020-21 school year. Most public school support of Bishop Donald J. Hying and districts in the county have opted to start the Michael Lancaster, the superintendent of school year with distance learning via schools for the Diocese of Madison. The computer. St. Francis Xavier could not diocese is not planning its own legal action. accommodate most requests, though, because of social distancing requirements The coronavirus that spread into the United that in effect cut the school’s overall States starting in January quickly raised capacity. myriad legal issues that grew from state and local actions aimed at preventing hospitals About 100 parents, students, teachers and from becoming overwhelmed with COVID- priests gathered Monday for a Rosary rally 19 patients. The Diocese of Madison hired outside the Diocese of Madison Troutman Pepper and worked with the headquarters on Madison’s west side, in Becket Fund for Religious Liberty to fight support of Catholic schools opening as orders issued in May by Public Health originally planned before the Dane County Madison & Dane County to limit in-person shutdown order. The rally was moved from attendance at Holy Mass to 50 people, the original location at the Wisconsin regardless of building capacity or virus- Capitol Building out of safety concerns in mitigation efforts. After the diocese case violent protests erupted over the delivered a 17-page letter with legal shooting of a black man by police in the arguments against the orders to county southeastern Wisconsin city of Kenosha. As executive Parisi and Madison Mayor Satya the Rosary crowd gathered, a radio blared a Rhodes-Conway, the health orders were live interview on Madison radio station 1310 adjusted so churches were not treated WIBA with Angela Hineline, St. Ambrose’s differently than businesses. director of enrollment and learning services. Hineline told host Vicki McKenna that these As of Monday August 24, Wisconsin has kinds of educational decisions should rest logged 70,854 cases of COVID-19 and with the parents. 1,081 coronavirus-related deaths. The state registered 392 new cases on Monday, the “Parents are the primary educators of their lowest single-day count since June 29, children, and parents are experts on their according to an analysis of state data by the children and what their children’s needs MacIver Institute. Dane County registered are,” Hineline said. “Parents are really good 29 new cases on August 24, compared to 72 at determining the best educational for Milwaukee County and 54 for Waukesha environment for their child. St. Ambrose has County.

116

Joseph M. Hanneman https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/24/wisconsin-catholic-academy-hires-legal- counsel-to-fight-covid-closing-order/

117 Ed Tech and the Transformation of American Education

The U.S. education system spent more than typical day.” $26 billion on technology in 2018. Spending on new or updated technology in Only 57.9 percent of school districts do any American education in 2020 is estimated to progress monitoring, the report found. The be something in the area of $56 billion. To rest haven’t even set the minimal put that into perspective, that is equivalent to expectation that teachers review or keep hiring 400,000 new teachers at $70,000 per track of the work their students turn in. year (more than most teachers make) for two Many schools, including colleges and years, which is the length of time that “new” universities, offered students a pass/fail technology will last before being replaced. option rather than requiring a standard grade. Most Catholic schools have not been able to keep up with this level of state-funded Okay, so there were some problems. But largesse, so naturally they have been more those problems are going to be fixed now, eager to open up for in-person classes. right? Perhaps this is why academic bureaucrats would prefer they remain closed. I am afraid that the response to this catastrophic failure in the great nationwide But hasn’t the expense been worth it? I experiment in online learning has been the mean, it’s our children’s education, isn’t it? usual bureaucratic response to all failures: What could be more important? namely, that we must double down on what didn’t work. We just didn’t Well, let’s examine the evidence. The have enough technology; we just didn’t University of Washington’s Center on spend enough money; we didn’t have time Reinventing Public Education examined train our functionaries (aka “teachers”) and how 477 school districts nationwide have do it right. But now (you will hear responded to the COVID-19 crisis. The administrators across the country promise), report found only 27 percent of districts we have beefed up our tech, and required teachers to record whether students we’re ready. You are going to be dazzled participate in remote classes. and amazed.

Meanwhile, remote attendance has been Since this is a generation brought up on CGI abysmal. During the first two weeks of the and Star Wars movies, somehow I doubt it. shutdown, some 15,000 Los Angeles And, of course, the point of educational students failed to show up for classes or do technology isn’t to dazzle and amaze, it is to any schoolwork. educate. So how are we doing?

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, 10 Well, as the Paris-based OECD Programme weeks in, “the Philadelphia School District for Institutional Student Assessment most registers just 61 percent of students recently found when they tested over attending school on an average day.” The 540,000 students in seventy-two countries same week the Boston Globe reported that with exams on reading, science, and only “half of students are logging into online mathematics: class or submitting assignments online on a

118 Classroom usage of all of the most advanced are not likely to be especially sympathetic to equipment was associated with worse this plea, and most haven’t been. student performance on every type of exam. Students using tablet computers at school The greatest danger of any crisis is the saw on average a 10 percent lower math test inability to learn the lessons it should teach. score versus peers who didn’t. E-book Will the online, “tech” mania pass with the reader use meant an 18 percent lower score passing of the coronavirus pandemic? Is the in reading. Desktops, laptops, internet online experience a temporary solution to a access, and Wi-Fi all were linked to lower passing problem? scores. Even the widely touted interactive whiteboard was associated with worse I wouldn’t bet on it. Having spent billions results in reading, science, and math. on new tech while firing actual faculty members, administrators will be loathe not Wasn’t there any technology that offered to use their new gadgets to “transform” meaningful improvements in learning education. Since fewer academic outcomes? There was one: the decades-old administrators have had much, if any, overhead projector. experience in the classroom, and more and more of them have little, if any, respect for Every good teacher I know bans laptops and their faculty, and given the billions being cell phones in the classroom. Then again, invested by companies on the promise of so does the most popular private school in future sales of educational technology, it is Silicon Valley, as does the elite private increasingly unlikely that the educational school in Sydney, Australia, which is the failures of the technology revolution will be alma mater of three prime ministers. The trumpeted as anything other than a series of headmaster said the school found “money marvelous successes. spent on interactive white-boards, laptops, and the associated software was a total Okay, perhaps there may be “glitches” that waste.” some of the naysayers will harp on. But those problems will be corrected, we will be Be assured, none of this has kept many assured, in the next series of ever-more- school administrators from spending absurd expensive purchases on ever-more- amounts on the latest technology so they can wonderful machines. lure students back during the pandemic. Will any of that tech produce the educational The “tech quality promised? All evidence suggests the revolution”certainly is transforming answer is no. American education. Perhaps this is one reason today’s students can’t read, write, or Students themselves seem aware of this, do math half as well as their grandparents since many of them around the country are did. Wise teachers know how to use asking for refunds or discounts if they technology and when not to. So if you are are only going to be offered second-rate convinced, as you should be, that no “online” classes. Administrators who have machine can replace you as a parent, let me spent millions upgrading their tech and assure you that no machine can replace an teachers who have spent hours and hours actual teacher either, someone who knows preparing new materials for online learning your son or daughter in a way a computer never can.

119 And if you know that real parenting cannot be assured real teaching can’t be done that be done over the telephone or by Zoom, then way either.

Randall Smith https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2020/08/26/ed-tech-and-the-transformation-of-american- education/

120 How to Bring the Best Montessori Principles into Your Life at Home

With so many schools closed this fall, here’s how to re-create Montessori education for your kids.

The Montessori method of education that “big picture” in mind, though, I’ll break has soared in popularity, especially for the down the Montessori philosophy into some preschool years. Many Catholic parents smaller parts. choose a Montessori education knowing that its founder, Maria Montessori, Children are sensorial learners. This is was Catholic and that the method is especially true for very young children who very respectful toward children, in keeping take in the world around them through their with Catholic beliefs about the dignity of the senses and form an understanding based human person at all ages. As many schools upon this knowledge. Maria Montessori will be closed or doing distance learning this said, “The hand is the instrument of the fall, parents are looking for ways to bring mind,” meaning that our minds begin to Montessori principles into their life at understand something when we experience home. Aleteia had the opportunity to it physically first. Providing children with interview Becky Winstead, Lead Guide for many opportunities to see, touch, hear, the Children’s House at Siena Academy, one smell, and taste the world around them of the first Catholic parochial schools to literally (physically) forms their brain and its adopt the Montessori method in the United pathways. States. Children from the ages of 0 to 6 have What are the key principles of Montessori something Maria Montessori called the philosophy that could apply to life in the Absorbent Mind. Many people have heard home? that children are like sponges and just soak everything up. It’s true! From the age of 0 to This is a little difficult to answer because the about 3 years old, children take in Montessori philosophy is such a holistic everything around them and unconsciously one. It’s hard to practice just one or two acquire skills (such as language, or learning things without grasping the whole. The same how to crawl and walk). From about the age is true of understanding the child (and of 3 until around the age of 6, children still human beings), especially in regards to a have the ability to soak up information like school setting: We aren’t just beings who sponges, but they begin to consciously seek read and write and do math. We have a mind out experiences and use the skills they have and a body and a soul. We have feelings, acquired, through the following ways: memories, decisions, goals, physical needs and wants, spiritual desires, a relationship Independence: Children have an incredible with others and a relationship with God. capacity to do many things on their own. The young child’s motto is “help me to do it In order to function properly and to be our by myself.” Children need to be shown how best selves, all of those things must work to do something first and then given the together harmoniously. Everything a child freedom to try it on their own. Trying it on does is for the purpose of constructing their own doesn’t necessarily mean himself/herself. That is their task. Having abandoning them to do it all alone (although

121 it could!), but giving them the opportunity to language, whether that means introducing try (and fail!). Perfection comes from lots of new vocabulary (especially for young repetition. children), having a conversation, sharing an observation, telling a story, writing a story, Observation: Humans like to observe. It’s praying, singing songs, and so forth. how we learn to experiment and draw conclusions. Observation is necessary for Are there any activities or materials a the child, so that they can make mistakes parent could plan to do at home to support and learn from their mistakes. It’s also this kind of learning from home? necessary for the adults and parents in their lives: Observation tells us what materials or Absolutely! When the children are at concepts a child is interested and ready for, school, they have the sense that it is their when and how to direct a child to work, and environment and they take great pleasure in when they might need to be shown again taking care of it. The same should be true for how to use a material. their homes! Just as children contribute to their classroom environment, they should Movement: Children need movement the also be given opportunities to contribute to way they need air. They are not meant to sit their home environment. It is their place to still and listen for hours on end. Children learn and grow and to take care of. CAN sit in one place and explore with something for a very long time, but the Involving children in the day to day exploration still requires movement. For activities at home is a wonderful place to example, in our classrooms, a child might sit start. Younger children love to participate in at a table and polish a piece of silver for half practically anything, especially if it is an hour. While they are sitting in one place something they’ve seen their older siblings for a length of time, they are strengthening or parents do, and older children and their fine motor skills through applying teenagers can help out in many ways as polish, and rubbing it in and working hard to well. make that piece of metal shine! And when they clean up, they are getting up out of their Young children love to sweep floors and chair to throw things away, and wash out wash tables, fold clothes, wash their hands, their little bowl that has remaining polish in set the table, put dishes away, make snacks, it. They dry the bowl off. They return back and so on. to their chair and place everything back on the tray and put it away on the shelf. Older children who have acquired bigger Movement doesn’t always have to be skills and want more responsibility can take running around (although some children on the task of making lunch or dinner (and need more big movement like that). It is of course baking), helping with the yard and purposeful. gardening, helping out with laundry, washing the car, helping out with younger Language: Language is essential to siblings, and so forth. humanity. It’s part of our nature. It is how we communicate what we have experienced. Teenage children might find it exciting (and It’s how we connect with others either feel like their thoughts and opinions are vocally or written down. Children need valued) to come up with a grocery list for plenty of opportunities for the week, or find ways to earn money either

122 through special projects at home, or helping What is the most important thing for a out in the neighborhood. They might have parent to know about applying Montessori their own plot in the yard to raise a garden, philosophy to life in the family home? which they could then use to contribute back to the family by selling their produce or Preparation of the environment is essential using the vegetables for meals. for children to thrive. Children need a space to work in where they can concentrate and These kinds of activities are also teaching have the freedom to explore. In our children language and math just by their classrooms, we place shelves all around the very nature! Think about all the ways a child room with materials for the children to would need to use language and math to choose from. Children are only allowed to bake a simple recipe. Or how a child would use the materials they’ve had a lesson on, need to be able to calculate how much food but they may use these materials at any time they can buy at the grocery store with the throughout the day and use them for as long amount of money they are given for grocery as they want. When they are finished, they shopping. Real-life experiences give are responsible for cleaning it up and children so many practical ways of using placing it back on the shelf for the next math and language skills. person to use.

Are there any materials a parent could use This whole process—taking an item off the to support Montessori education in the shelf, working with the material, cleaning it home? up and putting it away—is presented in a lesson so that the child knows where to find For children in the 3- to 6-year old age it, how to use it, and how to clean it up. I range, my two recommendations for think one of the challenges with parents is language are the Sandpaper Letters that they feel comfortable giving their child (available as board books) and a Movable something to work with, but when the child Alphabet. As for Math, we use a material is finished, they don’t know how to clean it called the Golden Beads in the classroom, up or where it goes. Whenever I’m giving a similar this decimal bead system or this cube child a lesson in the classroom, after I show system. them how to work with the material, I tell them, “Now I’d like to show you how to Sewing is also something children of all clean it up!” Cleaning up becomes part of ages absolutely love to do. Young children working with the material. And sometimes can do simple embroidery patterns, and children need to be shown a couple of times older children can make pillows and how to work with a material and how to put pouches and all sorts of things. Felt can be it all away, which is fine. Process over used for so many sewing projects! product.

If parents are looking for more ideas, the It’s important not to overwhelm children website All Day Primary has so many with too many things, especially young wonderful print outs and resources for children. If parents can find a spot for a shelf parents to use at home. in a room in the house, and put maybe 5 or 6 materials for the child to work with throughout the week, that is plenty. Items should be switched out from time to time so

123 that the children can learn new concepts and When conflict arises, have a conversation skills, but also for the purpose of novelty. about it and ask questions or share your We all love novelty! observations. An example might be, “I noticed you seem very upset right now! You I’d recommend putting a couple of Practical are crying and I heard your voice get very Life items on the shelf (for example, a loud. Did something happen? Would you polishing work, table washing, and folding), like to tell me?” If another sibling is a couple of Sensorial items (parents can involved, ask them the same question. Try make their own smelling bottles, or sound listening without judgement, just gathering bottles, a basket with several different the facts. See if your children have a textured materials to feel, and so forth), solution and provide a couple ideas, too. some Sandpaper Letters and a Movable Something like, “It seems like both of you Alphabet, some paper or a small really want to use this toy. But there is only chalkboard/whiteboard to draw on or one of this toy. How can we work together practice writing letters and numbers, a box so that you both have a turn?” of beans or buttons or something that children can count with and practice Let your “yes” mean yes and your “no” addition or subtraction with (age mean no. Giving a firm, yet gentle “no” does appropriately), and maybe some sewing, not mean you are angry or mean, it means some clay, or some kind of art materials to you have made a loving decision. If your explore with. children are upset by your “no,” acknowledge and empathize with their Lastly, preparation of the adult may be the sadness and frustration, but remain true to most important thing a parent can do in the your decision. home. Children learn by doing and that includes the way they speak, the way the It is also helpful to children when they know move, the way they react to something your emotions. At school, there are moments stressful or scary, the way they handle their where I tell my students, “I am just feeling emotions. I imagine all of us have felt the so overwhelmed right now and need a stress of quarantine. Maybe even some of us minute to take a couple of deep breaths and are scared. Imagine your children and how calm down. I’ll be back in a little while so this must feel to them! that we can have a conversation.” Language around emotions is so important for children The biggest thing we can give children is to observe. And it is also important that we, our love. They need to feel safe and as adults, are prepared to talk to children. wrapped in our love. That might look Sometimes conversations need to happen in different for different people, especially the heat of the moment, but constructive families where both parents are working and conversation is at its best when we are trying to balance multiple children’s school calm. Remember to be patient with work and schedules. Routines are hugely yourselves, too, because life is a process and important, and so is making time to connect virtues take time to grow (sometimes even a with each other. Take the time to observe lifetime!). your children and listen to them.

Theresa Civantos Barber

124 https://aleteia.org/2020/08/26/how-to-bring-the-best-montessori-principles-into-your-life-at- home

125 Why We Felt Called to Open Our Catholic Schools Full-Time, In-Person Amid COVID-19

I am a member of a community of Catholics against religious and private schools that that has thought for months on whether to wish to reopen. reopen our diocese schools this fall. As with any decision that relates to health and safety Catholic and other parochial schools are during the pandemic, it was not an easy one. used to being considered a direct challenge to public schools. When students succeed in But in the end, the diocese chose the path Catholic schools where they struggled in that was true to its purpose: The church public ones, there is an implicit comparison exists to serve the community and minister — and a judgment. to its needs. We do this in many ways. We operate institutions of healing — there are This is a matter of our unique mission, roughly 600 church-sponsored hospitals whether in operating schools or hospitals, to nationwide and 1,400 long-term care combine the dignified work of faithful hearts facilities. And during this pandemic, they with the inspiring achievements of the have sought to save lives. human mind and science. God has granted us the power to think, but that requires that We also operate 7,500 schools for 2.3 we develop, nurture, reward and sacrifice for million students. During this pandemic, they it. So we must teach — even when others must teach. think it’s dangerous.

The greatest work of the faithful is done The work of the faithful — teachers, when the moment is most perilous. Feeding administrators, school nurses, donors and the hungry, reaching out to the lonely, students themselves — cannot be attempted healing the sick, protecting the most without sacrifice. But our faith and our vulnerable, whether at life’s beginning or calling leave us no other choice but to teach life’s end — this is the faithful’s calling. In our children in-person. the words of Pope John Paul II, our faith teaches us: Be not afraid. The church is hardly alone in seeing this as a moment of spiritual testing. Other faith- And that applies especially to the pandemic based institutions have also risen to the that afflicts America today. It is a dangerous challenge. Campus faith-based groups like moment, and it’s no wonder many are Hillel continue to meet the spiritual needs of opposed to reopening until a vaccine for students. Sikh communities are delivering COVID-19 is widely available. Schools food to health-care workers and can’t prevent students from contracting the prescriptions to seniors isolated by COVID. virus at a birthday party or a gathering or from a relative living under their roof. Yet The work we have sought to do — feeding schools will be blamed if there’s an the body or the soul, helping people end the outbreak. grip of drug abuse, returning former inmates to society and lives of purpose — must This may seem unfair. However, it’s also continue. And it’s not just for the benefit of not fair to turn this fear into a campaign society, but also for the benefit of those who do the work.

126

The American Catholic Church, tarnished by scandal, has no other path. It must return to its roots of service. This is the church’s moment. Surrendering these responsibilities is not acceptable. That would deny something to students — and something else to those who teach.

We must make accommodations for safety, of course. We can be cautious, responsible and protect those in our school buildings. If we are able to do so and demonstrate extreme care, we may begin the hard work of rebuilding trust in the church as an institution.

In so doing, we may also be able to set an example for other institutions — both civic and faith-based. Keep in mind that the success of such faith-based missions is enabled by our Constitution, which limits governmental meddling, as opposed to with public schools.

Let’s inscribe on our hearts the words of scripture, the wonder-working words of our faiths, that call on us to do the hard thing, even when it’s dangerous, even when we could lose something. Because if we give into fear, we lose something far greater.

127 Thomas Chiapelas https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/why-were-opening-catholic-schools-full-time-in-person-amid- covid-19/

128 Court Halts Education Department’s Rule For Pandemic Relief Money to Private Schools

A federal judge has blocked a rule by the funding, flows to both public and private Department of Education for allocating higher education institutions,” DeVos said. pandemic relief money to private schools. Furthermore, the department’s rule U.S. District Judge James Donato in San “discourages the limited number of Francisco issued a preliminary injunction financially secure private schools from against the rule Thursday. He said the seeking equitable services,” the agency said Education Department had exceeded its in its press release. authority in issuing guidelines for funding distribution beyond what Congress had The interim final rule provides two options authorized. for local authorities. The first option requires that if a local education agency uses The money, part of the CARES Act CARES Act funds for students in all its approved by Congress to help ease the public schools, it must also allocate funds economic impact of the ongoing coronavirus for all students enrolled in private schools in pandemic, was set aside to be distributed to the district. local educational agencies. The Education Department issued an interim Under the second option, if the local agency final rule directing local educational chooses to use funds only for students in agencies to allot money equitably for Title I schools, it must calculate funds for students in private schools. equitable services based on either the total number of low-income students in Title I In July, several states filed a lawsuit against and participating private schools or based on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, saying the local agency’s Title I share from the funding for private schools should be based 2019-2020 school year. only on the number of low-income students, not total students, in accordance with Title I However, Judge Donato ruled Thursday that restrictions. by issuing these guidelines, the agency had created its own allocation rules beyond what DeVos has said that CARES Act programs Congress directed. are not Title I programs and thus not subject to the limitation on use only for low-income The ruling will halt DeVos’ guidelines from students. being implemented in California, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, “The CARES Act is a special, pandemic- Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, related appropriation to benefit all American D.C., as well as school districts in Chicago, students, teachers, and families impacted by Cleveland, New York City, and San coronavirus,” she said. Francisco. The injunction is applicable while the full case is being heard in court. “There is no reasonable explanation for debating the use of federal funding to serve A federal judge reached a similar conclusion both public and private K-12 students when in a lawsuit filed by the state of Washington federal funding, including CARES Act earlier this month.

129

Paul Long, president and CEO of the “Congress included nonpublic schools in the Michigan Catholic Conference, said CARES Act to ensure all students are Thursday’s ruling “while disappointing, is treated equally, without prejudice due to the not unexpected.” school they attend,” Long said, stressing that low and middle-income families in private “Clearly the Attorney General went out to schools are affected by the COVID-19 California to find a favorable ruling that pandemic just as those in public schools are. discriminates against nonpublic schools,” he said in August 27 statement.

CNA Staff https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/08/29/court-halts-education-departments-rule-for- pandemic-relief-money-to-private-schools/

130 Ask God to Send Angels to Protect Your Child's School Building

In the age of COVID-19, surround your child's school building with angelic protection.

As schools resume sessions around the young. Bestow your peace and blessing on it world, many are returning to classes with in full measure, so that its teachers and medical precautions. While these should pupils may experience your saving grace, as help contain the spread of COVID-19, it is did Zaccheus when you came into his home. also important to involve God in your Bid your angels to keep guard here and to preparations, asking him to send his holy drive away all power of the enemy. Inspire angels to protect your child’s school the teachers with knowledge, wisdom, and building. holy fear. Foster their pupils with grace from on high, so that they may grasp, retain, and Here is a prayer adapted from the Blessing put into practice the lessons they are taught. of a School found in the Roman Ritual. May teachers and pupils alike so please you by a truly virtuous life that they may finally Lord Jesus Christ, who bade your apostles to deserve to be received into your everlasting pray that peace might come on any house home in heaven; through you, Jesus Christ, they entered, we entreat you to bless this our Savior and our God, who live and reign building dedicated for the education of the forever and ever.

Philip Kosloski https://aleteia.org/2020/08/30/ask-god-to-send-angels-to-protect-your-childs-school-building

131 A Prayer Asking God to Give Wisdom to Our Children as a New School Year Begins

A new school year is upon us -- here's a way to start it off on the right foot.

Summer vacations are almost over and the Infuse him with the spirit of wisdom, open month of September is upon us. In some his mind, states, children are already back in class. But so he can acquire the knowledge he will no matter when your kids are starting school need this year, and how they will be learning, here on Earth and in thelife eternal. don’t forget this prayer to ask the Lord to You who are the Way, the Truth, and the grant them success in their studies. Life, don’t let false doctrines turn Holy Savior, our child away from the right path. You who remained among the rabbis, Let him, O Jesus, grow in years and in to ask them questions and to hear their wisdom answers, and be blessed by God and men alike. we entrust to you our child Amen. in this new school year.

Anna Ashkova https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/08/28/a-prayer-asking-god-to-give-wisdom-to-our-children-as-a- new-school-year-begins

132 Sister Deirdre’s ‘Old-Fashioned’ Religious Witness

Sister Deirdre Byrne is a formidable woman, leaving it in ruins. It has been years, now, and her speech to the Republican since I spoke with a member of the Sisters convention has—obviously and of St. Joseph, and on those rare occasions understandably—energized President when I hear about the order’s current Trump’s Catholic supporters. What I found programs, I do not recognize the spirit that most impressive, however, was not her prompted hundreds of good women to endorsement of the President’s re-election dedicate their lives to teaching. bid, but her bold proclamation: Whatever their weaknesses at the time, and …I am not just pro-life, I am pro-eternal whatever happened to them later, the nuns life. I want all of us to end up in heaven who taught my grammar-school class (of 52 together someday. students) also adhered to Sister Deirdre’s vision. There was never any doubt in my Coincidentally, on the morning after Sister mind—because the sisters reminded us Deirdre’s speech, a post on The Catholic often—that they wanted all of us, their Thing featured a photo of another woman students, to go to heaven; and that they saw religious. I’ll let the photo caption speak for their teaching mission as their own way to itself: get there.

Image: St. Donato Parish School: First As compensation for their work, these Grade, 1949 [Philadelphia Archdiocesan sisters received room and board and an Historical Research Center]. Mother annual invitation to a Red Sox game—and Gennara, M.S.C, who taught at St. Donato’s not much more, other than gratitude and for thirty years, is pictured with her ninety- grace. Because of their dedication, parochial two first-graders. The school’s dedication in schools were sustainable; middle-class 1914 had been attended by Mother Cabrini, families could easily afford the tuition and founder of the Missionary Sisters of the needier families could be subsidized. The Sacred Heart and the first U.S. citizen to be system wasn’t perfect, but it was canonized (1946). sustainable, as long as the active religious orders were involved. Ninety-two first-graders! And she managed such classrooms for 30 years! I know These were simpler days, of course. No one nothing more about Mother Gennara, but I worried about the security of the school feel sure that she, too, was a formidable building. There were no armed guards woman. Moreover I am confident that she outside, nor video monitors in the hallways. shared Sister Deirdre’s ambition. We impressionable young students worried more about nuclear war (I vividly remember The nuns who taught me in grammar school the tension during the Cuban missile crisis) were by no means perfect. Some were than about the then-unimaginable possibility eccentric. (And you don’t think there are that a crazed gunman would break into the eccentric teachers in public schools?) Few school. Still, to this day I have complete were prepared for the hurricane of radical confidence that if a homicidal gunman had change that would sweep through their walked into any classroom in St. Mary’s religious community just a few years later,

133 School, he would not have reached the Maybe members of Chicago’s public-school students until he killed the teacher first. teachers’ union would be equally heroic today. Maybe all teachers would put their When I made that observation to a friend own lives at risk without a second thought to this week, he reminded me of the horrible save the children under their care. But I fire that killed 93 students at Our Lady of cannot say that I have the same confidence the Angels School in Chicago in 1958. that I had in my own grade-school days. An account of that tragedy is tough to read. When I hear teachers demand that the The school building was not adequately schools be shut down because they fear prepared for a fire. But when it came, the contracting a virus—because they see the Sisters of Charity who ran the school were little children as a threat to their health—I heroic. Not some of them; all of them. Three wonder. sister perished, and one was badly burned, in I don’t mean to discuss the Covid threat. four of the five classrooms where students Teachers should be concerned about their died. In the fifth, a quick-thinking nun own health and welfare, and the health and engineered an escape route, and refused to welfare of their students and their students’ leave until she thought (sadly, she was families. But my confidence increases mistaken) that all her students were safe. exponentially when I know that teachers are concerned about their students’ eternal welfare, and their own. Phil Lawler https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/sister-deirdres-old-fashioned-religious-witness/

134 New Trend: Implementing a Classical Catholic Curriculum

Diocese of Marquette Catholic schools are the first in the nation to adopt such a focus; high school to follow.

In Escanaba, Michigan, Holy Name Catholic learn and how to think. This classical School middle-school students often work curriculum was implemented during the with younger students on reading and 2014-15 school year, said Salisbury, and the comprehension. Above, 2020 eighth-grader results have been overwhelmingly positive, Sophia Derkos and elementary student both in strengthening the uniquely Catholic Nicholas Flath smile as they work together educational experience for teachers, students on a reading project. Below, Second photo: and parents, but also in terms of maintaining 2020 eighth-grader Natalie Williams reads enrollment. with elementary students Kinley Hastings and Thomas Carlson. In the background, “Our annual parent surveys consistently 2020 eighth-grader Annabelle Neumeier show that over 90% of our parents are either reads to elementary students. (photo: satisfied or very satisfied with our academic Courtesy of Holy Name Catholic School) programs,” he said.

Catholic schools in the Diocese of “Our curriculum has improved in many Marquette, Michigan, have made a bold ways,” Salisbury explained, citing the move to embrace an educational curriculum curriculum features the incorporation of of the past to pave the way for a vibrant richer literature, new subjects like Latin and future. The diocese is the first in the nation logic, and a new way of “teaching science to fully move all of its schools to a classical through gardening and other outside nature Catholic curriculum. experiences.” Other examples include “teaching history through a narrative “We moved our schools toward this model approach and integrating the impact of the because it best aligns with our mission as Catholic Church through history,” and Catholic educators,” Mark Salisbury, “teaching theology of the body beginning at Diocese of Marquette superintendent of kindergarten.” Catholic schools, told the Register. “We know this because it is the model of For Salisbury, the most impacting change is education the Catholic Church has embraced that all subjects are taught “through the lens through its history. It is the best curriculum of goodness, truth and beauty, which leads to have all of the subjects lead our students our students to Jesus,” he said. to Christ.” Melissa Pillifant, middle-school math The diocese’s eight Catholic schools, which teacher at Father Marquette Catholic educate 1,100 students, began to implement Academy (FMCA), one of the diocesan a classical curriculum —which emphasizes Catholic schools, agrees that pointing to truth, goodness and beauty and the study of Jesus Christ is the reason the classical the liberal arts (grammar, logic, rhetoric; curriculum is so successful: “When working arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy; to lead students to the good, the true and the and Latin) and the great books. Overall, it beautiful, you are leading them to God, and focuses on helping students know how to he blesses you for that.”

135 Other school officials have experienced the academic successes after they leave here, same blessings. and an overwhelming majority of students who graduate from Sacred Heart Catholic “We are cultivating a unique love of School continue to be honor-roll students in learning with the students through a the public high schools. Also, we’ve had a curriculum that is authentic and true,” said number of parents choose us for their Michael Muhs, principal at St. John Paul II children’s education because of our classical Catholic Academy (JPII) in Menominee. curriculum rather than the Common Core “[Parents] are appreciative that their taught in the public schools.” children are gaining a depth of learning that they value and may not have received Advantage of Classical Method themselves years ago.” A unique part of the classical approach is Educational Edge that students learn Latin. According to Holy Name third-grade teacher Debra Casey, At Holy Name Catholic School — in the learning Latin has piqued her students’ small community of Escanaba, a stronghold interest in the English language. of Catholicism, with 35.7% of the population being Catholic — the classical “Latin is their favorite class,” she said. curriculum has produced great results. “They just love it!”

One positive indicator is the increase the In their Latin classes, the students are not school has seen in enrollment over the last just memorizing words; they are learning several years. From 2008-09 to 2019-20, their meanings and their connection to their enrollment grew from 258 students to 329 Catholic faith and to the English language. students, an increase of 28%. Principal Miron agrees that Latin has Principal Joseph Carlson said of the inspired students to learn even more about curriculum, “It is intended to bring more the English language — and science too. souls to know, love and serve Jesus.” “One of the beautiful aspects of teaching Michelle Bink, a Holy Name parent and Latin is when an older student makes the school alumni/development director, says connection between the Latin learned she feels having a classical Catholic previously and a new word — often a curriculum provides practical benefits to scientific or academically-challenging students that provides an edge for their word,” she told the Register. “They are able educational journey. “Students are to discern the meaning of the word based on encouraged to become deep thinkers the Latin they’d already learned. Suddenly, and problem solvers, which is why many of the Latin becomes relevant, and you see our eighth-grade graduates become top 10 their eyes light up as they grasp the students in our local public high schools.” implication of this.”

Christy Miron, principal of Sacred Heart Miron says that her teachers, too, have Catholic School in L’Anse, said her students embraced this classical model. “Our teachers have also excelled after graduation. “I have become experts at integrating various always follow our Catholic school students’ subjects with one another. For example, an

136 art lesson on the geometry of trees includes “Because of the classical curriculum, our elements of math and science.” students are inquisitive; they want to ask questions and to dig deeply into what they For Sacred Heart teacher Wendy Hiltunen, are learning,” she said. “Even more, they are such an integrated curriculum offers given the time and space that they need to students the “whole picture” and allows “a wonder about what they are learning. greater in-depth understanding.” Learning is not rushed, but, rather, focused.”

“For instance, I may begin the year with a For Principal Carlson of Holy Name unit on creation that will include the history Catholic School, the implementation of the of the Earth, the Bible creation story, Catholic classical model of learning is like scientific study of the planets, rocks, soils the lifelong journey of faith. It is a process and plants,” she said. “I integrate math into of conversion, with the final aim that “each the unit by focusing on geometric patterns, day the goodness, truth and beauty is line and symmetry in nature, which leads revealed a little more.” nicely into artwork of creation, plants, animals, geometric shapes and models of the Said Carlson, “We will always be learning solar system,” she added, elaborating even more, going deeper and, ultimately, striving further on how such lessons also lead to to become saints.” writing composition and even poetry. Continuing the Vision Principal Muhs agrees that the curriculum provides an opportunity for teachers and The success of this classical curriculum in students to dig deep into subjects. the elementary schools has laid a strong foundation for the future of Catholic “The depth of the content is one aspect of education in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, what makes the classical curriculum which includes a centrally located classical different. Within the classical model, we high school to serve the entire diocese. don’t just cover something in a cursory way; there is a depth to it,” he explained. “We dig “We don’t see the kindergarten through into the content, and students are excited eighth-grade classical curriculum as the end about it.” point,” Principal Joseph Carlson of Holy Name Catholic School, said. “We see it as As an example, the principal described a momentum to reopen our former thriving history lesson on medieval times at St. John high school. Our High School Planning Paul II Academy in which students built Committee has taken the next step forward,” their own trebuchet catapult, integrating he said. “We’ve formulated a plan, and are Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and well into our campaign, to expand our Math (STEAM) concepts, as well as school to include a classical high school.” learning basic carpentry skills. Carlson says the planning committee’s goal Said Muhs, “Ultimately, we must remember is to reopen Holy Name High School 50 that learning is about wonder and discovery years after it closed, in fall 2021. and learning the skills that free the mind.” Anne Carlson, Holy Name parent and high- Principal Jessica Betz, of Father Marquette school planning committee member, Catholic Academy in Marquette, agrees. summarized the aim: “The benefits of a

137 classical Catholic education cannot be Carlson says he has faith in the Lord to understated.” make the high school a reality.

Principal Jessica Betz, of Father Marquette “We trust that the Lord will provide the Catholic Academy in Marquette, agrees and means to make this happen, and with the encourages other principals who are continued support and leadership of Bishop considering implementing this classical John Doerfler and our superintendent, Mark curriculum to reach out to teachers and Salisbury, I am confident that the doors of students who experience it. Holy Name High School will reopen,” he said. “We still have a way to go in “I think it is important for other schools to fundraising, but we trust that if this is the understand the magnitude of the classical Lord’s plan, he will touch people’s hearts curriculum by exploring the benefits,” she and help us to get there. As faithful said. “To me, the best way to do this would Catholics, we ask for your prayers for this be to speak to students and teachers who endeavor. God has shown us every step of have experienced it and the beauty of it. It is the way thus far, and we trust him to help incredible that through this classical provide us with the financial support we curriculum and through the beauty of need.” wonder, our students can be led directly to Christ and a deeper understanding of life.” For more information, or to financially support the campaign, Given the schools’ achievements, as well as visit NowIsTheTimeHNHS.com or contact the Holy Name committee’s research on the Holy Name Catholic School at (906) 786- importance of a Catholic high-school 7550. education for area children, Principal

Victoria R. LaFave https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/new-trend-implementing-a-classical-catholic-curriculum

138 ACLU Staffer Fumes at University For Accepting Nick Sandmann, Report Says

An American Civil Liberties Union official said they will target other major outlets who in Kentucky chastised Transylvania reported on the story in the same way. University over the weekend for accepting Nicholas Sandmann as a student, calling the An assistant professor and diversity scholar move a “stain” on the institution. at Transylvania University, Avery Tompkins, shared a comment on the post Sandmann made headlines back in January before it was taken down, calling 2019 when a Native American activist stood Sandmann’s “public behavior and rhetoric in front of the teen and began chanting in his atrocious and uninformed,” adding that the face during a pro-life rally at the Lincoln young student must accept his class as Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sandmann, gospel, The National Review reported. who was wearing a MAGA hat at the time and is a supporter of President Trump, held “We can’t not admit academically qualified his ground and smiled at the man as he students due to their political and personal continued to talk in his face. views,” he said. “If he ends up in my Intro class, fine. He might learn something that is “Does anyone else think it’s a bit of a stain actually based on research and evidence.” on Transylvania University for accepting Nick Sandman [sic]? I’m sure it’s a “both Tompkins added that Sandmann is part of sides” defense, but it’s pretty counter to their groups that hold “anti-intellectualist views” mission and another instance of there not and would see the professor “as part of some actually being equal sides to an issue,” liberal brainwashing machine, but signing ACLU’s Samuel Crankshaw said in a up for Transy and my class means he is Facebook post, according to The National required to learn that information, even if he Review. disagrees.”

The comment has since been taken down. The professor continued: “If he were to cause problems by being disruptive, trolling, Following the confrontation back in or engaging in unethical behavior of any 2019, outlets such as CNN and The kind, I would immediately document it (just Washington Post were accused of purposely like I would for any student doing the same casting Sandmann — and his fellow thing)…and he would just be putting himself Covington Catholic students — as the main in a position for me to file a conduct report.” aggressors with misleading reporting. Both outlets ultimately reached a legal settlement Tompkins later issued an apology saying, “I with Sandmann after he sued them in court want to apologize for my mistake in singling for $250 million. out a student and any misunderstandings that arose from that.” The defamation suit sought damages for the “emotional distress Nicholas and his family “One of my favorite things about working at suffered” in the fallout of the network’s a liberal arts institution is that our reporting — and lawyers for Sandmann have community has diverse perspectives,” he continued. “All students, faculty and staff

139 are able to engage in civil discourse with The university said in a statement to those whose views may be different from National Review on Tuesday that it would their own, and to learn about those views in be reviewing the situation and that an academic setting. I value and support “Transylvania, like nearly every campus, is these conversations with students, and I composed of those holding the full range of know that students value these conversations viewpoints.” with their peers as well.”

Nick Giva https://nypost.com/2020/09/08/aclu-staffer-fumes-at-university-for-accepting-nick-sandmann- report/

140 English Bishop Prays for Canonization of Manchester Nun Elizabeth Prout

An English bishop has encouraged Catholics She was brought into the faith by Blessed to pray for the canonization of Mother Dominic Barberi – an Italian missionary Elizabeth Prout – a 19th-century religious who also brought St John Henry Newman sister who cared for the “most abandoned” into the Church. of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester. “This decisive step in Elizabeth’s life came During his homily at a Sept. 2 Mass at the enormous cost of being disowned by celebrating the bicentenary of Prout’s birth, her parents and being asked to choose Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury between attending Mass and continuing to applauded Prout’s dedication to the have a home and family,” the bishop said. vulnerable people of early industrial England and said her saintly example is an “Yet this would be the moment when the inspiration today. Passion-centred spirituality of Saint Paul of the Cross led to the discovery of her “She became a sister to the abandoned so vocation. Taking to heart the memory of the they might recognise their own innate Holy Family of Nazareth and Christ’s dignity as children of God. It was this that Passion and Cross, Elizabeth found the made Elizabeth a pioneer of education, courage to travel alone to the industrial establishing day and night schools for the north; there among the degraded and industrial poor and homes of refuge for discarded she dedicated a religious life to factory girls,” he said. the recognition of the value and eternal destiny of every human being in those first “Together with a handful of companions she slums.” confronted the most degrading situations with the confidence of the revolution which She became a nun at the age of 28, and, a flows from Christ’s command: ‘Love one few years after her final vows, she was another as I have loved you.’” given a teaching post in industrial Manchester, where she worked among poor The Mass was said at the Cathedral Church Irish migrants, women, and factory workers. of Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint During her time as a teacher, Manchester Peter of Alcantara in Shrewsbury. was one of the world’s first industrial cities but working conditions for the poor It was attended by members of the Sisters of residents were atrocious. It drew criticism the Cross and Passion, the religious institute from early communist thinkers such as Karl co-founded by Mother Elizabeth. Marx and Friedrich Engels, who described it as “hell upon earth.” Prout was born in Shrewsbury in 1820 and baptized in the Anglican Church of St “Significantly, Elizabeth would be led to the Julian. Her father Edward, a lapsed Catholic, same industrial city where Karl Marx and worked as a cooper for a local brewery. Friedrich Engels had sat together to formulate the violent theory of Communism; Mother Elizabeth decided to enter into the an ideology that would bring still greater Catholic Church in her early 20s, which suffering to humanity,” said the bishop. strained her relationship with her family.

141 “Yet, Elizabeth risked violence herself to imagined that her life would one day be enter Manchester’s darkest and most considered as exemplifying for all dangerous streets in order to reach those in generations, the fulness of the Christian life greatest need. If Marx and Engels merely and the perfection of charity. A life which observed the condition of the poor, would continue to speak in new and Elizabeth desired to live and die among prophetic ways to this 21st century.” them.” Mother Elizabeth died from tuberculosis at Prout helped establish numerous schools and the age of 43 in Lancashire in 1864. Her hostels across poverty-stricken parts of sainthood cause was submitted to the northwest England. She also taught women Vatican in 2008. to be self-sufficient, teaching them skills to support themselves and permitting the other Bishop Davies said Prout’s saintly life is an religious sisters to earn their own wages. inspiration to the people of the 21st century and particularly relative to what Pope Leo XIII approved Prout’s religious Francis describes as a “throw-away culture.” community in 1863. Prout, also known as He said that wherever human life is Mother Mary Joseph, was named the order’s depreciated, Mother Elizabeth connects true first superior general. Today, the Passionist social progress and human dignity to divine Sisters work with the poor all over the love. world, including countries such as Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and “She saw clearly that it was only by Jamaica. discovering that we are loved by God that the innate and eternal worth of every human “Elizabeth’s legacy would be a worldwide life is recognised and held secure,” he said. community of women – the Sisters of the Cross and Passion – committed to the same “In societies where there is an urgent call for wide horizons of mission. Mother Mary new evangelisation, she exemplifies that it is Joseph would rejoice to see this birthday only by the discovery of interior life – of gathering of her Sisters in her hometown, intimate, friendship with Christ – that we whether physically present or via the will be able to go beyond the limits imposed internet,” he said. by our fears and so respond to our Christian calling.” “Yet, the child born beside the River Severn two centuries ago could never have

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/09/04/english-bishop-prays-for-canonization-of- manchester-nun-elizabeth-prout/

142 New Hampshire Sued over Catholic Schools Tuition Policy

A New Hampshire family has filed suit are given a set dollar amount for tuition at against the state after a town tuition program either a public or private non-sectarian refused to pay for their grandson’s Catholic school. school education. The suit claims that the terms of the program violate religious In order to be eligible for a tuitioning discrimination laws and go against a recent program in New Hampshire, a private Supreme Court ruling. school must be “non-sectarian,” comply with various regulations regarding health The lawsuit, Dennis Griffin and Catherine and fire safety, be incorporated in New Griffin v. New Hampshire Department of Hampshire, and administer an annual Education, was filed in the Merrimack academic assessment. County, New Hampshire, Superior Court on September 3. Mount Royal Academy, where Clayton is a student, is a lay-run and lay-founded Dennis and Cathy Griffin are raising their Catholic school, where students are educated grandson, Clayton in the town of Croydon, in the classical model. The school was New Hampshire. Clayton, an ingoing incorporated in New Hampshire, complies seventh-grade student, attends a Catholic with all health and safety regulations, and school in the nearby town of Sunapee. He administers standardized assessments. would be eligible to have his private school However, as Mount Royal Academy is a tuition paid for by the town of Croydon, Catholic school, the Griffins have to pay except for a New Hampshire law which tuition. prohibits town tuitioning programs from paying for “sectarian” schools, which the The school was formally recognized as a family argue is illegal under the Supreme Catholic school by the Diocese of Court's recent decision Espinoza v. Montana Manchester in 2006, which the school’s Department of Revenue, which struck down website describes as “giving our school a similar exclusion on religious schools. community the greatest gift we could ever receive, the Eucharistic presence of Jesus Croydon, a small town of fewer than 1,000 Christ on campus.” It was the first lay- people, does not have its own public middle founded school in the diocese to receive this school or high school. Instead, the town recognition. pays the tuition for resident students to attend public or private schools in nearby The Griffins say that the state prohibition is towns. a violation of their First Amendment rights, and are asking for the New Hampshire There are approximately 50 towns in New courts to allow religious schools to be Hampshire that do not have public schools eligible for town tuitioning programs. for all grades, and many of these towns have a contract with a specific nearby public or In June, the Supreme Court ruled private school. Croydon does not have this in Espinoza v. Montana Department of kind of contract and allows its school-age Revenue that Montana’s income tax credit students to pick where to go to school. In program unconstitutionally discriminated Croydon, students in fifth grade and above against religious schools and those who

143 attend or wish to attend them. The Griffins tuitioning statute. So the tuitioning program are arguing that the New Hampshire excludes religious schools on its face,” she Superior Court should consider the said. precedent created in Espinoza and change state law. In Espinoza, the Supreme Court ruled that as school choice programs are not mandated, Kirby West, an attorney for the Institute for religious schools cannot be left out of the Justice, the law firm representing the program on the basis of religion--something Griffins, told CNA that while the case is that is happening in New Hampshire. similar to Espinoza, the situation is different as the prohibition on sectarian school tuition “The principle at issue, however, is exactly payments is state law. the same,” West said. “Once it decides to create an educational choice program, a state “In Espinoza, the Montana Supreme Court cannot exclude religious schools solely struck the scholarship program down under because they are religious.” their state Blaine Amendment because the program included religious schools,” West “The Griffins qualify for New Hampshire’s told CNA. tuitioning program in all respects except for the fact that they chose a religious school for “Here, although New Hampshire also has a their grandson. As the Supreme Court made Blaine Amendment, the anti-religious clear in Espinoza, this discrimination language is also written directly into the violates the First Amendment,” she said.

Christine Rousselle https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-hampshire-sued-over-catholic-schools-tuition- policy-89084

144 Why a Little Disappointment is Good for Your Child

Catering to a kid's every whim does not prepare him for real life.

Some over-indulgent parents bend Why is disappointment such an important backwards to satisfy every whim of their learning experience? little ones. As a result their offspring grow up completely unprepared for life.French All humans have a natural propensity for therapist Didier Pleux proposes a simple instant gratification, which is a far cry from solution: to grow up happy, confident, and what we actually encounter in the real sociable, your child needs to be a little world. Disappointments are there to teach “disappointed.” children patience and self-reliance. Otherwise, they risk usurping parental Aren’t you afraid of being called authority, overturning all semblance of “tyrannical” for promoting hierarchy with their constant demands. disappointment? What we need is a sense of balance. Kids Pleux: No, this has nothing to do with being who feel permanently frustrated will lose tyrannical! I am not telling you to deprive capacity to dream and desire, but sparing the child of parental love, but of opposing them all disappointment will turn them into his or her sense of entitlement. It’s possible slaves of their own passions. To teach your that some over-indulgent parents can’t see kids discipline and responsibility, set some this. But disappointment can be a learning rules. For example, forbid them to play experience on how to deal with vexations computer games or watch television before and thwarted expectations. Afterwards, your they’ve done homework. child won’t make a big fuss about going to bed, trying new foods, or sharing toys with Why is it so hard for parents to see their others. children disappointed?

It can go a long way in dealing with the They have always been told that a frustrated sense of entitlement some children may child is a sick child. But actually, kids who feel. But to avoid becoming a tyrant you experienced some degree of disappointment must always associate it with love. are those who always land on their feet. Negotiating with kids, as so many child These days, so many children can’t focus, psychologists recommend, may render dream and create; they’ve turned into little positive results, but they also need to be consumers, switching between TV channels, taught to have realistic expectations. discouraged by the smallest problem. Unfortunately, these days many families have stopped setting rules and rely Television, movies and internet try to exclusively on negotiations, encouragement convince us that all of our wishes must be and overprotecting their progeny. This is instantly granted. The unbridled why so many kids grow up with overblown consumerism has weakened our ability to egos, unable to deal with any kind of deal with disappointments. Today, life is criticism or constraint. becoming more difficult (financial crisis, pandemic and unemployment …) yet we still insist that children enjoy an ideal

145 childhood.But it’s high time we’ve were spoiled and overprotected during rediscovered some common sense! childhood tend to suffer from lack of initiative. Once they get to college, they are Is it hard for parents to overcome this required to do some actual work. A self- tendency in themselves? centered youth, worshiped by his parents, will have hard time figuring out why the Yes, of course! It’s hard to do, because no teachers are unimpressed. So, it’s no wonder one likes to see their children why some of them escape into the virtual disappointed. But there is a great difference world of computer games, drug and alcohol between an unhappy child and the one who addictions, to avoid dealing with reality. has experienced some form of frustration. Many parents compromise their How does one avoid damaging a child? own authority. Others wish to avoid a conflict with their child, because life is We must treat children with respect. Our already difficult enough. But when you have rules must be clear and imposed in a loving rules regarding your children’s hygiene for way, otherwise they will be rejected.They example, it’s possible to set rules in other must touch on simple things in everyday areas, too — play, meals, schedules. It’s not life: sticking a plate into a dishwasher, depriving them of anything. picking up one’s toys, etc. The problem may reside in the lack of authority. Some very good parents may want to give up. What do you say to them? How do we exercise authority effectively? What do we do to avoid making empty Some parents give up because their children threats, become tyrannical or put up resistance. Obviously, no child will overindulgent? ever say: “Mom and dad thanks for frustrating me. It’s really great, because it You must resist succumbing to emotions; in makes me grow!” such situations, your reaction may become disproportionate, pointless or totally But life is full of disappointments. From the inappropriate. Some people are haunted by day they are left with their babysitter or the memories of their own childhood and the brought to school, kids are confronted with fear of reproducing the behavior of their reality: the bigger kid bullying the smaller parents:“My father used to scream at us. I ones, some other kid instead of them will never do that to my kid!” But to receives praise from a teacher, etc. One of maintain control you must be firm from the the best ways we can prepare children for very start. real life is by boosting their confidence, making them see their own strengths and My own theory on exercising parental weaknesses. authority amounts to the following: I set boundaries for my child and see he doesn’t What about kids who never learn how to cross them. I anticipate all outbursts by deal with disappointments? imposing simple rules: don’t forget to stick your plate into the dishwasher once you’re Their inability to handle disappointments done eating, tie your own shoes, etc. We can will only grow, gradually depriving young ask a child to do these kind of things using people of all confidence.Young people who simple words.

146

An interview by Maylis Guillier https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/09/11/why-a-little-disappointment-is-good-for-your-child/

147 Wisconsin Supreme Court Says Catholic Schools Can Open

Injunction suspends Dane County health order closing most classroom instruction.

Stating local health officials likely do not how to educate their children. Our families have legal authority to order closure of know the risks; they’ve assessed them schools, the Wisconsin Supreme Court carefully and are prepared to go to great issued a temporary injunction late Thursday lengths to protect their kids,” said Joan suspending the Dane County health Carey, executive director of St. Ambrose agency’s August and September orders that Academy. “But they also know that putting forced all schools to close classrooms to in- children in front of computer screens hour person instruction in grades 3-12 due to the after hour and day after day and even month COVID-19 coronavirus. after month causes irreparable harm.”

“Multiple arguments — constitutional, Public Health Madison & Dane statutory and administrative — are lodged County issued Emergency Order #9 after against the order,” the 11-page ruling states. close of business on Friday, August 21. “While reserving the remaining claims for Many Catholic and other private schools later disposition, we conclude that local were scheduled to open the following health officers do not appear to have Monday, so parents had to scramble to statutory authority to do what the order arrange child care and schools quickly commands.” switched to distance learning via the internet. Most public schools in Dane The court issued an injunction against Public County had already decided to start the Health Madison & Dane County’s school year with virtual learning, but many Emergency Order #9 and enjoined the Catholic, Christian and non-religious private agency from enforcing it. The court’s 4-3 schools planned to open for classroom ruling means Catholic and other private instruction this fall. The closure order hit schools that challenged the closure order can especially hard for students with disabilities open for in-person classes starting Monday. and those under Individualized Education The injunction was effective Thursday, Plans (IEPs). September 10. St. Ambrose Academy of Madison led a coalition of Catholic schools “Our parents have been utterly overwhelmed that in August petitioned the Wisconsin trying to find ways to move their children’s Supreme Court for an emergency injunction education forward while juggling work and holding the closure order in abeyance. St. the little ones running around underfoot,” Ambrose raised nearly $109,000 using a Carey said. “Shouts of joy are echoing crowdfunding web site to hire the Troutman through the homes of our families tonight. Pepper Hamilton Sanders law firm to Our kids can’t wait to see their friends challenge the closing order. again, to make new friends, and to be back with their teachers who love them. Our St. Ambrose announced it will open for teachers can’t wait to greet their students in classroom instruction in grades 6-12 on person and restart the conversation that got Monday, September 14. “We are ecstatic shut down in March: that beautiful back- that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has and-forth conversation that happens between recognized the right of parents to choose teacher and students in community with

148 each other that is the essence of the joy of during COVID-19. The Dane County learning.” agency has argued it has broad police powers under state law in order to control Rev. Scott Jablonski, pastor of St. Francis what it believes to be a dangerous pandemic, Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains, said while St. Ambrose argued the Wisconsin his parish school will be open to all grades Legislature specifically omitted the power to on Monday. “It is frustrating that we had to close schools from state statutes governing go down this road in the first place, but I am local health officers. The conservative grateful that the court saw through the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court illogic and injustice of the order and is sided with the schools, writing that power to willing to hear our arguments going forward close schools “is statutorily absent.” if need be,” Fr. Jablonski said. “In the end I am most happy for our students and their The court’s majority disputed Dane families, since they were the ones who County’s assertion that public health suffered most over the past two weeks. I director Janel Heinrich may do “what is look forward to welcoming all of our older reasonable and necessary for the prevention students back to school this coming Monday and suppression of disease” and the and being able to teach them more about agency’s closure order is a permissible Jesus and the ways of authentic justice.” restriction on public gatherings. The ruling said “what is reasonable and necessary Scott Grabins, technology director for cannot be read to encompass anything and Edgewood Campus School in Madison (4K everything. Such a reading would render through grade 8) who has one daughter at every other grant of power in the statute Edgewood High School, said he is thrilled mere surplusage.” Interpretation of state with the court ruling. “As a parent, I know statutes that health officers have “carte my daughter is anxious to get back into the blanche” authority “would call into question classroom, see her friends, and continue compatibility with our constitutional with the school year,” Grabins said. “As an structure.” educator, I’ve worked closely with teachers as they’ve had to pivot from in-person to Angry parents descended on a recent virtual instruction throughout the start of the meeting of Public Health Madison & Dane school year. They care deeply about County, providing testimony on the providing the best possible instruction to hardships being caused by the closure order. students regardless of the format, but there’s Parents and students protesting in front of no doubt in my mind that meeting in person the City-County Building wrote messages in is the best option. Hopefully the Wisconsin pink chalk on the public sidewalk, including, Supreme Court will resolve this soon and “Let kids go to school safely.” Within provide some certainty to everyone. In the minutes, city workers appeared with power mean time, I’m just looking forward to equipment and washed away the chalk getting back to school.” lettering. On September 1, the health agency amended Emergency Order #9 to allow The case has raised important legal students with disabilities and those under questions about whether unelected local IEPs to attend in-person instruction. health officials have legal right to issue diktats to in essence close public and private The Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered that K-12 schools for in-person instruction the three sets of plaintiffs challenging the

149 order be consolidated into one case. The As of September 10, Wisconsin has had plaintiffs will have 30 days to submit a brief 84,881 cases of COVID-19. Nearly 1,200 of up to 75 pages, and Public Health deaths have been due at least in part to Madison & Dane County will have 20 days COVID-19, according to state data. Just to respond. Plaintiffs will have another 10 over 300 people are hospitalized with days to submit a rebuttal to the health COVID-19 (Wisconsin has 11,500 hospital agency’s brief, putting the case into beds). According to an analysis of state data November before the court considers further by the MacIver Institute, there have been no action. deaths of people under age 20 due to COVID-19. Only 2 percent of all COVID- 19 deaths were people under age 40.

Joseph M. Hanneman https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/09/11/wisconsin-supreme-court-says-catholic- schools-can-open/

150 Here’s What Functional NYC School Systems Look Like — And It Puts DOE to Shame

With very different approaches, the Success as well as the separate, 22,000-student Academy and the Catholic school systems system covering Brooklyn and Queens. are showing how leaders who actually put Students were met with new safety education first can handle the challenge of procedures and protocols that included restarting schools amidst a pandemic. temperature checks, hand sanitizer and masks. The 20,000-student, 47-school Success Academy network had intended to offer a At Immaculate Conception School in The “hybrid” approach similar to what the Bronx, an industrious maintenance worker regular public-school system promises. But roamed the halls wiping doorknobs, in the face of the city’s constantly changing staircase rails, walls, hallways and other and insanely complex rules for the use of contact points. At regular city schools, public-school buildings, Success opted to go custodians are grumbling about having to all-remote through December. skip their second jobs and fishing trips to sanitize their buildings. Now critics are complaining about the rigor of Success’ all-online curriculum — but Under Success’ Remote 2.0 program, finding ways to make remote learning work students will get at least five hours a day of is surely what parents want. live instruction and be taught by the same teacher each day. Meanwhile, the DOE is By the way, Success high schoolers began struggling to find enough teachers to staff its remote classes Aug. 4; other grades started real and virtual classrooms. Or even Aug. 24. The regular system put off its guarantee that city kids will receive live planned start of classes to Sept. 16 for instruction for an entire school day. remote work and Sept. 21 for (some) in- school instruction — with the later date still Not surprisingly, Success is maintaining its in doubt thanks to the threats of United rigorous academic and grading standards. Federation of Teachers chief Mike Mulgrew City schools have essentially gone to a and the haplessness of the Department of pass/fail system (which is this close to a Education under Chancellor Richard pass/pass system) and likely will seek to opt Carranza. out of state tests once again.

Meanwhile, the city’s Catholic schools Bottom line: Children in the regular public- opened all-in-person classes last week. school system — mostly low-income black That’s the 60,000-student Archdiocese of and Hispanic students — are getting short New York (covering Manhattan, Staten shrift, because the adults who run their Island, The Bronx and parts of Westchester) schools have other priorities.

Post Editorial Board https://nypost.com/2020/09/12/what-functional-nyc-school-systems-look-like/

151 Louisiana High School Students Rescue Cross From Hurricane-Damaged Church

Watch the Dramatic Video of Teens Raising Enormous Crucifix

Hurricane Laura left more than a third of Judging from video posted on Strother’s Louisiana a disaster zone in late August, and Facebook page, it wasn’t easy. In an the Category 4 storm was merciless to many interview with Aleteia, Strother estimated of the Catholic churches in the Diocese of that the object weighed 300-400 pounds. Lake Charles. He said that the diocese will have to assess Bishop Glen John Provost said that all of the the damage at each church and decide which diocese’s 39 churches and seven missions can be restored. In the meantime, the suffered damage. diocese asked for help in setting aside the crucifix in a safe place. Financial support and messages of solidarity As in many of the churches, the continuing from outside the diocese have been presence of moisture presented a danger for generous, but there’s also been a lot of such objects. “Basically, the marsh on the pulling together on the part of Catholics in coastland of Louisiana lifted up with the the area. storm surge, and moved inland,” Strother explained, “which means that it went On Saturday, a group of students from St. directly into those churches and dropped Thomas More High School in Lafayette itself. So there’s a lot of the marsh mud and carried a heavy crucifix out of Our Lady everything that comes from the marshes– Star of the Sea Church in Cameron, animals and so forth.” Louisiana. The parish is less than a mile from the Gulf of Mexico and suffered Bishop Provost, writing on the diocesan severely from the storm surge. website, said that the Shrine of Our Lady Star of the Sea in front of the Cameron The group of students and their fathers church, which was built to commemorate a “spent their Saturday helping communities previous storm, is still standing. in Vermilion and Cameron Parishes as they continue to recover,” reported KATC News. “This beautiful remembrance of previous devastation during Hurricane Audrey will “We were asked if we could help preserve add Hurricane Laura to its list of an Italian-made crucifix among other things. catastrophes,” Bishop Provost wrote. I think this image will forever be burnt in “Although in the bull’s eye of the storm, the my memory,” said Lance Strother, director statue still stands, seemingly untouched. It of campus ministry at St. Thomas More. is miraculous! Our Lady is reminding us of her faithful presence and God’s abiding care for us.” John Burger https://aleteia.org/2020/09/14/louisiana-high-school-students-rescue-cross-from-hurricane- damaged-church

152 Dominican Seminarians Reach a Large Audience Teaching Chant on YouTube

In less than a year they've produced over 100 video lessons, viewed nearly half a million times.

When Dominican Brothers Stefan Ansinger factors, from the excitement that these two and Alexandre Frezzato started their charismatic young friars bring to the music YouTube channel, OPChant, in late 2019, to their dedicated performances, which help they wanted to share their love of Gregorian educate through excellent diction and tonal chant, one of the oldest forms of music accuracy. developed in the Catholic Church. They had no idea at the time, but they had embarked The videos are immensely valuable as upon the most widely-received public resources for those who wish to learn, better initiative of the Dominican Order in understand, or even just listen to fine Switzerland in over 50 years Catholic chants. Each session is accompanied by a PDF copy of the sheet OPChant is an educational YouTube music, so that viewers can learn the chant channel created and maintained by two while they follow along as they might do at Dominican seminarians. For nearly a year Sunday Mass. Their lessons are made even they’ve been producing short videos that more approachable by the joy that Ansinger teach singers of all levels to perform and and Frezzato so clearly take in their work, appreciate the traditional music of the which is ever-present on their channel. Catholic Church: Gregorian chant. Singing in the original Latin text, these two scholars It is perhaps this enthusiasm that has wish to share the beauty of the music that garnered the pair so much attention. In a led them to discern their vocations. press release, they note that 54 media outlets in 17 countries and regions around the In a promotional video produced by EWTN, world have produced articles, short videos, featured above, Ansinger said: or radio programs with and about the brothers since they began their efforts. The “This tradition presents the revelation of our fact that a channel for teaching medieval Church, the tradition of our Church, in a sacred music in Latin has attracted so much beautiful manner. So, the texts that we attention makes their achievements all the actually sing are from the Holy Scripture more remarkable. and from the tradition of the Church. So, by singing these texts we are presenting the OPChant produces at least one video per truths and the beauties of our faith.” week, but sometimes they’ll put out as many as two or three, when their schedules In just 11 months, the two Dominican allow. With over 1,000 years of wonderful seminarians have already increased their Gregorian chant in the Catholic songbook, fanbase to nearly 20,000 followers who have they could keep their current pace for viewed their catalog of more than 100 decades to come without ever running out of educational videos nearly 500,000 times. source material for their fine lessons. Their success comes from a variety of

J-P Mauro

153

https://aleteia.org/2020/09/15/dominican-seminarians-reach-a-large-audience-teaching-chant-on- youtube

154 Before Dying in a Pandemic, He Brought the Newly Established Nashville Dominicans to His School

Yellow fever decimated Tennessee in the Father Patrick had different ideas. He was 1870s. determined to have a first-class school in his parish to serve the area. He also wanted Patrick Ryan was born in 1845, unaware of nuns to be in charge. He headed to Nashville the hard times his mom and dad endured and pleaded with the Dominican Sisters of during his first few years. It was during the St. Cecilia to establish new roots in time of Ireland’s Great Potato Famine, when Chattanooga. The Sisters had been in his family was evicted from their farm. After Nashville for 16 years, and the timing was selling whatever they could, they managed right for them to expand. to make their way to New York City. It was here young Patrick would grow up and On January 6, 1876, four Dominican Sisters eventually answer God’s call to the arrived in Chattanooga and began their priesthood. ministry in the area. The first thing they did was open the Notre Dame de Lourdes Patrick was an average student and had to Academy. This school was located in the study hard to make acceptable grades. When former rectory, which would also house the he was 21, he was able to enroll in St. sisters. The regular school remained in the Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, basement until a better facility could be Missouri. Patrick was ordained in 1869 at constructed. But the school had a “new life” the Cathedral in Nashville by Bishop P. A. about it, brought in by the nuns who Feehan. Interestingly, the Feehan and Ryan immediately brought the school to a higher families were close neighbors in Ireland, and level. this may be the reason Patrick joined the Nashville Diocese. The future of the parish seemed to be filled with hope and unbounded possibility. Father Father Patrick took charge of the Patrick was a happy man. But as is the way Chattanooga area on July 10, 1872. He had of life, sometimes things do not follow the to take care of not only the city but also of way we think they will. the southeastern part of the state. The baptismal register included towns such as A series of disastrous fires consumed the Tracy City, Winchester, and Cleveland, business district of the town. Then a cholera where Father Patrick traveled to perform epidemic threatened the entire population. In baptisms and administer the other 1875 a massive flood struck. And now, sacraments. Father also was keenly aware unexpectedly, only a little more than two that the need for a Catholic school was a years later, the school had to be converted prime requirement for the growing into a hospital and an orphanage. The population. flooding created a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, and yellow fever began to The parish had always maintained a school spread like wildfire. for children. It operated under the supervision of the priest in charge, but all The people of Chattanooga had escaped the students were taught by one man or one other plagues and considered themselves woman in the basement of the church. somewhat protected by the nearby

155 mountains. The town offered its hospitality 27th, and his newly ordained younger to those in neighboring villages as a haven. brother, Michael, administered Extreme But people coming into Chattanooga Unction to his big brother. Father Patrick brought the disease with them. Within a few died on the morning of September 28, 1878. days, the disease was epidemic, and 80% of He was 33 years old. the population fled. But one person who did not flee was Father Patrick Ryan. This was Father Patrick Ryan was fully aware of the his home and these were his people. He danger of yellow fever but tended to his would never leave them. parishioners. He died, giving his life for others. On November 16, 2016, the US Witnesses said Father Ryan was going from Bishops declared that Father Patrick Ryan is home to home in the worst infected sections a Servant of God and his cause for sainthood of the city. His duty was to help the sick and has been forwarded to Rome. dying and he was going to do that for as We ask Servant of God Patrick Ryan to pray long as God gave him the strength. He came for us all, especially during this COVID-19 down with yellow fever on September 26. pandemic. He was much sicker on the morning of the

Larry Peterson https://aleteia.org/2020/09/18/before-dying-in-a-pandemic-he-brought-the-newly-established- nashville-dominicans-to-his-school

156 The Fatima Movie Can Lead Children to Big Things

Mary had three children help her in 1917; she wants our children to help her, too.

Children can change the world. That is entirely appropriate. The other Catholic figure that had an outsized impact That is the message of Fatima — both the on the events of 1989 was Pope John Paul II, 1917 apparitions to child shepherds in who suffered an assassination attempt on the Portugal and the 2020 movie about their May 13 anniversary of the first apparition of story. It is also the theme of the Fatima Our Lady of Fatima. Family Handbook I wrote. He knew firsthand that war didn’t solve Children are capable of far more than we Europe’s problems. “Liberation Day” in give them credit for. Here are some lessons Poland celebrated the wartime defeat of the kids (and adults) can learn from the movie. Nazis — but it was put on Poland’s calendar by an atheistic communist regime who The first lesson is the year the film’s story seized the country and outlawed the faith. opens, 1989: A year that teaches that prayer Pope John Paul would return to Poland as solves enormous problems. pope to preach human dignity.

The Berlin Wall fell, and the communist “The events of 1989 are an example of the bloc followed, starting in 1989. I love what success of willingness to negotiate and of Jody Bottum wrote about this: “Maybe the the Gospel spirit,” he later wrote, in the single most important person in the 20th encyclical Centessimus Annus. The Gospel century’s long struggle against communism won what war couldn’t. wasn’t Ronald Reagan … [but] a 10-year- Third, the movie shows that sin is a kind of old girl named Lucia dos Santos.” war, a war on God.

The Fatima children, led by Lucia, who is The Fatima movie delves into territory that the focus of the movie, were entrusted with people tend to avoid with their children, Our Lady’s message that we should all pray showing Satanic temptations and a vision of for peace, and for the conversion of Russia. hell. This inspired the world and inoculated countless people against the propaganda Every parent should decide for themselves machine that tried to make communism into what is appropriate for their children, but my the inevitable atheistic future of the world. thinking on what children should see was transformed by Barbara Nicolosi, one of the Second, the war references in the movie film’s screenwriters, who wrote years ago teach a related lesson: War fails whenever it that “Children have the right to be rightly is tried. disturbed.” While many disturbing sights should certainly be kept from children, other The Fatima movie shows the reality of war, disturbing sights ought to be shown to them, with wounded soldiers returning shell- she argues. shocked, or not returning at all, to their families, and with the vision of the Our Lady apparently agrees. In 1917 and in assassination attempt on the pope. the movie she shows the children a vision of

157 hell that terrifies them. Our Lady knows the give you my testimony. I cannot give you devil is at war with her children, and that answers for everything.” they deserve to be warned. Fifth, the movie can begin a deeper dive into Fourth, the movie shows what a powerful Fatima. example children can be. If the movie isn’t right for your children, The children are leaders in the movie in a look at other presentations of the story: The way that is different in kind from most 1952 movie is top-notch and the Holy “child hero” movies. The Heroes audio version is excellent. Incredibles’ siblings, Harry Potter’s pals and the Spy Kids are all children who must be Tell them that children can change the world stronger than adults to win the day. The through the three Cs of Fatima: Consoling Fatima children conquer in ways any child Jesus, Converting Sinners, and Committing can imitate: sacrifice, obedience and prayer. to Mary. The Fatima Family Handbook explains each, with a kid-friendly “Why would she choose a child, of all version of the whole story, what Church people?” asks a character in the movie about teaching says about it, and “Your Fatima the visions, then answers his own question: Family Action Plan.” “Innocent messengers make the message more authentic and unassailable.” “Our Lady needs you — all!” St. John Paul told a group of children at Fatima. She needs Lucia’s words as an old women are a perfect all of our children, too. mission statement for children: “I can only

Tom Hoopes https://aleteia.org/2020/09/21/the-fatima-movie-can-lead-children-to-big-things

158 How to Have the Memory of an Elephant

Easy exercises to get your brain going every day.

Our memory gets worse only if we don’t use By learning — A little bit of everything: it. Dr. Cecile Maitre offers some advice for poems, recipes, telephone numbers, putting it to work every day. addresses, directions to places, shopping lists and (why not?) Bible verses. For this, How does memory work? you can use mnemonic devices. Learn important things of the day, of past months, Memory allows us to capture, accumulate, and past years. and recover information we take in. There are three successive stages in this By playing — Choose games that demand process: First is sensorial memory. It is thought, logic, and knowledge: cards, chess, very quick and involves the five senses. It is Scrabble, crossword puzzles, sudoku, essential for moving on to the second stage, Memory. Alternate them, since each one short-term memory, which lasts for several appeals to a different type of brain function. dozen seconds and is what makes it possible to recognize faces, landscapes, a number, a By reading — Reading makes your brain bit of music, etc. work more than screens do. Alternate nonfiction books with newspapers, This information is registered and then magazines and novels. There’s nothing stored in long-term memory, which lasts better than traveling in time and space to months, years, and even your whole life. It revive those memories of when we were allows you to conserve memories such as schoolchildren. historical or geographical knowledge, but it also makes it possible to carry out actions By staying calm — Stress and anxiety make like driving, typing, playing the piano, etc. it more difficult to learn.

Depending on the action you are doing, Let yourself be surprised, amazed! — different parts of the brain are activated, and Indifference is an obstacle to memory. that’s where it becomes important to vary our mental activities. And to be persistent: And … by sleeping. — At night, the brain the ease with which welearn diminishes with classifies and organizes the information age, but not our capacity to learn. from that day. So memory is affected by a lack of sleep. How can we exercise our memory?

Dr. Cécile Maître https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/09/22/how-to-have-the-memory-of-an-elephant

159 Toronto Cardinal Rebukes Catholic School Board Members For Barring Catechism Reading

Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto has dangerous waters” and “putting down a rebuked members of the local Catholic marginalized and vulnerable community.” school board for refusing to allow a passage of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Martino agreed, adding that “I must warn pertaining to ministry to people with same- the delegate that some of the language, I sex attraction to be read during a recent feel, is not proper.” meeting. The special session of the school board was “That a Catholic should be criticized, and called to determine whether to censure effectively be prevented by Catholic Michael Del Grande, a trustee who last year Trustees from reading from the Catholic objected to the board’s decision to add the Catechism at a meeting of a Catholic School terms gender identity, gender expression, Board is reprehensible,” Collins wrote in a family status, and marital status to its code Nov. 17 letter to board chair Joseph of conduct as protected categories. Martino. At a November 2019 board meeting, Del Grande criticized the board’s decision to add “The Catholic faith must guide all who are the protected categories by proposing, in a engaged in Catholic education— including facetious manner, that the board add students, teachers, administrators, and behaviors such as pedophilia and bestiality trustees— or that education ceases to be as protected categories as well. Catholic.” The Catholic school board, after hearing Jose Luis Dizon, a parishioner at St. testimony in favor of and against censuring Boniface Catholic Church in Scarborough, Del Grande, ultimately decided to censure had called into the board meeting to express him for “behaviour which was disrespectful support for the statements of several board to the [LGBT] community as a whole and members, noting that the board members in the [school board] community.” question had been speaking in support of Church teaching regarding people with The board also voted in favor of requesting same-sex attraction. that Del Grande publicly apologize, complete an “equity training program,” and Dizon began to quote paragraph 2357 of the not be allowed to exercise any roles on Catechism of the Catholic Church, which behalf of the school board for three months. describes homosexual acts as “intrinsically Cardinal Collins in his letter reminded the disordered.” The next paragraph in the board’s trustees that they swore an oath of Catechism goes on to state that people office to be faithful to the teachings of the experiencing same-sex attraction “must be Church, and questioned how Catholic school accepted with respect, compassion, and board members can fulfill their mission if sensitivity.” they have “bought into the fundamentally anti-Catholic narrative that misrepresents Trustee Norm Di Pasquale interrupted Dizon Catholic faith as lacking in compassion.” as he was quoting the passage, stating that Dizon’s comments were “treading in

160 “The world in which we live is dominated who hear the Gospel message, rather than by a shallow secular vision of the human fidelity to the Gospel itself and its person, and of the purpose of life, a vision “challenge calling us to holiness.” which is contrary to divine revelation, to reason, and to the profound heritage of “If Jesus Himself were to attend a meeting Christian faith. It is disappointing when of the Toronto Catholic District School Catholic trustees allow that secular vision to Board, I wonder if He would be interrupted, replace the fullness of faith articulated in the if he were to begin to say: ‘Repent, for the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We are Kingdom of God is near,’ or many other called to be guided by the Holy Spirit, not things He says in the Gospel, because those by the deceptive spirit of the age,” Collins words are perhaps not sufficiently soothing, wrote. and perhaps might offend.”

Collins said that in listening to the full Ontario is one of three Canadian debate of the school board, it has become provinces— the others being Alberta and clear to him that the board appears to have Saskatchewan— that partially fund Catholic given priority to a desire not to offend those school systems with taxpayer money.

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/11/20/toronto-cardinal-rebukes-catholic-school- board-members-for-barring-catechism-reading/

161 NYC Catholic Schools in Session while Pandemic Closes Public Schools

Catholic schools in New York City will officials from the New York State remain open for in-person learning on a Department of Health and the governor’s school-by-school basis even as the city’s office determines otherwise.” public schools have closed amid a new wave Deegan wrote that his schools would remain of the coronavirus pandemic. open “for as long as safety allows.”

“We intend to keep our buildings open The Diocese of Brooklyn, whose territory regardless of decisions made by Mayor de includes the New York City boroughs of Blasio regarding NYC public schools,” Queens and Brooklyn, issued a similar Superintendent Michael Deegan said in a statement on November 15. Nov. 14 letter to parents of Catholic school students in the Archdiocese of New York. “Every member of our school community has truly dedicated themselves to keeping When the letter was sent, there was our schools as safe as possible in the wake expectation that New York’s public schools of this Coronavirus pandemic, and the would soon close to in-person learning. results prove these efforts have worked,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, superintendent On Nov. 18, Mayor Bill de Blasio of Catholic schools for the diocese. announced that public schools would “For more than eight weeks, we have been “temporarily” suspend in-person classes. able to maintain in-person learning for our students, mostly five days a week, and we The decision to suspend in-person learning intend to keep doing so going forward this in public schools was made after one set of school year,” he said, adding that it is data found that the city’s coronavirus test “critical” for child development to keep positivity rate was 3%. Metrics shared by schools open. Gov. Andrew Cuomo at a press conference Wednesday, however, stated that the city’s “Our children want to be in the classroom positivity rate was 2.5%, not yet at the and we want them to be there for as long as anticipated threshold for school closure. safely possible,” said Chadzutko.

On Thursday, Cuomo was part of a On Twitter, Deegan stated that the city’s two bipartisan group of governors from the Catholic dioceses “stand united” on the issue northeast who signed a statement calling in- of keeping schools open. person learning the “best possible scenario” for children. “As long as we remain vigilant on the health and safety of our school communities-- “Our Catholic schools operate independently which we have been--we should be able to of New York City public schools,” said educate our children in the best way Deegan in his letter. possible,” said Deegan on November 16.

He said that if public schools were to close, The Diocese of Brooklyn has 69 Catholic the archdiocese’s schools “will remain open schools; the Archdiocese of New York until the Health and Safety Task Force of the administers 172 schools. Combined, the two Office of the Superintendent, working with school systems educate approximately

162 84,000 children in grades kindergarten have largely not been the sources of these through 12. New York City’s public schools infections. started the in-person school year on September 29, nearly three full weeks after According to Public Schools Chancellor the Catholic schools began classes in-person Richard Carranza on Wednesday, only on September 9. 0.19% of teachers in the city had tested positive for coronavirus. While cases of coronavirus have continued to spike throughout the country, schools

CNA https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/nyc-catholic-schools-in-session-while-pandemic- closes-public-schools-90024

163 Bishop Daly: Catholic Schools Should Embrace Faith, Never Compromise

The U.S. bishops’ new chairman for A Catholic school ought to be academically Catholic education says he hopes to bring excellent, while always keeping in mind his experience as a Catholic school teacher why Catholic schools exist— to strengthen and president, as well as pastor of two the faith foundation, he said. parishes, into his new position. In an increasingly secular society, when Instead of being merely a private prep people’s lives seem more and more to lack school with “a little bit of religious meaning, “our schools remind us of Christ’s flavoring,” a Catholic school should love … a dignity of the human person that is encourage and guide its students to “seek the beyond the mindset of the present moment, Lord with a sincere heart,” Daly said. or the latest educational trend,” Bishop “We don’t need more ‘private schools.’ We Thomas Daly of Spokane, Washington told need schools that are Catholic, that teach CNA Nov. 17. and proclaim the Gospel with the realization of academic rigor,” he said. Daly’s fellow bishops on Nov. 16 elected him to serve as Chairman of the Committee The USCCB’s Catholic education on Catholic Education for the U.S. bishops’ committee exists to support Catholic schools conference, which provides guidance for the in their mission, Daly said, and one of the educational mission of the Church to ways this is done is by supporting the priest Catholic elementary and secondary schools, who serves the school. This may involve Catholic colleges and universities, and training or inspiration for the priest to help college campus ministry. him better shepherd the school, he said, and to motivate the parish community to support The bishops’ conference has 18 standing the school. committees that each focus on a specific topic related to the bishops’ mission. Each One of the most important factors in a committee is made up of both bishops and school’s character is the academic lay consultants, with one bishop serving as leadership, which for elementary schools is chairman. most often the principal, he said.

Daly worked in Catholic schools for 19 Daly said he saw the school he previously years before his appointment as bishop, worked for turn from a more secular attitude including serving for a time as a teacher and to a direction of faithfulness thanks in large later as president at Marin Catholic High part to its principal, who “never forgot the School near San Francisco. He succeeds example of his education growing up as a Bishop Michael Barber, SJ of Oakland as Catholic.”The principal was at once a very chairman. good administrator, and also a humble man of faith, Daly noted. Thanks to his strong The “first mission” of any Catholic school leadership, that school is now producing should be the salvation of souls, he noted, religious vocations, which Daly said is a but too often Catholic schools focus almost strong indicator of a Catholic school exclusively on academics, to the detriment fulfilling its mission. of their Catholic mission.

164 One of the biggest current challenges to He said serving as a priest and educator in Catholic schools, to no one’s surprise, is the San Francisco— today a very secular and fallout from COVID-19 and ongoing liberal city overall— allowed him to observe lockdowns, Daly said. indifference and later hostility to the Church’s message firsthand. At least 140 Catholic schools— mostly elementary schools— have closed in the Daly said within Catholic education, there U.S. since the start of the pandemic, he said, ought not be a dichotomy between “social and elementary schools remain the most justice” and “piety.” He pointed to the life of vulnerable to closure. St. Teresa of Calcutta as an example of “I think we have to re-examine why we have strong faith and morals manifesting in a life our schools, and why they’re so important to of service. families,” he said. Catholic schools ought to be places of Making Catholic schools accessible for learning, he said, which involves allowing students with disabilities is also a priority, students to encounter differing viewpoints he said, and he hopes his committee will be and ideas. Catholic schools should respect able to assist and encourage schools to students’ freedom, not forcing them to expand their special education programs. accept the faith, but also not compromising on the Church’s beliefs. Daly said historically, Catholic schools arose in the United States during a time While realizing that not every student who when many public schools were de facto enters a school or university is or will be Protestant, and often presented a somewhat Catholic, there ought to be at least an hostile environment to Catholic families. exposure to Catholic theology, morals, and intellectual tradition at the university, he “The need for Catholic education today is as said. important as it has been since the 1800s, when the Church and our mission were Today, many students graduate from [often] attacked,” he said. Catholic universities having never taken a Catholic theology class. Some Catholic Part of the reason for this, Daly said, is that universities may do this because they fear laws in many states make public school that students of other faiths will be less curricula nonconducive to an education in likely to attend, or because a more Catholic Catholic values. curriculum may be viewed as “narrow- minded.” For example, during the Nov. 2020 election, voters in Washington state approved a ballot “Too many institutions of higher learning measure that will require “comprehensive and Catholic education have compromised sex education” in public schools, which their mission, and that to me is not going to Daly noted “undermines core beliefs of our be effective,” Daly commented. faith” by failing to address complex moral issues tied to human sexuality, and failing to “Education with humility leads to wisdom; discuss sex in the context of marriage. without humility, it leads to arrogance.”

165 During February 2020, Gonzaga University, “There is also a concern that Gonzaga Law a Jesuit school located in the Spokane School will be actively promoting, in the diocese, announced the creation of a law legal arena and on campus, values that are clinic focused primarily on LGBT advocacy. contrary to the Catholic faith and natural law.” “While the Catholic tradition does uphold the dignity of every human being, the LGBT Daly said he wrote to the university Rights law clinic’s scope of practice could president in February, requesting that the bring the GU Law School into conflict with president speak to him about the clinic, but the religious freedom of Christian never received a reply— likely because the individuals and organizations,” Daly told situation unfolded right before the start of CNA at the time. the coronavirus pandemic.

CNA https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/11/18/bishop-daly-catholic-schools-should-embrace- faith-never-compromise/

166 How to Help Your Child Become a True Bookworm

These tips will help your little ones enjoy convince our young ones to sit down with a delving into books in no time. book. “I have a heck of a time trying to get my son out of his favorite shows,” While all young children love books, things complains Isabelle, who admits: “It’s so get more complicated when it comes to much more tempting to push the button than learning to read. It all boils down to this to grab a novel.” It is hard to get past how stage. Moreover, our children no longer seductively easy it is! However, we know which book to choose: children’s shouldn’t necessarily demonize new literature has diversified enormously in technologies. They have an unquestionable recent years. Between the ones who devour educational role, and are part of our young books and those who are book-allergic, it is people’s daily lives. Media and reading up to us, as parents, to be informed complement each other, yet books have an guides. Reading is much more than a hobby, irreplaceable value: they allow for it is one of the best schools for life! reflection,develop creativity, and promote initiative. If you read when you’re little, you’ll read when you’re big Anyone who has experienced the joys of being read to as a child is more likely to be Remember: The cover of that tale that you passionate about books. This is a wonderful loved so much as a child, the crackling of way to awaken little ones. “I advise parents your favorite book when you opened it … to show their children books as early as What adult does not have memories of what possible, as early as 8 or 9 months,” she they read as a child? A book is much more advises. It’s so important to introduce than an object made of paper. “It’s a children to the fun of books before they collection of ideas, emotions, feelings, learn to read. By handling the object, by something that can turn our life upside down touching it, by making it their own, the and help us grow,” says Hélène Montardre, toddler experiences emotions and is imbued a researcher specializing in children’s with new sensations. The child is a sponge literature and author of Mais que lisent-ils that absorbs everything the adult gives them. ? [But what are they reading?] Those “Doctor Seuss” or“Harry Potter”s that Sharing some unforgettable moments cradled our young years are rich with powerful emotional charge. What could be But the interest in the book-object does not more natural than, when the time comes, stop there. Looking at an album is an offering this world that has left such an opportunity for any child to enjoy a tender impression on us to our children? Books are and complicit time out with the adult. an extraordinary passport to escape that “Think of the little child sitting on his every parent wants to give their child. mother’s lap to hear the story she is going to tell him: in her reassuring arms, he will enter It is no easy task, at a time when our time into the mystery of reading,” explains for the library has been dangerously Marie-Brigitte Lemaire, an educational hijacked by television, video games, and psychologist whose teaching method “Jean other attention grabbers. At a time when the Qui Rit” has worked wonders for years with screen has triumphed, it is not easy to apprentice readers. “The role of parents is

167 essential for awakening the child’s interest second language is more elaborate than the in reading: the child will become imbued first,” explains Hélène Montardre. Seduced with the words read by their mother and by the magic of storytelling, they will get discover the meaning of beauty through her caught up in the game and assimilate even eyes,” Lemaire says. “The colors of the the most garbled syntax without a blink. pictures, the message of the story, and the way it is read, will all open the child up to What child is not moved by the music of beauty.” words? It may not even matter what the meaning is, but your little one can be It is up to us, the parents, to take to heart the enchanted by phrases that follow one literary awakening of our offspring. To each another like a melody: “Once upon a time one his own method and rhythm; the key is there was a king who ruled over a green and believing in it and devoting time to it. “Look prosperous country …” Like nursery rhymes at Marlaguette, she has tamed the wolf and and oral stories, books contribute to the is walking with him in the forest!” Your exciting discovery of language. “Big A, little child follows the image you reveal with their a, what begins with A? Aunt Annie’s eyes and their ears. There is no doubt: these alligator, A A A,” recites 2-year-old Louise mysterious signs are directly related to the rhythmically, visibly charmed by the sound. words that come out of your mouth. What’s more, the moment of reading isolates the Being familiar with the written word and two of you in a bubble where he or she feels having been lulled to sleep by the many good. “In your child’s memory, these stories, a child will grow up enriched by this moments of complicity will be forever true heritage. The characters and landscapes associated with tenderness,” promises they know by heart become their own, and it Hélène Montardre. is they themselves who live the adventures of their heroes. Whether they’re terrifying Create a kind of ritual for story time, often ogres or beautiful princesses, good guy or reserved for the evening. “The children bad guys, evil step-mother or fairy brush their teeth, we say the family prayer, godmother, the characters they meet allow and then everyone settles down around the children to see themselves there, resolve book,” says Anne, whose happy trio has their conflicts and fears: books have time to calm down before falling asleep. At undeniable psychological value. How Sophie and Xavier’s, there’s no missing the deliciously scary to follow Little Red Riding ritual: Antoinette is 3 years old and lives for Hood in the big woods, at the mercy of the the characters she meets every night with the wolf. This is one of those tales that makes same pleasure. There is also no question of children grow up: the multitude of changing even one word in the story — our characters and animals teach the child about little audience stays awake and dutifully him or herself, their feelings and emotions, calls the distracted or hurried parent to but also about the great events of order: “You forgot a word, Mommy!” They existence. They help them master reality and hear and memorize every word, making it envisage the future… In sum, to become their own. great!

Approaching written language gives them a “Tales begin where the child is at in his glimpse of the immense possibilities it psychological and emotional being,” Bruno offers. “The child instinctively feels that this Bettelheim explains in his book The Uses of

168 Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance “The year she was in first grade,” recalls of Fairy Tales. Whether he feels like the Marie, “my daughter often asked me to read Ugly Duckling of the brood or vulnerable her a story in the evenings. In the beginning, like little Tom Thumb, the child will learn it annoyed me, I thought it was just a whim. that nothing is inevitable and that everything But then I understood that Alice was afraid can be resolved if one takes the trouble. The to go it alone and that she needed me. characters encountered in all these tales Today, she is 12 years old, and I still symbolize feelings or situations the child sometimes read a novel with her … for fun!” knows: fear, death, courage or abandonment, The initial period will take a few months for and the formidable adventures of the heroes our apprentice reader: think about how to teach them much about themselves! Let’s support them, give them a break if not forget that a tale always ends well: a necessary, to keep them from getting perfect way to learn about self-confidence! discouraged. Anne found a solution with her first-grade daughter: “It has become a game Are they learning to read? Keep reading between us: Allie reads one page and I read them stories the next.”

Finally the child starts school and it is time Choosing a book as a family and reading it to decode those letters that have become so for all is another effective way to stimulate a familiar. Marguerite, a kindergarten teacher, timid little reader. The book thus becomes gradually initiates the little ones in linked to moments of togetherness and deciphering letters throughout the year. And joyful laughter. Clearly any and all means the young class enjoys the game: “We learn are good, as long as the child feels that we to recognize everyday words from posters, are there and does not feel like they are cereal packets or cafeteria menus—the taking a leap with no safety net! children love it!” It’s up to the parents to take over from the teacher at home: Snooping around the bookshelves “Reading should be a joy and a pleasure for together … the child,” says Marie-Brigitte Lemaire, who is passionate about it. Let’s offer them Stories of adventures, detectives, animals or attractive books so that reading is not a traditional tales … the apprentice reader boring chore. needs the adult to guide them into the jungle. Think about how you will guide their How can we do this? “Above all, continue to choices and awaken their critical sense. read stories to your children, even if they Beware of books that may do more harm already know how read,” insists Hélène than good. Montardre. It’s very tempting to leave our “big” primary schooler struggling with a Exchanging ideas on something you have good book, with the excuse that: “You’re both read is a great opportunity for dialogue not a baby anymore, read by yourself!” How and sharing; snooping around a bookstore many children then quit, discovering, at this together can turn into a moment of delicate stage, that the book is no longer celebration. Corinne regularly takes Blanche pleasure shared with the adult but an object to choose a novel: “She’s only 9 years old, of learning? yet she finds it difficult to switch to books of her own age,” the young woman laughs and observes: “This little gift stimulates her, it

169 gives her so much pleasure to open a new The youth area is a resounding success: book!” “Parents search for books with their children, they find, compare and choose the Less expensive and just as educational, the books together. Reading is often a family library is an incomparable place to create affair. After these guided expeditions to the memories: “Our greatest readers are … the land of books, you can bet that your little ones!” Jacqueline Goachet-Marc notes apprentices will quickly become avid with humor, who is responsible for new readers, with the conviction that reading sets initiatives for attracting this young audience. us free!

Pascale Albier https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/11/17/how-to-help-your-child-become-a-true-bookworm

170 Archdiocese of NY Demands City Pay for COVID-19 Testing In Hot-Spot Catholic Schools

The Archdiocese of New York is demanding This violates the law, according to the that the city pay for and administer COVID- archdiocese — which gave the city a 19 testing for students in Catholic schools in deadline of 4 p.m. Monday to confirm it will the Big Apple’s coronavirus yellow zones. provide the requested testing or, “The Catholic Schools will have no choice but to Under state guidelines, the only way the pursue all remedies available under the law. Catholic schools can stay open in the virus hot spots is if they test 20 percent of their “What the DOE has provided in services and students and staff at least once a week and facilities for the COVID-19 testing of the the infection rate comes back low enough, children of the Catholic Schools is archdiocese officials said. indisputably far inferior to the services and facilities it is providing for the COVID-19 The archdiocese includes Manhattan, The testing of children attending public schools,” Bronx and Staten Island — with a large Herschlein says in the e-mail. swath of the latter locked in a yellow zone that includes 10,000 Catholic-school “Section 912 of the Education Law clearly students at 25 elementary and high schools. requires that school boards must provide children attending nonpublic schools within The mandatory testing rule applies to public their districts with ‘all of the health and schools in such zones, too. welfare services’ they provide to their public school students, including ‘the But while the city Department of Education administration of health screening tests.’ ” “has implemented an on-site testing regime at the public schools … the DOE has failed The lawyer said the archdiocese has to provide the children attending Catholic repeatedly asked for equal treatment in schools in the Archdiocese of New York terms of school testing in yellow zones, to with these same critical health and testing no avail. services,” the archdiocese’s lawyer, James Herschlein, wrote in an e-mail to city DOE spokeswoman Miranda Barbot told schools Chancellor Richard Carranza on The Post in a statement, “We are Sunday. communicating with the archdiocese to help them develop a testing program that would “Instead, the DOE has identified for the include free tests from the City.” Catholic Schools testing ‘kits’ that, apparently, the DOE proposes the Catholic “These conversations have been ongoing Schools purchase and administer — with since Staten Island was first designated a unidentified and unavailable personnel and yellow zone, and testing could begin next with no funding by the DOE,” the letter week.” says.

Carl Campanile and Kate Sheehy

171 https://nypost.com/2020/11/15/archdiocese-of-ny-demands-city-pay-for-covid-19-testing-in- schools/

172 In Spain, 1.2 Million People Urge Defeat of New Education Law

Proposed legislation to remodel the Can), a leftist political party coalition, to education system in Spain has drawn form a new government in January. opposition from parents’ groups and educators who warn that the freedom of Begoña Ladrón de Guevara, president of the parents to educate their children and choose Confederation of Parents of Students, which their school is at risk. is part of MásPlurales, told Europa Press that the Celaá law has been advanced MásPlurales, an umbrella group in Spain “without the slightest consensus from the representing parents’ associations, unions, educational community or civil society.” businesses, and different groups from the state-subsidized education sector, has MásPlurales has also noted that both the gathered more than 1.2 million signatures to right to choose a school and the right of a manifesto in opposition to the proposed parents to choose how to educate their education law. children are established in the Spanish Constitution. The group warned that the proposed law “leads towards systemic control by the State, The group charged that the legislation would granting public administrations increasingly allow the government to assign student to broad powers to the detriment of families as schools, “significantly reducing the the first educators of their children.” educational choice of their parents, a right backed by the Universal Declaration of MásPlurales is asking that the current array Human Rights.” of educational options be respected, which include a choice of public schools; state- It also argued that the bill “invents a right to subsidized schools, which are mostly public education whereas the right Catholic; and private schools, which receive recognized in the Constitution is the right to no government funding. education; the law is at odds with the state- subsidized school model, widely established The bill is currently being debated in the in Europe.” legislature. It is known as LOMLOE, or the Celaá Law, named after the Education The proposal would enforce an “improper Minister backing the bill, Isabel Celaá. On secularism” and cast doubt on the survival November 13, the Education and of special education schools for children Professional Formation Committee will with special needs, MásPlurales said. meet, in preparation to take part in the final It urged the people of Spain to stand up for drafting of the law. “the protection and continuity of the plurality (multiple options) of our current The proposal has the backing of Spanish educational system.” President Pedro Sánchez’s administration. Sánchez is also secretary general of the If the Celaá law passes, the group warned, Spanish Socialist Workers Party, which “It will be the State, and not you, who joined with Unidas Podemos (United We decides the education that your children will receive.” CNA

173 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/in-spain-12-million-people-urge-defeat-of-new- education-law-55091

174 Cameroon’s Catholics in Fear after Gunmen Attacks Claim 7 Lives

Following the Oct. 24th killing of seven crushed because our innocent children are children at Mother Francisca International no more.” Bilingual Academy, the Diocese of Kumba described the attack as a “terrible and The statement said the diocese stands with satanic manifestation of disrespect and the families of the deceased students and desecration of human life which is a gift of staff of the school who have been God.” traumatized by the attacks.

At around 11:30 am on October In the capital, Yaounde, the bishop of the 24, unidentified gunmen stormed Mother diocese, Jean Mbarga led an inter-religious Francisca International Bilingual Academy – service organized at the Yaounde Multi a school in Kumba, a city in Cameroon’s Sports Complex in honour of the seven southern region and killed seven children murdered children. A mix of religious inside their classroom in an unprovoked leaders from Muslim and Christian attack. More than ten others were wounded communities prayed for the repose of the and taken to the hospital. souls of the children and peace in the troubled region. The attack has sparked tension and fear across the country and has drawn “This horrible assassination plunges our condemnation from local and international country and the entire world in immense governments and religious organizations. pain and sadness,” bishop Mbarga said. “It’s criminal, it’s cruel and this carries no The diocese of Kumba in sympathy and message except that of the absurd and solidarity, condemned the killings and murderous madness, of the barbarism and described the attack on the school as a the indignation it arouses. The death of these “terrible and satanic manifestation of children is worthy; it is in fidelity and in disrespect and desecration of human life honor. They were massacred while fulfilling which is a gift of God.” their state duty. They were killed with their pencils, their books, their school bags in At the local cathedral, the bishop of the their hands. They were persecuted in the diocese, Agapitus Nfon joined by field of their civic and human parishioners, held a solemn Mass for the responsibilities. They are martyrs; they are repose of the victims and God’s consolation innocent saints in the eyes of God as in the on their families. He also called for an end eyes of men,” he said. to the ongoing crisis in the region. “Our community has never remained the “Today is the saddest day for Kumba since same since the attacks happened,” said the socio-political crisis affecting the North Stephen Ngor, a resident of the community West and South West regions started in where the attack happened. “People are 2016, and which has now escalated into scared because they don’t know when or war,” Bishop Nfon said in a statement. where the next attacks would happen.” “Because of this barbarous act, the people of Kumba are wailing, the entire diocese of After the attacks, hundreds of residents of Kumba is mourning, our hearts have been the community, including students of the

175 school where the killings occurred, took to speaking region of the country rose to fight the street to protest and called on the back and demand independence. government to protect them. The government in a statement An estimated 3,000 people have been killed condemned the killings and blamed it on with more than 700, 000 displaced, armed separatist groups. President Paul Biya especially to neighbouring Nigeria, also dispatched a delegation to Kumba to according to the United Nations. sympathize with affected bereaved families and guardians. UNICEF estimates that more than 855,000 children remain out of school in the “The Government believes that no cause in Anglophone regions where more than 80 the world can justify or legitimize such percent of schools remain closed. systematic attacks on the lives of human beings, not to talk of the lives of innocent “It is sad that children who are seeking children, pupils, or students, who should better education to help their parents and attend school, college, high school, develop their country and communities university, be educated and be able to look would be killed in such a brutal manner,” after themselves, and be able to Ngor added. conveniently take over from their elders tomorrow,” the statement said. “Let us pray for His divine intervention in the search for a lasting solution to the crisis Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, which so that justice and peace may reign, for he is started in 2016, was triggered a God of Justice and Peace,” the statement by demonstrations by lawyers and teachers from Kumba diocese where the attack over the rising influence of French in their happened said. education and legal systems. During his weekly general audience, Pope Additionally, with frustration over alleged Francis expressed his closeness to the political and economic marginalization, the families of the young students killed and protesters’ action soon morphed into wider prayed for peace in the country. demands and resulted in several strikes. Although talk of marginalization is not new, “I feel great bewilderment at such a cruel the action by barristers and teachers became and senseless act, which tore the young a rallying point for Anglophone innocents from life while they were Cameroonians who had voted to join the attending lessons at school,” he said. “May French Cameroon majority to form the God enlighten hearts, so that similar United Republic of Cameroon in 1961. gestures may never be repeated again and so that the tormented regions of the north-west Military response from the government and south-west of the country may finally failed to reduce tensions, as security forces find peace. I hope that the weapons will were accused of carrying out extrajudicial remain silent and that the safety of all and killings, illegal arrests and torture. the right of every young person to education and the future can be guaranteed. I express In response to the reported crimes my affection to families, to the city of committed by government-backed security Kumba and to the whole of Cameroon and I forces, separatist groups from the English- invoke the comfort that only God can give.”

176 In a statement, members of the Jesuit reasonably sustain a household. However, Conference of Africa and the principle of inclusion has helped on a Madagascar [JCAM] condemned the attacks large scale to integrate the refugees and the and called on authorities to end the conflict host community and has enabled them to which is gradually entering its fifth year. find other means of livelihood.” “We are shocked and outraged by the killing of innocent school children,” the statement The United Nations High Commissioner for signed by Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, the Refugees [UNHCR] — the UN’s refugee president of the Society, read. “We extend agency — provides a cash-based our deepest condolences to the families of intervention of N7,200 [$20] per month to the children and offer our prayers and moral the refugees to cover food and other basic support to the wounded and their families needs. and to the entire community of Kumba. We stand with them in this time of sorrow and “The Cash-Based Assistance provided has grief and we are grateful to all those dropped to a very minimal amount and as a providing medical care to the wounded and result, refugees are leaving the settlements all other forms of immediate support to the to host communities in search of means of families of the children. survival,” Fr. Bassey said.

The statement continued, “This heinous and Last year, the UNHCR launched a $27.3 despicable act shows no regard for innocent million appeal for the conflict in Cameroon, lives which represent the hope for Cameroon especially the refugee crisis. As of October and Africa. We demand that this violence 2, 2019, funding of the budget for the stops now and that children should be Cameroon refugee situation stood at 55 allowed to live in safety without any fear of percent. violence. We further demand that the There are also growing cases of gender- perpetrators of the attack be brought to based violence at the refugee camps as the justice.” young girls and women engage in transactional sex to survive. Some 60,000 people have fled their homes in Cameroon to Nigerian states as a way of “The conflict has not worsened as such and escaping the conflict which has destroyed has not been any better either, because the their lives and livelihoods. Ambasonians still agitate and the government of the day is not ready to give Caritas Nigeria has been responding to room for peace,” Fr. Bassey adds. the refugee and humanitarian crisis and (Ambasonians are members of the self- calling for support. They donate and declared state of Ambazonia, internationally distribute food, medicine, blankets and other considered an autonomous Anglophone state supplies to the refugees. of the UN-created Cameroon federation of 1961.) “Some of the devastation suffered by “The situation has grown from an the refugees has come from the emergency to a more stable state now Ambasonians themselves perhaps as a though this does not in any way make them strategy to instigate the people to join their less vulnerable,” said Fr. Evaristus Bassey, cause.” the former director of Caritas Nigeria. “The assistance provided should be such that can

177 The road to peace in the country seems far isn’t much interest. France also gives the away as a recent move for peace impression by this conflict that She is only talks between the government and the concerned with the Francophone part of the separatist has met a dead end. country, not minding whatever happens in the Anglophone part. The policy of non- “For a sustainable solution, the United interference in the internal affairs of states Nations should call for peace talks and does not apply in this case, as there have ensure that the state provides protection to been massive humanitarian displacements. its people,” said Fr. Bassey who is also an Well-meaning groups should mount pressure experienced development expert. “Many on France to intervene more decisively.” people feel that because this is Africa, there

Patrick Egwu https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/11/09/cameroons-catholics-in-fear-after-gunmen- attacks-claim-7-lives/

178 School Shooting ‘Darkest Day’ of Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis

A school shooting on Oct. 24 that left at hospitality has been stricken by the grief of least seven children is the “darkest and the murder of her children before midday,” saddest day” in the ongoing Anglophone Nfon said at a protest march on Sunday. crisis affecting western Cameroon, says Bishop Agapitus Nfon of Kumba. The father of one of the murdered children was at the protest and recalled being told Attackers armed with guns and machetes about the attack when a little girl ran to his stormed Mother Francisca Memorial house to tell him his son, Victory, had been College in Kumba, killing the students and killed. wounding a dozen others. “I rushed to the school and saw him lying Government officials blamed Anglophone there: Dead. He was one of the three separatists for the attack, although they children who died on the spot,” he denied responsibility. told Crux.

The Anglophone crisis began in 2017, after Nfon attempted to speak to the grief of the teachers and lawyers went on strike over community. perceived attempts by the central government to assimilate the common law “We are crying and asking why our children and English education systems Cameroon’s were murdered? What did they do wrong? Anglophone regions inherited from their Is it because they went to school? Were previous British colonial government. The they not allowed to go to school by those rest of Cameroon is Francophone, and who previously restricted them for the past inherited France’s civil code legal system, four years? How could they ask children to and French educational system. go to school and turn around to massacre them? Who then could have done such a The strikes were violently suppressed, gruesome act?” giving rise to a separatist movement attempting to establish an independent state The bishop drew parallels between to be known as Ambazonia. Saturday’s attack and the Feb. 14 massacre in Ngarbuh, when the military killed 22 At least 3000 people have been killed in the people, including children and pregnant conflict, and more than a million forced women. from their homes. “We are mourning and pondering in our The separatists have also insisted that all painful hearts, is enough not enough? Was schools in the Anglophone regions remain Ngarbuh not enough? How much of the closed, and have been enforcing their decree blood of our children need to be shed before by burning schools and kidnapping teachers something concrete and immediate is done? and students from any institution that defies How long will the powers that be and are them. capable of restoring peace and tranquility in the distressed Northwest and Southwest “Saturday Oct. 24, 2020, Kumba – the Region sit and wait? How long will the Green City – known for its peace and authorities concerned watch and see? Will

179 all our children die before something is martyrs; they are innocent saints in the eyes done?” of God as in the eyes of men,” he said.

In a statement sent to Crux, Archbishop Jean Matthias Z. Naab, the UN’s resident Mbarga of Yaoundé called the murdered humanitarian coordinator in Cameroon, said children “martyrs,” because they were killed he was “shocked and outraged” by the attack while fulfilling their civic duties. on the school.

“This horrible murder plunges our country “Children have a right to education. and the whole world in immense pain and Violence against schools and innocent sadness,” Mbarga said. “It’s criminal! It’s school children is not acceptable under any cruel! And this carries no message except circumstances and can constitute a crime that of the absurd and murderous madness, against humanity if proven in a court of law. of the barbarism and the indignation it I call on the competent authorities to arouses.” conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy,” he said. The archbishop noted the children were killed “with their pencils, their books, their Nfon will celebrate a memorial mass for the school bags in their hands.” victims on Oct. 30 in Kumba’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. “They were persecuted in the field of their civic and human responsibilities. They are

Crux https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2020/10/school-shooting-darkest-day-of-cameroons- anglophone-crisis

180 New Poll: Younger Catholics More Likely Than Their Elders to Accept All Church Teachings

EWTN's fourth 2020 poll sheds light on This portion of ‘Active’ young adult faith practices and priority. Catholics has risen significantly from the 17% who answered as such in the February The latest poll in a series of surveys poll. from RealClear Opinion Research in partnership with EWTN has suggested a In other questions of Catholic practices deepening of faith in young adult Catholics. among the laity, more than 8 in 10 While the series, of which there have been responded that religion is important in their four installments, was established to lives. About 40% said that they attended ascertain the political leanings of Catholic Mass weekly before the pandemic and more probable voters, recurring questions about than 50% suggested that they would attend faith practices from all four polls have more frequently when pandemic restrictions shown a distinct trend towards acceptance of loosened. Church teachings and doctrine. Prayer was also on the rise, with 4 in 5 The new survey, which was conducted surveyed Catholics reporting at least weekly between October 5-11, found that a plurality prayer and more than half of these who of Catholics (50%) believe in the Real responded saying that they pray daily. Presence of the Eucharist, which has only Nearly 3 in 10 of those surveyed said that risen one point since the beginning of the they prayed the Rosary at least once a week. year. Previous polls found this percentage rose to as high as 66% in those classified as The lowest attended Catholic practice was Active Catholics, or those who accept all or found to be Confession. Fewer than 4 in 10 most of the teachings of the Catholic Catholics reported going to Confession Church. In contrast, 35% of respondents said either monthly or yearly, while a full 60% they considered Real Presence to be said they receive the sacrament less than symbolic, while a further 14% were once a year, if at all. The frequency of uncertain. Catholics going to the confessional did, however, rise to 68% in Catholics who More young adult Catholics are falling into attend Mass weekly. the Active Catholic category than previously recorded. Catholic News Agency Read more from RealClear Opinion reports that one 25% of 18- to 34-year-olds Research here. Then, have a look at CNA’s responded that they accept everything the report, which draws together information Church teaches, compared to 21% of those from all four 2020 EWTN polls. ages 35-54 and 16% of those 55 and older.

J-P Mauro https://aleteia.org/2020/10/27/new-poll-younger-catholics-more-likely-than-their-elders-to- accept-all-church-teachings

181 Mind the Gap: What I Missed and Where I Found It

Bringing ancient wisdom into modern critical dialogue

When I was in high school, we read the reminder emails that wound up equally Odyssey as a comic book. And what insight boring, hopeless, and with the added bonus did it offer us? That we were incapable of of piling on guilt that I “wasn’t doing my reading great works of Western civilization; homework”. that Homer, Aristotle, and Dante were all beyond our comprehension. I thought my chance was over. That, in spite of having obtained what the world deemed Now, my younger brother kicks his feet up an exceptional education, nods to Plato in on the couch as he puzzles over Augustine’s The Truman Show would always go over Confessions. At seventeen, he’s read more my head. classic literature than most people will in their whole lifetime. But even better, he is Until this summer, when I found the learning to think. His reaction to political Aquinas Institute. And like so many, I unrest is more constructive and thoughtful wondered, “Where has this been all of my than expected of his age. His approach to life?!” Class conversations are inspiring, the relationships has a perspective that we often readings empowering, and the effect of consider impossible in adolescents. These consistent intellectual stimulation on my books don’t cripple his potential, locking conversation and friendships astonishing. I him in a room of tallow candles and leather sit as peer to a university professor, a mom armchairs where knowledge is abundant and and her baby, a seminarian, a pediatrician, a practicality nonexistent. On the contrary, he lay father in ministry, and an international plans to study engineering, commission in student so motivated he’s up for class the U.S. Army, and hopes to have a family. midnight. We are meeting authors and saints face-to-face, and their stories are changing As a student at a classical high school, he is our lives. one of the lucky few asking perennial questions before he needs the answers. I, on Academia needs the disruption that the the other hand, wasn’t so fortunate. I faced Aquinas Institute has recently set in motion. comedy, tragedy, faith, and flourishing Unlike conventional four-year institutions or armed with nothing fiercer than the dusty the monotonous multitude of online options, pages of an Odyssey comic book. the Aquinas Institute features a curriculum After college, I tried to read some of these of 100% primary sources and uses leading so-called Great Books on my own. The technology to facilitate real-time, pages swam before my tired eyes, and I discussion-based classes that are both spent more time frustrated than enlightened. affordable and globally accessible. Here we After suffering through the first few pages have it: unadulterated truth and personal of Nicomachean Ethics, it found itself at the encounter from the comfort of your living bottom of my tote bag, weighing me down room chair. for weeks in the pitiful expectation that an extra hour would carve itself out of the day. The Details Later, I signed-up for an asynchronous online course with YouTube links and Two tracks: liberal arts and theology

182 An undergraduate Liberal Arts Aquinas, Augustine, Plato, Dante, Aristotle, Curriculum consisting of 12 accredited John Paul II, and Edith Stein through their courses in humanities, philosophy, and studies and teaching experiences at Austria’s theology. This program is for students ready International Theological Institute, to do college-level work, students already Wyoming Catholic, Baylor University, the enrolled in state universities looking for a Catholic University of America, and more. way to more robustly fulfill general education requirements, and people of any Format: Classes are held via Zoom – all live, age group and background who want to fill all discussion-based. in gaps in their own education. Enrollment: Applications are open online A Graduate Theology Curriculum, through January 1st, 2021. Each course is consisting of 12 integrated courses toward three credits, and the cost runs slightly lower an MA in Theology. Courses may be taken than the average for similar programs. 1, 2, or 3 at a time — whatever best fits Financial aid is available. Classes begin the one’s schedule. Adults looking for a more week of January 18th. serious engagement with theology, including priests, religious, catechists, and teachers, Visit https://aquinasinstitute.org/ for a listing should check out this program; nothing quite of Spring 2021 courses, application details, like it has ever been offered before. and more information. Inquiries can be Faculty: Professors hail from across the directed to [email protected] or globe as the professed personal friends of (800) 418.0627.

Caroline Beecher

TCE Original Publication

183 Carlo Acutis' Principal: He’s a Beacon for Children and Young People

I can say that the greatest miracle I saw in Carlo is that he looked like everyone else, without making me think he was a holier or more innocent child than his peers.

Sister Miranda is the director of the school Normally these subtle characteristics don’t where the newly beatified computer expert, reach the ears of the principal, and even less Carlo Acutis, studied. He died in 2006 at the so if she is just joining the faculty. I early age of 15. She tells how part of Carlo’s remember that Mrs. Isa shared this with me greatness lies precisely in his simplicity and immediately, adding that his parents were reserve, which at first sight made him seem “very religious.” The truth is that they never like just one more ordinary kid among his talked to me about this spiritual side of peers. Carlo or his faith: they were very discreet and gentle people, whom I only saw in the Sister Miranda, thank you very much for morning at the entrance of the Primary wing granting me this interview for Aleteia. Can of the school. I never had the need to send you share with us a little bit about your for them because of Carlo’s behavior. At relationship with Carlo Acutis? How did you school he was well behaved, like any normal meet him? I know that he studied at the and good child of his age. school run by your Congregation, the Sisters of St. Marcellina; how did this relationship Sister Miranda, what is the main trait that between Carlo Acutis and the Marcellinas you saw in Carlo? How would you describe and the school begin? him? How was he as a child? How did he behave in his classes? What characteristics Sister Miranda: In September 1999, after of holiness did he already had? several years at the Aronna school in Lago Maggiore, I was transferred to Marcelline Sister Miranda: I would say that he was a School of Tommaseo Square as the quiet child by nature, living in the context of elementary school principal and a high a peaceful family. As time passed (also school teacher. At that time, Carlo was in because the surname was recurrent in the third grade, but he’d already been enrolled media), I learned that his father, Andrea for a year, and was able to fit in without any Acutis, was the manager of a large private problems. His home was very close to the company and that the family’s standard of school, and his mother often accompanied living was quite high. But none of this stood him. out in Carlo or his parents.

As soon as I settled in, I started to get to Today I often see spoiled and demanding know my colleagues and students. As far as children, who are capricious with their Carlo is concerned, the most personal parents, selfish with their classmates and memories I’ve heard of him were shared perhaps spoiled by excessive wellbeing. with me by his religion teacher, Mrs. Isa There was never any sign of this in Carlo: he Velati; through her I learned that he was an was a child who integrated harmoniously in only child and a very sensitive child when it the classroom, docile, with whom the came to religion, so much so that he asked to teacher was happy. His parents too were receive his First Communion in Assisi in the very polite and unpretentious, reserved second grade of Primary School. people.

184 Do you remember any anecdotes about networks and digital media are so Blessed Carlo—any conversations you had important? with him? What were Carlo’s aspirations, what did he think about, what games did he Sister Miranda: Only after his death did I play? What was he like in his classes? Was know that Carlo was a genius with he industrious? How did he behave during computers, and I was happy for him and for his exams? those whom Carlo helped (Oh! To have Carlo by my side in certain moments of … Sister Miranda: Well, after so many years of fighting with my PC!); he will probably be reading about Carlo, I learned things that proclaimed the patron saint of internet users didn’t come up in school, where the boy felt or of the net itself. at home, did his schoolwork, had good grades and was happy, like many other kids But this is not why my spirit as a Marcelline in his class, so much so that he gladly has a special affection for our former student continued his high school here. Carlo Acutis: I feel him close to me because I share the same feeling of caring for his At home he showed his talents, as his relationships with his classmates, giving mother told us on several occasions after his away smiles (I remember the dimples on his death. I can say that the greatest miracle I chubby face as a child!), looking around him saw in Carlo is that he looked like everyone to share his goods with the dispossessed; he else, without making me think he was a said “yes” to Jesus with the same holier or more innocent child than his peers. enthusiasm as the first disciples, always At that age, if the family is solid, and if the keeping himself well rooted in reality, which school is supportive by carrying out its for him was made of beauty, affection for educational responsibility, even the children parents, love for nature (including nice four- are peaceful. And Carlo, certainly, from the legged friends), of humble fidelity to the way he was at school, showed that he had a great gifts that Jesus himself gave him. family environment that helped him grow in holiness one step at a time, as Pope Francis In this time of pandemic, when many says in his exhortation Gaudete et Exultate. children and young people, exasperated by the difficult health situation, seem to rebel Sister, to conclude, can you share with me dangerously against the rules, Carlo is a one last message about what Carlo shining beacon that perhaps can enlighten represents as a saint for youth and children? them, make them wonder about the meaning What does a saint with these characteristics of life, and about the beauty of worshiping mean for the world, in this time where social and serving the Lord.

Jesús V. Picón https://aleteia.org/2020/10/27/carlo-acutis-principal-hes-a-beacon-for-children-and-young-people

185 How to Turn Meals into Precious Time That Nourishes Your Family Bond

The dinner table is an ideal place to foster family communion.

With everyone’s fragmented schedules, get to know what their brothers’ and sisters’ parents coming home late from work, and like best. Goodwill comes through in the special diets, the enjoyment of family meals choice of recipes, seasoning, making sure together is easily lost. And once at the table, that everyone has something they like, and some have a hard time being fully present also keeping in mind healthy foods.” (thanks to cell phones), as good table manners takes a second place to everything Despite the repetitive nature of their task, else. While we shouldn’t paint an idyllic the family cooks are also called upon to use picture of family meals — sometimes they meals as an opportunity to show their love can be a disaster — we all want that time to and spirit of giving. For their part, the guests foster family togetherness. should acknowledge it, give thanks for the cook and for the gifts of the Creator. A The meal is the small daily feast where we blessing, a compliment, a smile, a thank gather around the same table to feed each you, give a different tone to the daily meal. other — with food and with love. It should It is important to recognize these humble therefore not be rushed out of the way as and real gifts of others, and to know how to quickly as possible under the pretext of thank them. “For a meal to be successful, doing more important things. It is an food must be abundant and of good quality. important communal event that must be well It’s not a matter of filling the stomach, but prepared and fully lived. of being full, not just from food. The food is there to make it possible to meet and The best memory of a family meal for 25- commune,” explains Brother Patrick-Marie. year-old Ethan is the dinner at his grandparents’ house after a day outdoors. In fact, apart from vacations, the meal is “The never changing menu (soup, ham, often the only opportunity for the family to salad, rice pudding, applesauce) was a real meet up, talk and spend time together. “It treat for me. We were hungry, we sat around consolidates family life. It’s where siblings the big table, an uncle would captivate us talk to each other and learn what the rest are with his stories, and we were totally doing. These moments are precious, we are relaxed.”Food pleases the senses and happy to be together,” says Stéphanie contributes to happiness. It is the fuel of the Schwartzbrod, actress and author of La body. But it is much more than that. Cuisine de l’exil (Actes Sud). For David, father of four boys between 16 and 23, The meal, the foundation of family life “meals are the place where we tell each other things, where we talk about what Behind the dishes served are the people who we’ve got going on as well as deeper issues. prepared them. For monks, cooking is even We even sometimes argue in a light-hearted considered an act of fraternal charity: “All way. We try to get our children to discuss the monastic cooks I’ve met put a lot of love what they really think about the world.” into their cooking,” notes François Lespes, director of the monthly program on KTO La A set of well-understood rules for a true Cuisine des monastères. “Over time, they family meal

186 Specifically, how do you make the meal moment when they may be compared with truly family-friendly? First of all, by their brothers and sisters.” It is up to the planning for a time when everyone will be adults to make sure that everyone has the home at the same time. “We have a monthly opportunity to express themselves and to be chart where everyone notes whether they’ll listened to with kindness. be at home or not,” explains David. Ritualizing the meal structures the family A well-understood set of rules also makes it and the people: “The meal is that moment easier to be together. “The thorny issue is when we stop, we get back in touch with this the cell phone: at home, it has to be in silent reality that is the family gathering and which mode during the entire meal. It’s as hard for gives meaning to many of our activities,” the kids as it is for me,” says David. For the notes Brother Patrick-Marie. little ones, learning to stay at the table, to be patient, to listen to each other, prepares them Then, by making sure that everyone finds to receive both food and conversation. It is his or her place. For Agnes, whose five important that during a meal, everyone children are still young, it’s a question of greets the others, if only with a simple “making room for everyone, asking them gesture. Opening the heart comes through about their day or their latest activities, but paying attention to others. To develop this also making sure that those who talk the quality, Agnes has instituted “guardian most don’t get too carried away. It is also an angel” lunches: each person draws a paper opportunity to pass on good manners and the with the first name of a person they must ability to behave, to explain why one does secretly take care of during the meal. At any this or that thing, at the table, and more age, sharing a meal is an opportunity for broadly in society.” In hindsight, 23-year- giving and therefore a source of joy. All old Francis notes that “meals can also be that’s left to do is to sit down at the table anxiety-provoking for those who do not and eat. have confidence in themselves: it is the

Bénédicte de Saint-Germain https://aleteia.org/cp1/2020/11/25/how-to-turn-meals-into-precious-time-that-nourishes-your- family-bond

187 Archdiocese of Bombay Mourns Pioneering Priest-Educator

A priest who was a pioneer of education in “Yes, he always made time for his family the Archdiocese of Bombay who died on and for so many others who approached him Thursday was hailed as a “great educator for wisdom and counsel. But his ‘prime and visionary” during his funeral Mass on time’ was always for the Eucharist and Friday. prayer. Many of you may know Father Nereus as an exemplary disciplinarian; not Msgr. Nereus Rodrigues, 97, spent over 60 many would know what an incredibly years in the archdiocese’s education disciplined life he lived himself—in his diet, apostolate and was the founder of St. his habits, his correspondence, his reading Andrew’s College. and scholarship—but above all in his time for prayer,” his nephew continued. During his time in education ministry, Rodrigues served as the inspector of Cardinal Oswald Gracias presided at the Catholic Schools. He also headed the service, and said despite his age, Rodrigues Headmasters’ Association, which still had much to offer the archdiocese represented all schools – religious and secular, and was once awarded the State’s “I felt sad, I felt strange [when he heard of Best Teacher Award. Later, he was elected the death]. He had so much yet to do, he had the president of the All-India National so much unfinished business so many ideas Association of Catholic Schools. so much wisdom, so much guidance,” the cardinal said. “No doubt his loss is huge. But his legacy looms much larger,” said Jesuit Father “He was my own parish priest, my only Charles Rodrigues, the late priest’s nephew, parish priest, I was his assistant, and he in a video message played during the molded us into one family: The priests, the funeral. sisters all worked together,” Gracias continued. “With his head Father Nereus was an extraordinary planner, organizer, thinker and Father Magi Murzello, the current rector of administrator. But those of us who knew St. Andrew’s College, told Crux the news of him well would be moved by his tender Rodrigues’s death was “terribly heart that cared for people, prayed for heartbreaking.” people and built life-long relationships— across generations and all around the globe– “His passing is a big loss to the archdiocese. that still endure,” the Jesuit said. Monsignor left a rich legacy behind,” he said. Nirmala Carvalho https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2020/11/archdiocese-of-bombay-mourns-pioneering-priest- educator

188 LGBT Activists on Toronto Catholic School Board Pledge Allegiance to Church Teaching

For an entire year, they permitted a radical element of the LBGTQ2+ community – a teacher in their schools – to heap scorn upon the Catholic Church.

It was flabbergasting, to say the very least. cultural heritage encompasses millenia of Mark the date, time and location. November inter-relationships between Church, Family, 26, 7:15 pm, the inaugural meeting of the School and the rights of individuals in the TCDSB for academic year 2020-21. context of societal obligations. Yet we wondered why the Church and School Following another week of denigrating, Boards have allowed radical advocates for torqued accusations levelled at the Catholic an inimical ethos to set the agenda from Schools system by reneged radical activists within. There is nothing in the Human and others, Trustees were asked to rise and Rights Code to suggest anything amiss in renew their pledge to be faithful to the Catholicism. In fact, under section 19.1, it teachings of the Church, to the Primacy of specifically says nothing in the code shall be the Roman Pontiff and the authority of the interpreted as displacing the denominational Magisterium (the Cardinal). None of them rights of Catholic Schools. declined. The Education Act specifically tells the Their defiance would have immediately Minister he has no business in the affairs of disqualified them from office. Not even the the Catholic schools outside the secular infamous Gang of Four (trustees Markus De curriculum on “skills.” The Constitution Domenico, Norm Di Pasquale, Ida Li Preti enshrines the mutual rights and obligations and Maria Rizzo), despite their false of that trilogy. bravura, demurred. Scratch your head if you’re confused. Sandhya Kohli, a previous Interim Integrity Commissioner hired to bring a sense of With that simple act, the Cardinal reaffirmed sanity to the morass in corporate governance his authority over the Catholic nature of the afflicting the TCDSB, was brutal in her TCDSB and his willingness to exert frank assessment, even if she did not name leadership on Catholic education. He still names: some trustees (and senior staff) are needs to “clean house,” if he wants to out of control and are bullying the rest to get restore the tarnished reputation of the their way, to the point of usurping the Separate (Catholic) Schools and ensure their authority of the Magisterium on religious survival. And, not just in Toronto. matters, bypassing administrative law and due process to tar and feather a colleague It was time to take control of the non-debate who stands for the denominational about the value of what is at the essence of obligations the Board exists to maintain and the Catholic ethic: inclusivity, tolerance, promote. acceptance, responsibility, mutual respect, dignity, and love toward others. It has been going on for more than a year, culminating in a Board meeting The Corriere Canadese is a secular on November 11 whose outcome was best newspaper. It caters to people whose described by Trustee Crawford as an

189 “abominable” moment in the history of In December 2019, the gang of four caused Catholic education. The conduct of the foul an “investigation” to be conducted into the foursome above was vile, malicious and utterings of Trustee Del Grande during the vindictive. Too bad that some misguided course of an open and normal debate and to others on the Board enabled them. opine as to whether he had gone overboard with his language. The investigator firm For an entire year, they permitted a radical specializes in workplace diversity and element of the LBGTQ2+ community – a gender-based harassment issues – 16 of its teacher in their schools – to heap scorn upon 18 lawyers are female. Its lead investigator, the Catholic Church, make outrageous Michelle Bird, found that he had not. accusations of “systemic homophobia” in However, she did not like his tone and his the TCDSB, his employer. flippancy after the debate.

Trustee De Domenico, described as The Board’s outside legal counsel works for misogynistic by one mother who called him a firm specializing in advocacy for diversity out on his anti-Catholic, anti-Gospel issues. There is never a moment when his responses to her emails, urged him on, as advice is not predicated on Human Rights recently as November 22, telling him he had Code and dismissive of his back. That teacher/radical threatened to Catholic/denominational rights in the throw the Cardinal out of his class, if he Constitution or in the Education Act. The dared show up. TCDSB actually pays him while it sidelines its own in-house legal counsel. Trustee Li Preti questioned the ability of the Cardinal to understand the Pope’s message Trustee Rizzo invited MPP Kathleen on modern families, then proceeded to Wynne, who lives in Alliston, is not accuse her colleagues, and Catholics in Catholic, did not view or read the transcripts general, of homophobia. of the meeting investigated by Bird to weigh in against Del Grande and the TCDSB for its The Cardinal finally had enough when homophobia. The Board has initiated an Trustee Di Pasquale interrupted the reading investigation into allegations of electoral of an excerpt from the Catholic Catechism, fraud levelled against Rizzo, who, as an in a Catholic environment, because Di aside, admits to preferring the rock group Pasquale found the language was both the Beatles to Christ. “dangerous” and “inappropriate.” It is OK if you conjure up an image of Stalinist thought Thursday night, this motley crew swore police. allegiance to the Cardinal’s leadership on Catholicism.

Joe Volpe https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lgbt-activists-on-toronto-catholic-school-board-pledge- allegiance-to-church-teaching

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