Editorial

Making a difference:
Catholic schools more important than ever

The events of September 11, 2001 have left a profound impact on all of us. But I believe those affected most deeply are our children. They must feel frightened about a future dominated by terrorism, violence, and insecurity.

Faith perspective. Schools throughout our nation will no doubt be planning special events to commemorate the first anniversary of September 11. Our Catholic schools, however, will be able to provide an added dimension: a faith perspective.

Without faith in God and hope in the future, the world can seem like a pretty bleak place. I wonder how young people without faith can face the future. Perhaps that's why so many youth turn to sex, drugs, alcohol, and mindless entertainment. They may feel that's all there is to life.

But our Catholic faith gives us another path to follow: the way, the truth, and the life as shown by Jesus Christ. As disciples of Christ, we believe in the power of faith, hope, and - most importantly, love - to influence the world.

Catholic schools pass on that faith to the next generation. This happens through the untiring work of Catholic educators - principals, teachers, catechists - as partners with parents in educating our youth.

Transforming the world. In the aftermath of September 11, Catholic schools became even more important than ever. As Michael J. Guerra, president of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), said, "We believe that God dreams of a world of peace and justice for all people and we believe that we are called to help build that world: a world in which wisdom and love prevail over ignorance and hate.

"The young people whom we serve at all levels of Catholic education face a future that will demand much from them. Our success in sharing our faith and forming our students as men and women of competence, conviction and compassion can transform the world."

Our Catholic school graduates have accomplished much in the past: serving as leaders in our country, defending our freedom in the armed forces, and marching for civil rights and other causes.

Now we face even greater challenges. But I think Catholic schools will continue to prepare committed citizens and leaders for our church and society in the future. We've done it before, and we can do it again with God's help and the support of our faith communities.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

In regards to John Huebscher's column in the Aug. 1 issue of The Catholic Herald, I would like to offer the following insights.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 decision that school vouchers are constitutional. For now.

In his article Mr. Huebscher pits the "wall of separation" principle against the "neutrality" explanation because it suits his purpose. He is forgetting that a little over a hundred years ago Catholics objected to the required reading of the King James version of the bible in public schools and rightly so. They won on the First Amendment in its implied "wall of separation" principle.

There is another "principle," a cornerstone in the Catholic social teaching, that has been overlooked in this discussion and that is the "principle of subsidiary." It holds that government may and should engage in social programs that improve the lives of its citizens but not to the extent of diminishing the efforts of private citizens engaged in similar ventures. Nowhere does it say that the government should actively support or contribute money to private efforts.

School vouchers aids and abets the decline of public schools in inner cities that are already in trouble. They are in trouble because of a decline of public schools in family supporting jobs, the loss of the manufacturing tax base, white flight to the suburbs, to mention a few. To want to leave that situation is natural, but impossible, for everyone.

School vouchers makes it easier for the private/parochial schools to cherry-pick the best students out of the public schools with the help of the government. No one has been able to explain how taking one child out of a class of 100 and sending that child to a private or parochial school, helps the remaining 99.

Jerome Joyce, Madison

Pope John Paul II will not resign

To the editor:

Those who predict that Pope John Paul II will resign soon forget that Pope John Paul II is a great admirer of Pope Leo XIII. In spite of several physically infirm years near the end of his life, Pope Leo XIII ruled the church with wisdom. His mind remained clear and lucid until the day of his death at age 93. With the model of Pope Leo XIII ever before him, it is unlikely that Pope John Paul II will resign in the near future.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

In gratitude for contribution

To the publisher:

Please accept my sincere appreciation for the contribution of $14,813.89 from the Diocese of Madison to the 2002 Catholic Home Missions Appeal. I am grateful for your efforts to promote the appeal within your diocese. The gift will help strengthen the Church in home mission dioceses in the United States and its dependencies. Please keep us and the people we support in your prayers.

Most Rev. Paul A. Zipfel, chairman,
Committee on the Home Missions, Washington, D.C.