It seems to me that the Church - dioceses and individual parishes - ought to strive for "both and...". This article comes on the heels of another recent article re Bishop P seeking to adjust from the CHD to school funding. Christian, Catholic-based education of children has evangelistic efficacy, without question. All that said, Catholic…
It seems to me that the Church - dioceses and individual parishes - ought to strive for "both and...". This article comes on the heels of another recent article re Bishop P seeking to adjust from the CHD to school funding. Christian, Catholic-based education of children has evangelistic efficacy, without question. All that said, Catholic schools don't work for everyone for many reasons - cost, availability, travel and work schedule, special needs, and other practical reasons. Home schooling is growing and vibrant and the typical status of home schoolers (less wealthy, more independent and can-do minded, and more willing to help others in the same task) was described by another commentor. At our parish, we have a home school support program that is in every way Catholic, growing, and melds completely into the rest of the religious education provided by the parish. What is necessary to accomplish this is pastoral leadership, school/DRE leadership, volunteers, and committed parents. When you have all that, and we do and it is growing, then we can have both support of Catholic schools and support of Catholic home schooling.
Further, if there is a trust/mistrust issue between diocesan reps and home schoolers, then perhaps a lot more dialogue and less policy is warranted in order to find a way to serve rather than to prevent and obstruct. It is sad if people are cemented into their biases.
It seems to me that the Church - dioceses and individual parishes - ought to strive for "both and...". This article comes on the heels of another recent article re Bishop P seeking to adjust from the CHD to school funding. Christian, Catholic-based education of children has evangelistic efficacy, without question. All that said, Catholic schools don't work for everyone for many reasons - cost, availability, travel and work schedule, special needs, and other practical reasons. Home schooling is growing and vibrant and the typical status of home schoolers (less wealthy, more independent and can-do minded, and more willing to help others in the same task) was described by another commentor. At our parish, we have a home school support program that is in every way Catholic, growing, and melds completely into the rest of the religious education provided by the parish. What is necessary to accomplish this is pastoral leadership, school/DRE leadership, volunteers, and committed parents. When you have all that, and we do and it is growing, then we can have both support of Catholic schools and support of Catholic home schooling.
Further, if there is a trust/mistrust issue between diocesan reps and home schoolers, then perhaps a lot more dialogue and less policy is warranted in order to find a way to serve rather than to prevent and obstruct. It is sad if people are cemented into their biases.
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your comment.
This.